Lead, Senior, or Principal Biologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Half Moon Bay (CA); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Benefits package

Salary transparency

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead, Senior or Principal Biologist in Half Moon Bay, CA. The role involves managing biological resource projects, staff mentorship, and business development with opportunities for leadership, mentoring, and technical review across projects.

The position supports hybrid or remote work, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and regulatory compliance. Ideal candidates have a bachelor’s degree in biology or related field, 8+ years of relevant

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field required, Master’s degree highly desired.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in biological surveys and resource management in either the public or private sector.
• Experience of working with scientists, planners, engineers, contractors, and agency specialists.
• Experience managing subcontractors and ensuring technical excellence.
• Experience in writing technical reports.
• Ability to promote SWCA's services internally and externally.
• Strong wildlife and/or plant identification skills; familiarity with ESA, CEQA, NEPA, permitting and strategy; and excellent writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project manager or technical lead on a variety of biological resource projects.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Take initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are addressed.
• Coordinate and/or lead biological survey and reporting efforts, including jurisdictional waters permitting.
• Work closely with SWCA’s other resource scientists, planners, on natural and cultural resource projects throughout the company.
• Work closely with a project team to develop innovative approaches to resource assessment that meet client needs and can withstand agency and public scrutiny.
• Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Skills

Project management

Business development

Staff mentorship

Technical review

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology

Master's degree preferred

Job description

About The Opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead, Senior or Principal Biologist with experience in natural resource management and biological studies for our Half Moon Bay, CA office. We are seeking a candidate who is looking to develop or continue a long-term consulting career that combines high-level technical expertise, business acumen, and the potential for leadership. Responsibilities may include project management, business development, natural resource planning, leading surveys, and staff coordination. An important aspect of the work will involve staff mentorship and technical review of reports. This position is a regular, full-time, salaried position and can be worked in a hybrid or remote capacity. Pay rate will be competitive, based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP).

We Are Considering Candidates For The Below Levels

• Lead Biologist – Typically with at least eight (8) years of relevant experience and expertise


• Senior Biologist – Typically with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and expertise


• Principal Biologist - Typically with at least twelve (12) years of relevant experience and expertise

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants.

What you will accomplish

• Serve as project manager or technical lead on a variety of biological resource projects.


• Identify and pursue new business opportunities.


• Take initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are addressed.


• Coordinate and/or lead biological survey and reporting efforts, including jurisdictional waters permitting.


• Work closely with SWCA’s other resource scientists, planners, on natural and cultural resource projects throughout the company.


• Work closely with a project team to develop innovative approaches to resource assessment that meet client needs and can withstand agency and public scrutiny.


• Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience And Qualifications For Success

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field required, Master's degree highly desired.


• Minimum of 8 years of experience in biological surveys and resource management in either the public or private sector.


• Experience of working with scientists, planners, engineers, contractors, and agency specialists.


• Experience managing subcontractors and ensuring technical excellence.


• Experience in writing technical reports.


• Ability to promote SWCAs services internally and externally.


• The ideal candidate will also possess strong wildlife and/or plant identification skills; familiarity with the federal and state Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, state and federal jurisdictional waters permitting and strategy, and excellent writing skills required.


• Ability to take initiative, resolve problems and ensure tasks are completed in the most effective manner.


• Ability to work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks in the most effective manner. Willingness to learn and grow into increased project-management and supervisorial responsibilities.

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

Purpose

Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Half Moon Bay, CA-based position can expect a salary of $97,344 to $127,196/year for the Lead Biologist role, and $111,621 to $145,367/year for the Sr. Biologist role, and an annual salary of $127,196 to $166,133/year for the Principal Biologist role. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive benefits package (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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