Field-Based Wildlife Biologist & Compliance Lead

WRA, Inc.; California (MO); On-site; USD 98,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

WRA, Inc. in Northern California is seeking a full-time Wildlife Biologist to lead a compliance monitoring team on construction projects and coordinate with project managers and clients.

You will manage field staff, mentor junior biologists, conduct species surveys, prepare reports and training materials, and travel to field sites across Northern California, with peak workload June–November. The ideal candidate has 5–8 years of wildlife biology experience, strong communication and organizational

Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of professional experience in wildlife biology, ecological consulting, and compliance monitoring on construction projects.
• Extensive knowledge of California's wildlife species, habitats, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Proven experience with project implementation, including fieldwork, staff management, and reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information effectively to a lay audience.
• Project and/or task management experience, including staffing and maintaining project schedules and budgets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams throughout the firm.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new project management and field data systems quickly.
• Experience using or managing tasks in project tracking and communication platforms such as VantagePoint, Asana, or similar tools.
• Willingness and availability to accept field shifts when other staff are unavailable, including nights and weekends.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, especially when managing multiple projects with shifting field logistics and deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to health and safety, with experience preparing Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs), conducting safety briefings, and contributing to incident reporting and investigations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Managing the compliance monitoring stage of multiple projects concurrently, including managing compliance monitoring staff, their schedules, duties, and project reporting.
• Working with WRA team leaders, project managers, and field staff to maintain, document, and report on permit compliance through project implementation.
• Work directly with clients to strategically navigate permit compliance requirements during project implementation.
• Training and mentoring field staff on natural resource protection means and measures based on best available science.
• Lead and report on surveys for various species and sensitive habitats during various project phases, including project implementation.
• Author, conduct, and maintain records for awareness training on species, safety, and compliance monitoring for biologists and project personnel.
• Providing creative strategies and recommendations for avoiding and minimizing project effects on sensitive wildlife and habitats.
• Preparing scopes of work and supporting competitive proposal efforts.
• Working collaboratively on sustainable business practices that align with firm Mission and Vision.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Wildlife biology

Communication

Project management

Leadership

Team management

Education

Degree in wildlife biology, ecology, or related field

Tools

VantagePoint

Asana

Microsoft Office

Job description

WRA, Inc. in Northern California is seeking a full-time Wildlife Biologist to lead a compliance monitoring team on construction projects and coordinate with project managers and clients.

You will manage field staff, mentor junior biologists, conduct species surveys, prepare reports and training materials, and travel to field sites across Northern California, with peak workload June–November. The ideal candidate has 5–8 years of wildlife biology experience, strong communication and organizational