On Call Senior Paleontologist (Paleontological Resources Specialist)

WSP Global Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 59,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

WSP Global Inc. seeks an On Call Senior Paleontologist to manage monitoring and mitigation for major California infrastructure projects.

You will lead field teams, ensure regulatory compliance, and help build a regional monitoring program while coordinating with agencies across the Southwest U.S. The role requires a strong background in geology/paleontology and several years of field experience, with leadership exposure and the ability to travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Geology, Paleontology, Archaeology, Anthropology, historic preservation, or related field.
• 5 to 7 years of relevant post-education field experience (surveys, monitoring, excavation).
• Minimum three years of paleontological resource mitigation and field experience in California.
• At least one year of leading paleontological resource mitigation and field activities.
• Ability to recognize and collect fossils in the field.
• Local geological and biostratigraphic expertise.
• Proficiency in identifying vertebrate and invertebrate fossils.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements; travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead Paleontological Resources Specialist for construction projects throughout California.
• Develop and implement Paleontological Resources Monitoring and Mitigation Plans.
• Supervise qualified Paleontological Monitors and coordinate with construction teams.
• Give WEAP training to construction staff.
• Assisting in coordination with agencies including CEC, CPUC, and local jurisdictions.
• Evaluate paleontological discoveries and direct mitigation strategies in coordination with environmental compliance team.
• Provide technical oversight and monitoring and discovery report preparation.
• Ensure compliance with project requirements, laws and regulations.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Fossil identification

Field supervision

Regulatory coordination

WEAP training

Environmental compliance

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Geology/Paleontology/Archaeology/Anthropology

Master’s Degree or PhD preferred

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is currentlyseekingan On Call SeniorPaleontologist (PaleontologicalResources Specialist – PRS)to manage paleontological monitoring and mitigation programs for major infrastructure and energy projects in California. This role serves as a resource lead and wouldbe responsible foroversight of field teams and regulatory compliance for large-scale construction projects within Southern California. The successful candidate would help build the larger paleontological monitoring program within the Southwestern United States and wouldbe responsible fortheday to dayoperations of paleontological work on major construction andpermittingprojects throughout California.

The successful candidate would need to meet the minimum qualifications for a Qualified Professional Paleontologist as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR, Title 43, Subtitle A, Part 49 – Paleontological Resources Preservation and in the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s Standard Procedures for the Assessment and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts to Paleontological Resources (SVP 20210).

Your Impact

• Serve as lead Paleontological Resources Specialist for construction projects throughout California.
• Develop and implement Paleontological Resources Monitoring and Mitigation Plans.
• Supervise qualified Paleontological Monitors and coordinate with construction teams.
• Give Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training to construction staff.
• Assistingin coordination with agencies including CEC, CPUC, and localjurisdictions.
• Evaluate paleontological discoveries and direct mitigation strategies in coordination with environmental complianceteamandin accordance withmitigation plans.
• Provide technical oversight andmonitoringand discovery report preparation.
• Ensure compliance with project requirements,lawsand regulations.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-makingregardingcompany funds,resourcesand conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Performadditionalresponsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree inGeology, Paleontology,Archaeology, Anthropology, historic preservation, ora relatedfield.
• 5 to 7 years of relevant post-education experience working in archaeologicalor paleontologicalfieldwork to include siterecordation, survey, construction monitoring, and excavation.
• Minimum three years of paleontological resource mitigation and field experience in California
• At least oneyear ofleading paleontological resource mitigation and field activities.
• Ability to recognize and collect fossils in the field.
• Local geological andbiostratigraphicexpertise.
• Proficiencyinidentifyingvertebrate and invertebrate fossils.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Highly capable self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Developed critical thinking and problem-solving skillsrequiredto reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, andidentifythe most effective solutions toaccomplishobjectivesof assigned projects.
• Proventrack recordof upholding workplace safety and ability to abided 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.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degreeor PhDis preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading regulated construction projects.
• Demonstrated established professional network and publicationrecord.
• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred.
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.
  

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a 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.

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $42.79 - $70.63 per hour

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.