About the opportunity
SWCA's San Diego's office is actively seeking one Associate Project Biologist to join our growing multi-disciplinary team in San Diego, California. In this position, you will manage projects, take a lead role in pursuing project opportunities, conduct biological surveys, manage field teams, and mentor staff. Your work will expand SWCA's professional reputation in natural resources management and research throughout California and beyond, and you will be provided with opportunities for professional development. You will collaborate with peers, maintain SWCA's standards of excellence, and support the continuing development of SWCA's Natural Resource Program. The candidate chosen to fill this position will have a broad range of skills to work with a team lead/support permitting efforts including in the transmission, power generation, and oil and gas markets. The position requires proven experience with all phases of project development including initial constraints analysis, permitting, preconstruction planning, construction, and post-construction operations and maintenance. This position requires the ability to work independently and coordinate with project teams to support senior project management throughout all phases of a project’s life-cycle.
What you will accomplish
- Preparation of key aspects of environmental planning documents, including pre-application activities and project planning; developing project descriptions and supporting documentation; and preparing technical reports.
- Manage natural resources and multi-disciplinary projects, develop, and manage project budgets and schedules, and provide timely, high-quality work that achieves client goals.
- Serve as a project manager or task lead on projects of varying size and complexity.
- Provide report QA/QC.
- Maintain positive relationships with clients and public agencies. Lead and participate in marketing and proposal efforts.
- Work directly with clients and regulatory agencies to ensure regulatory compliance and facilitate project approvals.
- Conduct fieldwork and manage field teams as needed including vegetation baseline studies, nesting bird surveys, and biological evaluations and assessments.
- Operate SWCA vehicles safely, including operation of 4-wheel-drive vehicles on rugged, back-country roads. Follow industry-leading safety check-in and reporting procedures.
- Support your peers in meeting client needs, staffing projects, and take initiative in team development and cohesion.
- Communicate effectively and pro-actively with diverse project stakeholders, including regulatory agents, field crews, trade workers, and third parties regarding project status, schedules, and compliance issues.
- Use of strong organizational and communication skills in writing, verbally, and graphically.
Experience and qualifications for success
- Bachelor's degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, environmental sciences, or a closely related field required. Minimum of Five (5) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies, or equivalent. One (1) or more years of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
- Familiarity with Southern California flora and fauna.
- Prior experience with GIS software (ArcGIS) and GPS units and ability to use technology for data collection.
- Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, often at high altitudes, and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required.
- Working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, and natural resources permitting.
- Demonstrated primary report authorship for a variety of project types, preferably in an environmental consulting context.
- Advanced skills and knowledge in one or more specialty scientific areas (e.g., restoration ecology, botany, conducting protocol surveys for special-status species, etc.).
- Experience in energy generation, transmission, and/or oil and gas.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft suite of products (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Minimum of five years or field seasons of experience completing biological surveys, fieldwork, habitat assessments, wetland delineations, and/or construction monitoring; experience with southern California species and habitats.
- 1O(a) 1(a) permits for various wildlife surveys is a plus, and/or botanical and wetland delineation experience.
- Master's degree preferred.
Additional Information:
- Travel, including overnight stays, may be required for this position. Fieldwork will primarily be located in the southern California region.
SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.
If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.
An employee in this San Diego, CA - based position as an Associate Project Managery can expect an annual salary of $71,370 - $91,260/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.
This position is eligible for our wellness paid time off, employee assistance program and wellness program activities.
EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.
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