Mid-Senior Environmental Biologist - San Diego

Dudek; Encinitas (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudek is seeking a full-time Biologist to join its Biological Resources team in Southern California. The role involves wildlife and aquatic resource surveys, delineations, and technical writing, with project management responsibilities.

The position offers a hybrid work arrangement and opportunities to contribute to a growing regional practice in San Diego and beyond.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in biological resource consulting or regulatory agency setting.
• Knowledge of special-status plant species and Southern California resources.
• Familiarity with handheld GPS and GIS tools such as ESRI FieldMaps, Survey123, and Collector.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations (CWA, ESA, Porter-Cologne, CDFW).
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist on large-scale field data collection in remote locations and work in various weather conditions.
• Manage small-scale biological resource projects including scheduling, budgeting, and client coordination.
• Prepare methodology reports, field survey results, and aquatic resource delineation reports.
• Mentor junior staff and collaborate across Dudek teams.
• Travel as required to project sites.

Skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Travel willingness

Driver's license

GPS proficiency

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

EOS Arrow GPS

ESRI FieldMaps

Survey123

Collector

Job description

Overview

Location(s): San Diego CountyPractice/Department: BiologicalWork Environment: HybridCompensation: $75,000-$85,000 annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has beenrecognized by leading industry organizations, andwe’vebeen honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Learn more about ouraward-winning culture, thebenefits and perksof being aDudekian, and theprojectsyou will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are

As anemployee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, andcollaborationwhile thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like allDudekians, you are curious andsolution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit ofinnovation.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is currently seeking a full-time experienced Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudek’s biological resources practice locally in the San Diego area and the greater Southern California region; manage and implement a wide variety of projects involving sensitive biological resources, including botanical surveys, wildlife surveys, and aquatic resource delineations; and work collaboratively with other Dudek staff. This position will be a mix of technical writing, project management, and field-based work out of Southern California.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities for this position may include but are not limited to:

• Assist on large-scale or lead small-scale collection of detailed field data, work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and work full days in all types of weather, including but not limited to the following tasks:
  • Assist on aquatic resource delineations.
  • Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
  • Assist or lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife.
  • Assist on large scale or lead small-scale vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage small-scale biological resource projects and biological tasks onlarger multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations with oversight from senior-level staff.
• Prepare Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports with senior-staff guidance.
• Preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations with senior-staff oversight.
• Serve as a mentor to junior-level staff and assist in building their proficiency of technical skills.
• Ability to work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks on time and within budget.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven experience assisting in the execution of biological tasks or projects..
• Knowledge and understanding of special-status plant species, vegetation communities, and sensitive vegetation resources that occur in the Southern California region.
• Familiarity with using a handheld GPS unit (e.g., EOS Arrow or similar) and experience using advanced software and mapping tools such as ESRI FieldMaps, Survey123, and Collector.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, regulations, and permitting requirements relating to biological resources, in particular, the federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exercises good judgment and sound decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including overnight stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• Some demonstrated experience with management of projects involving biological impact analyses, special-status species, and mitigation planning, particularly experienced in the regulatory environment of Southern California.
• Proficient in wildlife identification and impact evaluation skills throughout California.
• Knowledge of California aquatic resource types and systems.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented project delivery approach.
• Possess or actively pursuing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 10(a)(1)(A) recovery survey permits and/or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Scientific Collecting Permits (SCPs) for regionally relevant species including, but not limited to, coastal California gnatcatcher, Quino checkerspot butterfly, southwestern willow flycatcher, burrowing owl, and Crotch’s bumblebee.
• Possess or actively pursuing a CDFW Plant Voucher Collecting Permit to collect voucher specimens of state‑listed rare, threatened, endangered, or candidate plant species.

Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

• This joboperatesin a remote or office-basedenvironmentand this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• This job requires occasional project site visits, basedoutdoorswhich can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing forlong periodsof time in an office or remote office setting.

• Employees must be capable of bending, squatting, climbing ladders, andlifting upto 35 lbs. unassisted; 50lbs in a team lift (two or more employees).

• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with government agency representatives, members of the public, and others.Speaking,hearingand listening arerequired.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time.

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Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair andequitableprocesses, based on merit, free from any discrimination.

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable lawsprovidingequal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to allpersonsinvolved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.