Consulting Associate, Field Biologist

Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

AD&D insurance

401(k)

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Casual Part-time Consulting Associate, Field Biologist to support biological field surveys and environmental monitoring across Northern California, including SF, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Oakland, East Bay, Fort Bragg, Arcata, and Eureka.

This field-based role requires adaptability, with irregular schedules and frequent travel to field sites. You will conduct surveys, collect high-quality data, and report findings to project teams in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master degree in Biological Sciences, Natural Science, Botany, Ecology or related field.
• 0+ years of environmental consulting and/or relevant experience.
• Strong commitment to safety, including following established health and safety protocols.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to travel to field sites across Northern California, often on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct biological field surveys (nesting birds, rare plants, aquatic resources) per regulations.
• Identify wildlife by sight and sound, noting habitat associations.
• Locate, monitor, and document wildlife activity with minimal disturbance.
• Implement field protocols for avoidance, buffer establishment, or monitoring during ground-disturbing activities.
• Record detailed field notes and contribute to daily logs and reports.
• Communicate findings to project managers in real time.
• Operate handheld GPS devices and ESRI Field Maps for data collection.
• Maintain familiarity with wildlife regulations and regional ecological context.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Education

Biological sciences degree (Bachelor/Master)

Tools

ESRI Field Maps

Sub-meter GPS

Handheld GPS

Job description

ERM is currently hiring a Casual Part-time, Consulting Associate, Field Biologist

ERM is currently hiring a Casual Part-time, Consulting Associate, Field Biologist to support biological field surveys and environmental monitoring on an as‑needed basis throughout Northern California, including, but not limited to, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Oakland, the East Bay, Fort Bragg, Arcata, and Eureka.

In this role, you will help support Utility projects by conducting biological surveys, monitoring sensitive resources, collecting high-quality field data, and communicating biological findings to project teams.

Why This Role Matters?

This field-based opportunity supports the responsible delivery of Utility projects across Northern California. Work assignments may vary in duration, frequency, and location depending on project needs. Successful candidates must be adaptable, comfortable working in dynamic field conditions and across diverse habitats, and available for irregular or fluctuating schedules. This position is ideal for biologists seeking flexible fieldwork opportunities and the opportunity to contribute their biological field skills across a variety of project settings.

What Your Impact Is:

As a Consulting Associate, Field Biologist, you will provide field-based biological support while helping project teams identify, document, and protect sensitive biological resources. Your work will contribute to accurate environmental data collection, regulatory compliance, and effective communication of changing field conditions.

What You’ll Bring:

• Required Bachelor or Master degree in Biological Sciences, Natural Science, Botany, Ecology or related field.
• 0+ years of environmental consulting and/or relevant experience.
• Strong commitment to safety, including following established health and safety protocols.
• Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a demanding work environment.
• Must be willing to travel to field sites, frequently on short notice, with overnight stays throughout Northern California.
• Ability to hike long distances, carry field equipment, and work extended days when needed.
• Willingness to travel, sometimes with short notice; overnight stays may occur.
• Commitment to safe work practices and situational awareness in field environments.
• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.
• Preferred Field experience with a focus on biota in Northern California.
• Botanical and/or avian expertise.
• Prior experience in the power sector.
• Experience in sub-meter accuracy GPS technologies, ESRI Field Maps, and GIS collection techniques in the field.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct biological field surveys, including nesting bird surveys, natural community assessments, rare plant surveys, preliminary aquatic resource evaluations, and other surveys in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations relevant to the species or habitats involved.
• Identify wildlife species by sight and sound, with emphasis on behavioral observations and habitat associations.
• Locate, monitor, and document wildlife activity or sensitive biological resources while minimizing disturbance.
• Implement field protocols related to avoidance, buffer establishment, or biological monitoring during ground-disturbing activities.
• Record detailed field notes, data sheets, and digital entries; prepare daily logs and contribute to technical reporting as needed.
• Communicate biological findings and field conditions to project managers or field leads in real time.
• Utilize handheld GPS units, tablets, and other mobile data collection tools.
• Maintain familiarity with applicable wildlife regulations, survey guidance, and regional ecological context relevant to assigned projects.
• Participate in occasional office-based tasks such as data management or quality review.
• Perform data entry and data review and apply expertise with ESRI Field Maps and sub-meter GPS data collection.
• Perform other biology-related duties as assigned.

For the Consulting Associate, Field Biologist position, the anticipated hourly pay is $28.22–$35.19 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world‑class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues.

We call this capability our "boots to boardroom" approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor.

Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action.

Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a "boots to boardroom" leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world.

We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.