Senior Biologist

Senior Biologist

CVWD's Environmental Services Department seeks a skilled and adaptable professional to lead ecological restoration and mitigation projects, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect natural resources. Key responsibilities include fieldwork, data analysis, monitoring program development, technical reporting, consultant oversight, agency coordination, and guidance on habitat restoration, conservation, and biological impacts.

The successful candidate will possess strong organizational and time management skills, comprehensive knowledge of environmental regulations and permitting, knowledge and experience in ecological restoration efforts, and a professional, collaborative approach to serving internal and external customers.

Under general direction, leads in the development of ecological restoration mitigation monitoring and reporting activities. Performs ecological investigations, research, monitoring, surveys, technical writing, planning and reporting to meet regulatory compliance objectives; protects, restores, enhances, and manages the District's wetlands, flora, fisheries, and wildlife resources; provides guidance to assess, prevent, mitigate, and manage biological impacts resulting from District projects, programs, and activities; engages outside agencies and partnerships in a collaborative effort to streamline the delivery of restoration projects at the Salton Sea; and performs related work as required.

Essential Functions

Examples of typical job functions

• Oversees and manages the development, implementation and reporting of Mitigation Monitoring or Reporting Programs (MMRP) and Mitigation Monitoring Plan (MMP); assist with the identification, implementation, and evaluation of biological Best Management Practices (BMP); recommend and evaluate methods, goals, and measures of success; complete site assessments, prepare existing conditions reports, biological opportunities and constraints analysis, and biological data collection summaries.
• Manages and coordinates district mitigation sites including site maintenance, monitoring, and ensuring easements, partners, and tenants are in accordance with their terms and conditions.
• Identify issues, conduct assessments, review plans and specifications for sensitive species, habitat information, biological impacts, and mitigation projects.
• Advises management on natural resource permits and associated processes; interpret and negotiate permits, and identify the need for permits issued by resource agencies (e.g. U.S. Army Corp of engineers, CA department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Water Quality Control Board, etc.); serve as district liaison with the regulators.
• Engages and coordinates directly with outside agencies and partners in collaborative efforts to streamline delivery of Coachella Valley and Salton Sea restoration projects, including those projects proposed by the Quantitative Settlement Agreement, Salton Sea Management Plan, and the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan project partners.
• Oversee, inspect, and negotiate the work of biological consultants and service providers (e.g. laboratories and nurseries); provide technical input to their work processes and products; service as District liaison for communication and contract administration; develop Request for Proposals (RFP) in compliance with the District's procurement and contract administration policies and procedures.
• Manage technical services contracts and task orders; maintain contract records, process invoices, and ensure compliance with the contracts.
• Participate in the creation, monitoring, and maintenance of operating procedures, work instructions, forms, processes, standard methods, and protocol; design, oversee, and participate in quality control and quality assurance processes.
• Design, implement, analyze, and report on ecological monitoring activities; prepare a variety of technical and administrative reports; advise management on project parameters, timelines, and deliverables; provide project updates and attend public meetings as an expert.
• Monitors activities through workgroups, collaborative efforts, and CVWD initiatives to track and report ongoing activities of IID and SSMP in Environmental and Public Health conditions and the Salton Sea.
• Provides assistance to management staff; participates in and provides staff support to various committees and boards; prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
• Troubleshoot, resolve or mitigate project delays and ineffective processes.
• Remain current in subject matter requirements, including trends, innovations, and best practices; maintains professional networks, participates in professional group meetings, seminars, and workshops; review content from a variety of professional literature sources, including articles, websites, books, and research papers.
• Assist management with various administrative responsibilities and projects, such as budgeting, goals, procedures, and quality assurance standards for projects with biological drivers; analyze proposed and current legislation and governmental policies, rules, and regulations; develop recommendations for District compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in biology, ecology, botany, wildlife, zoology or related discipline in a life sciences field, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Five (5) years of environmental experience, including working with wildlife and navigating environmental regulations.
• Licenses and Certifications: Possession of a valid California Driver's License, to be maintained throughout employment.
• Knowledge of:
• Principles and practices used in the planning, design, and implementation of restoration, conservation, mitigation, and monitoring programs of biological resources.
• Principles and practices of public administration; organization and operation of municipal government.
• Principles, methods, and practices used to identify and evaluate the biological impacts caused by District operations, programs, and activities.
• Methods and techniques of scientific research, statistics, analysis, and reporting used in the discipline of biology.
• Biological field equipment used to sample, monitor, and measure biological resources.
• Planning, organizing, conducting, and managing biological investigations and surveys.
• Specific ecological principles (e.g., wetlands, botany, fisheries, wildlife).
• Federal and State permitting regulations, laws, processes, and practices applicable to all of the District natural resource assets, including:
• National Environmental Policy Act
• California Environmental Quality Act
• Clean Water Act
• State and Federal Endangered Species Act
• California Fish and Game Code
• Extensive knowledge of southern California biological communities
• Local, State, and Federal environmental regulations
• Habitat and Natural Community Conservation Plans
• Endemic Fish and wildlife species within CVWD's service area
• Salton Sea regulatory background involving the QSA and SSMP
• Ability to:
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations, including ESA, CESA, CEQA, and NEPA.
• Analyze and interpret complex permits, reports and regulations.
• Review and interpret regulations and minimize potential impacts to the District.
• Understand and review biological resource laws and policies.
• Formulate and evaluate proposals and alternatives for use in natural resource management.
• Apply and utilize the principles, data, and processes of the District's Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Cartography.
• Prepare effective technical reports and memos; utilize technical writing skills as required for the preparation of environmental compliance reports and correspondence.
• Develop monitoring plans and standard operating procedures.
• Perform accurate mathematical calculations.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, legal and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.