Assistant Scientist

Terracon; Lodi (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon is seeking an Environmental Assistant Scientist in Lodi, California to manage Phase I ESA projects from start to finish. You will lead technical writing, data collection, and regulatory reviews, delivering high-quality reports under deadlines.

This role requires a Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of related experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to travel up to 50% for field work along the California corridor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Geography, History or related field, or 4+ years of related experience.
• Strong technical writing and analytical abilities are required.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Phase I ESA projects from initial research to report delivery.
• Perform site inspections and data collection as part of due diligence.
• Prepare clear written summaries of historical and regulatory information.
• Travel up to 50% for field inspections within California.

Skills

Technical writing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science / Geology / Geography / History or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

General Responsibilities

Terracon is seeking an Environmental Assistant Scientist to join our Due Diligence practice group in Lodi, California. In this position, you will oversee all aspects of Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I ESA) projects, from initial research to report delivery, ensuring high-quality work that meets client expectations, established due dates, and industry standards. The ideal candidate is self‑motivated, professional, and capable of managing their workload and prioritizing tasks in a fast‑paced environment. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing company with competitive compensation and benefits package.

As a Phase I ESA practitioner, the candidate is expected to have strong competencies in technical writing to be able to review historical and regulatory documentation and summarize it in a clear and concise manner. The Assistant Scientist position will include approximately 25% to 50% of time spent in the field for facility inspections located from the California‑Oregon border to Bakersfield, California.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

• Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre‑task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
• Be responsible for maintaining quality standards on all projects.
• Entry level scientific professional responsible for gathering data and information to be evaluated by other team members.
• Assist with executing Phase I ESA projects from start to finish.
• Conduct thorough site inspections, including note taking, historical research, and regulatory reviews.
• Communicate effectively with team members and regulatory agencies.
• Be able to tabulate, prepare, and compare data for written reports.
• Prepare reports by summarizing reviewed data and information.
• Manage projects and work with current staff to ensure quality and timeliness.
• Manage workload to meet deadlines for multiple projects.
• Ability to travel (drive or fly) up to 50%, which may include overnight stay.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Geography, History or related science field. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 4 years’ related experience.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable violation history.
• Demonstrated high level of technical writing ability.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Work in‑person from the Lodi office when not in the field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in field of expertise.