Lead Forest Ecologist

WSP Global Inc.; Remote; USD 95,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consulting firm is looking for a Lead Forest Ecologist to join their California team. This role requires extensive experience in federal land management, forest planning, and NEPA analysis. The candidate will lead ecosystem projects across multiple states, ensuring effective collaboration with diverse teams, and must possess strong technical writing skills. The position offers the flexibility of remote work while participating in project-related travel across the U.S. Competitive salary range is specified between $95,400 and $141,680.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and financial benefits

Paid vacation and parental leave

Paid sick leave

Flexible work schedules

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience as a Forester or Forest Ecologist, with at least 5 years on federal lands.
• Well-developed expertise in NEPA / CEQA analysis.
• Ability to work independently and lead junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Serve as forester or forest ecologist on multiple projects.
• Lead and organize forestry and ecology field data collection.
• Advise team members on forest planning and impact analysis.

Skills

Federal land management

Forest planning

NEPA analysis

Biological surveys

Scientific writing

Technical writing

GIS data generation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or related field

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP USA is initiating a search for a Lead Forest Ecologist to join our California Earth and Environment Team! Our California-based team consists of members concentrated in California, but many live and work on projects in multiple states across the U.S. based on our team’s capabilities and interests. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with federal land management, forest planning, NEPA analysis related to forests and natural resources management, biological/ecological surveys, forestry management, and scientific writing. The ideal candidate has experience with writing technical biological reports, evaluating impacts to sensitive resources on federal lands, and planning with the US Forest Service with demonstrated success in forestry and/or ecology and technical writing.

Your Impact

• Serve as forester or forest ecologist on multiple projects in multiple states, including three ongoing projects in Oregon
• Identify potential new clients and project opportunities nationally with internal members of the organization
• Lead/organize forestry and/or ecology field data collection and prepare related reports
• Advise other team members on forest planning and impact analysis related to US Forest Service and other federal agencies
• Grow our ability to undertake vegetation modeling, including Forest Vegetation Simulation (FVS) modeling and other statistical analyses to support multiple projects
• Participate in wildfire mitigation planning
• Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams which could include engineers, planners, GIS analysts, recreation specialists, biologists, cultural resources specialists, permitting and environmental resource specialists, and construction compliance monitors
• Lead or assist with GIS data generation and management, particularly for ecological data, for federal or state clients

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.
• 7 to 10 years of experience working as a Forester or Forest ecologist, with at least 5 years associated with federal lands
• US Forest Service Experience
• Well-developed expertise with conducting NEPA / CEQA / other analysis and preparation of associated documentation.
• Highly capable self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Up to 20% travel may be required for field work and client meetings

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications as applicable to technical expertise
• Knowledge of federal and state, and local environmental regulations related to sensitive species in Washington, Oregon, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Ability to work remotely from any location in the US, while supporting projects nationally.

Compensation

Expected Salary: $ 95,400- $141, 680

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.