Environmental Scientist/Biologist

Atlas; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Atlas in Tempe, AZ is seeking motivated Biologist/Environmental Scientist to join our growing environmental planning and permitting team. This role focuses on field surveys, habitat assessments, and regulatory compliance for energy projects across Arizona and nationwide.

You will lead surveys, prepare reports, coordinate with agencies, and support SWPPP and permit compliance. The position offers collaborative teams, opportunities to grow, and travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3+ years of relevant professional experience leading biological compliance activities.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will conduct and lead biological surveys and prepare client/agency reports.
• Lead biological compliance activities to meet ADEQ, ASLD, AZPDES, and federal CWA requirements.
• Monitor SWPPP implementation, PJD surveys, and vegetation management.
• Communicate technical information to clients, stakeholders, and project teams.
• Maintain accurate field records using GPS/GIS tools.

Skills

Field surveys

Habitat assessments

Regulatory compliance

GIS

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, or a related field

Tools

ArcGIS

GPS

Job description

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Atlas is a national leader in environmental, industrial, and infrastructure consulting, providing the expertise and resources needed to move complex projects from concept to completion. Our Tempe office has been a trusted part of Arizona’s environmental and infrastructure community for more than three decades, building a strong record of success and lasting client relationships. With more than 3,500 employees and offices across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, Atlas brings national reach with local knowledge and experience.

At Atlas, creating a better project experience isn’t just something we say, it’s how we’re built. We bring together some of the best people in the industry, technical expertise to support projects at every stage, and a collaborative, heart‑led approach that places quality, safety, and client success at the center of everything we do. We’re built to tackle challenging projects, built to support our clients, and built to give our people opportunities to grow.

We’re growing our Arizona team and looking for Biologists and/or Environmental Scientists to join us!

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a growing environmental planning and permitting practice supporting some of the nation’s most important energy projects. Our work spans solar, battery energy storage, and nuclear projects in Arizona and across the United States.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to apply your environmental expertise to meaningful, complex projects while working alongside talented professionals in a collaborative and forward‑thinking environment, we’d like to hear from you. Come grow with Atlas and help us build what’s next.

Position overview:

We are looking for motivated and field‑oriented Biologist/Environmental Scientist to join the Atlas team. This is an excellent opportunity for a scientist who thrives in dynamic field environments and wants to contribute to the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Experience conducting and leading desktop habitat assessments and field‑based biological surveys, including:
  • Threatened and endangered species habitat evaluations
  • Vegetation classification and mapping
  • Wetland delineations and waters of the U.S. assessments
  • Migratory bird and sensitive species surveys
• Experience conducting and leading environmental compliance, including
  • Preparing mitigation monitoring and reporting plans (MMRPs)
  • Tracking and implementing permit conditions for USACE 404 and 401s, stormwater (TPDES) requirements and Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance measures
  • Conducting worker environmental awareness training (WEAT) and communicating compliance requirements to contractors and clients
  • Conducting pre‑construction surveys, construction monitoring and post‑construction compliance, including SWPPP inspections and vegetation management; and
  • Preparing daily and weekly monitoring reports
• Permitting & Regulatory permit application preparation, including:
  • Supporting agency consultation efforts such as Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with technical data collection, application preparation and reporting:
    • Preparing preliminary jurisdictional waters determinations (PJD)
    • Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) and stormwater compliance inspections
    • Tracking and supporting compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3+ years of relevant professional experience leading biological compliance activities, including conducting surveys, monitoring, and post‑construction compliance.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• The successful candidate will demonstrate attention to detail, be hands‑on and have high proficiency in conducting and leading biological surveys, preparing reports for client and agency deliverables.
• Experience leading biological compliance activities to comply with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) and Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) permit requirements and federal Clean Water Act requirements.
• Experience leading biological and environmental compliance activities, including monitoring and post‑construction compliance, including conducting SWPPP, PJD surveys and vegetation management.
• Utilize professional judgement and provide recommendations to support biological permit applications and compliance documents.
• Effectively communicate technical information to clients, stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and project teams.
• Ability to effectively manage scope, schedule and budget to ensure project objectives are met.
• Strong desire and ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams comprising planners, natural resources specialists, engineers and other professionals.
• A willingness to contribute ideas, share expertise, and support team members to achieve project goals and deliver high‑quality results.
• Maintain accurate field records using GPS/GIS tools and digital data platforms.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are not required but would be considered advantageous. The ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time to project locations throughout Arizona. Proficiency with GIS software, including ArcGIS or comparable platforms.

Relevant certifications or training, such as:

• Wetland Delineation Training in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) methodology.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) species‑handling permits.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
• Qualified SWPPP Inspector (QSI) certification, or the ability to obtain certification.
• Familiarity with environmental regulations, permitting requirements, and processes in states outside of Arizona.
• Highly adaptable and collaborative, with a demonstrated interest in developing and maintaining strong client relationships and contributing to business development initiatives.

Benefits:

Atlas offers a comprehensive benefit program to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, Atlas benefits include health, dental, vision, life, AD&D, voluntary life / AD&D, disability benefits, leaves of absence, 401k, paid time off, paid holidays, employee assistance program, educational assistance program.

Who We Are:

We strive to be the most sought-after infrastructure and environmental solutions company, known for our unique, values‑driven approach and brought to life by the industry’s most exceptional people.

Atlas provides professional testing, inspection, engineering, environmental and consulting services from more than 100 locations nationwide. We deliver solutions to both public and private sector clients in the transportation, commercial, water, government, education and industrial markets.

With a legacy of providing consistent quality and results, Atlas creates a better experience at every stage of an infrastructure project. We connect the best experts in the industry to deliver value from concept to completion and beyond. This means doing everything our clients expect and then raising the expectations in a way that only our people can.

Our Values:

Life:

We enhance quality of life. We value people and safety above all else.

Heart:

As our hallmarks, we act with compassion, empathy and respect.

Trust:

We work together as partners, doing what we say with full accountability.

Mastery:

Always striving for the highest quality, we ensure greatness inspires all our work.

Atlas EEOC Statement

Atlas is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Atlas makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. For more information, read through our EEO Policy https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf