Assistant Project Biologist- Field Lead

SWCA, Incorporated; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team at an established environmental consulting firm committed to excellence and sustainability. As an Assistant Project Biologist - Field Lead, you will lead field crews in biological surveys, ensuring high-quality project work across various natural resource projects. This role involves extensive travel and working in diverse environments, where your leadership and expertise will directly contribute to impactful environmental solutions. The firm values employee ownership and career development, offering a supportive atmosphere for personal and professional growth. If you're passionate about the environment and ready to make a difference, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Education Reimbursement

Professional Development Programs

Bonuses for Publications

Supportive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of field experience in biology or ecology.
• Experience with data collection and field supervisory roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead field crews in conducting biological surveys and assessments.
• Coordinate with project managers and ensure safety protocols are followed.

Skills

Field Supervisory Experience

Biological Surveys

Data Collection Procedures

Environmental Science Knowledge

Ability to Conduct Fieldwork

Education

B.A. or B.S. in Biology

B.A. or B.S. in Ecology

B.A. or B.S. in Environmental Science

Tools

Trimble GPS Units

ArcPad

Job description

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.

We are seeking an Assistant Project Biologist - Field Lead for our Houston TX office, which offers a unique work environment and specializes in natural resources and planning. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading natural resource field crews in conducting biological surveys in the South region.

This is a permanent, full time, with benefits, hourly position that will require extensive travel for field based projects.

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.

What you will accomplish

• Lead field crews under the supervision of Field Directors and/or Project Managers in the performance of natural resource fieldwork.
• Project work may include oil and gas development, transmission/pipelines, transportation, mining, and Federal clients.
• Conduct biological surveys, habitat assessments, and wetland/OHWM delineation.
• Accurately collect data and complete field forms, digital photography, and mapping.
• Collect GPS data using Trimble units; manage data and download data to and from GPS units.
• Coordinate and communicate with project managers, land surveyors, landowners and other SWCA staff as necessary.
• Assist with report preparation.
• Operate SWCA vehicles, assure they will perform safely, and notify appropriate person if vehicle needs maintenance.
• Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• A key element of your job will be to 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.
• Monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when correction action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Minimum of B.A. or B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Previous field supervisory experience required.
• Three (3) years of field experience in biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related field along with some or all of the following additional knowledge/experience:
• Experience with accurate data collection procedures, and data entry QA/QC.
• Experience conducting avian studies in the southern United States, including presence/absence surveys, population and nesting studies.
• Small mammal and/or herpetofauna experience.
• Vegetation sampling and habitat assessment experience.
• Wetland delineation experience in the Southeast.
• The ability to conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and at high altitudes; the ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• General knowledge of the fauna and flora of Southeast.
• Experience with Trimble GPS units. Familiarity with ArcPad is a plus.
• Ability to research and prepare technical documents.
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership.

We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. 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. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria.

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 [e-mail] 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. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, 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 in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Houston-based position can expect an hourly rate of $28.67 - $37.40/hr. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position.