Staff Level Biologist - Natural Resources

About the opportunity

Do you thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellence in environmental consulting services for your clients? SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding their team and looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work.

SWCA is expanding our natural resources team and seeking Assistant/Staff Biologist candidates for upcoming environmental projects involving a range of office and field duties throughout California. Candidates located on the Central Coast and San Francisco Peninsula are encouraged to apply to support the volume of infrastructure projects in those areas. Work hours may vary seasonally, and depending on project needs and your skills. On-call staff are requested for work as it becomes available and are free to accept or refuse the work based on their schedule. As our Natural Resources team continues to grow, additional opportunities for advancement and/or transition to a regular, full-time position will be available.

It is anticipated that travel, including overnight stays, will be required for this position.

Fieldwork will include travel throughout California. Experience throughout the state is not required as multiple on-calls will be hired to cover a wide range of geographies including the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, North Bay and Northern California Coast, Sierra Foothills, Central Coast, San Joaquin Valley, Southern California Coast, and Inland Empire including the Mojave Desert.

The candidate could fill one of our Staff Level roles based on skill and years of relevant experience:

• Natural Resources Technician: Typically up to 6 months of experience
• Assistant Staff Biologists: Typically up to 1 year of experience
• Staff Biologists: Typically up to 2 years of experience

This position is temporary, hourly. Pay is dependent on experience.

What you will accomplish

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Conduct environmental inspections, wildlife and vegetation baseline studies (including protocol surveys), nesting bird surveys, wetland assessments, and general habitat assessments.
• Collect field data, record and identify fauna and flora.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, and associated landforms.
• Photograph and take detailed notes of habitats, species, and landforms. 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.
• Communicate effectively with SWCA project managers, construction crews, and other environmental specialists to complete the field work and reporting requirements.
• Understand project environmental requirements and the applicable laws and regulations protecting biological resources.
• Complete desktop analyses, web-based database queries, prepare technical reports describing the methods, results, recommendations, and regulatory background for projects.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a diverse team is critical.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field required and minimum of one year of field experience.
• Knowledge of common and special-status state and federal listed California fauna and flora.
• The ideal candidate will also possess strong wildlife and plant identification.
• Must have a current and valid driver’s license, with the ability to drive multiple types of vehicles, trucks, and 4x4’s
• Prior experience with GIS software, GPS units/tablets 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.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Report or other writing experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years or field seasons of experience completing biological surveys, fieldwork, habitat assessments, wetland delineations, and/or construction monitoring.
• Botanical and wetland delineation experience.
• Ornithologists with bird identification and nest searching experience; rail, raptor and other birds of prey experience a plus.

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.

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

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 Half Moon Bay, CA-based position: as a Natural Resources Technician  -- an hourly pay rate of $22.20 - $29.40; as an Assistant Staff Biologist -- an hourly pay rate of $24.60 - $31.80/hour; and as a Staff Biologist -- an hourly pay rate of $27.60 - $36.00/hour. 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.

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Seniority Level

Entry level

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