Staff Biologist

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Staff Biologist to join our Houston, TX office.  This office offers a unique work environment and specializes in Oil & Gas, Transmission, Generation and Renewable Energy, working especially on wetlands delineations and endangered species. A key element of your job will also be to independently supervise environmental survey crews in the field. We are expanding our team and looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work.  If you thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellence in environmental consulting services, this is a great opportunity for you!

This is a regular, full-time, hourly position with ability to work a hybrid schedule. Work will also occur in neighboring geographies along the Gulf Coast and other parts of Texas.

The position will close on October 1, 2023.

What you will accomplish

• Leading wetland delineations, threatened/endangered species assessments, and avian/wildlife surveys;

• Organize, transfer, and QA/QC field data, and write technical reports and permit applications related to Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other resource planning/permitting, and/or natural resource disciplines;

• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools during fieldwork

• Supervise a small crew while conducting environmental fieldwork. This includes:

  • independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
  • ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
  • serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
  • receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and
  • monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline.

• Completes individual tasks of medium complexity or duration with oversight;

• In the field, oversees a crew or works independently on standard tasks, under the direction of a Project Manager;

• Coordinates land access, field crew progress, and data transfer and management;

• Mentor junior staff;

• Communicates with client or agency with support from a Project Manager;

• Troubleshoots routine problems independently;

• Oversees the implementation of the safety plan in the field.

Experience and qualifications for success

• A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or related field
• 5+ years of experience leading wetland delineations following U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manual procedures within the Great Plains and Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Supplemental Regions
• Endangered Species Act listed species knowledge and habitat environmental survey experience in TX, OK, and LA
• Experience leading wildlife/environmental field crews on large-scale linear utility projects including responsibilities for survey planning, logistics coordination, progress tracking and reporting, and communications with clients, landowners, and regulatory agencies
• Experience providing regulatory compliance biological monitoring support during project construction

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and environmental survey experience in south central and southeast United States flora, fauna, and ecology
• Completion of a 38-hour USACE wetland delineation training course
• Familiarity with mapping software such as ArcGIS and GPS devices

Additional Information:

• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain
• Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds
• Frequent travel will be required for the position, with field work sometimes reaching 80% of your time
• Safely operate SWCA-owned and rental vehicles, including 4-wheel drive vehicles

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_._

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 Houston, TX-based position can expect a pay rate of $54,662/year to $65,520/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

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 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply