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 in the San Francisco Bay area 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. This position may at times also require long or abnormal work hours (early start times, night shifts, etc.). 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.
The candidate could fill one of our Staff Level roles based on skill and years of relevant experience:
• Assistant Staff Biologists: Typically up to 1 year of experience and expertise
• Staff Biologists: Typically up to 2 years of experience and expertise
This position is temporary, hourly. Pay is dependent on experience.
For assistant staff and staff Biologist positions, a key element of your job will be to independently supervise a biological survey crew in the field.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
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.
• For assistant staff and staff biologists: 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 are 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.
• 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.
• One (1) year of field experience required.
• Knowledge of common and special-status state and federal listed California fauna and flora.
• The ideal candidate will also possess strong wil
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posted: Aug. 25, 2024, 4:35 a.m.
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