Project Associate- Biologist (Part-Time Flex)

Verdantas LLC; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Environment

401(k) with Company Match

Job summary

Verdantas LLC is seeking an experienced environmental biology professional to lead and execute complex restoration and environmental consulting projects in the western United States. You will work with clients, agencies, and project teams to deliver high-quality reports and permits while guiding field teams in wetlands and wildlife surveys.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, clear communication, and robust project coordination, with frequent fieldwork and potential overnight stays.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in environmental biology, wildlife management, botany, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in restoration and environmental consulting.
• Established relationships with local, state, and federal permitting agencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing biological technical reports, environmental impact evaluation, and permitting processes.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental inspections and monitoring for wildlife and plants.
• Maintain relationships with clients and regulatory agencies to complete reporting requirements.
• Lead business development activities including proposals and client relationships.
• Develop and implement projects related to wetlands, environmental assessments, and regulatory approvals.
• Supervise field biologists and provide mentoring.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project coordination

MS Office

Education

Master's degree in environmental biology, wildlife management, botany, or closely related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose! At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting‑edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high‑growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure. Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people‑focused culture, prioritizing the well‑being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data‑driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future. Join a people‑first culture that values your well‑being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.

Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce. Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental inspections and construction monitoring for special status wildlife and plants, nesting bird surveys and biological assessments.
• Maintain and establish relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, and construction crews to complete reporting requirements.
• Lead and contribute to business development activities, including proposals, pre-qualifications, and relationship building with clients and prospective clients and industry colleagues.
• Develop, manage, and implement projects related to wetlands, biophysical impact assessments, environmental assessments, and regulatory approvals.
• Manage your project cycles from project set up to breakdown (developing cost estimates, managing field staff, tracking project budgets and deliverables).
• Provide supervision, training, technical direction and mentoring to field biologists.
• Use of GPS units and aerial photographs for project navigation and collect field data.
• Taking photographs and detailed notes of site conditions.
• Understanding of project environmental requirements and associated laws protecting biological resources.
• Prepare high quality technical reports and environmental documents.
• Participate in Health & Safety Policies (HASP), Procedures, Standards and Guidelines in the execution of all work.
• Frequent field work, often requiring overnight stays.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental biology, wildlife management, botany, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in restoration and environmental consulting.
• Special-status species experience.
• Established relationships with local, state, and federal permitting agencies.
• Familiar with CEQA, NEPA, CESA, CWA Compliance processes and permitting including Initial Study Biological Assessments.
• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing biological technical reports, environmental impact evaluation, siting reports, and environmental permit applications, including field surveys and reporting, and resource and impact evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience leading environmental permitting of energy facilities, pipelines, and/or linear infrastructure projects in the western United States including: USACE 404 wetland permitting, CDFW 1600 Agreements and CESA permitting, RWQCB 401 certifications, and other environmental permitting.
• Prior experience with waters, wetlands, fisheries preferred.
• Prior experience with wildlife and/or botanical targeted surveys required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with MS Office.

Competencies

• Strong aptitude for independently coordinating and accomplishing difficult tasks.
• Effective and concise communication.
• Strong leadership and relationship building skills.
• Ability to delegate effectively.
• Must have a satisfactory driving record.
• Must provide declaration of auto insurance (CA state-minimum required) upon hire.
• Must complete a background check.

Physical Requirements

• Required to sit or stand at an office workstation, sometimes for extended periods.
• Required to work on keyboard, using mouse while looking at computer screens/monitors, sometimes for extended periods.
• Comfortable working physically challenging outdoor situations in all types of weather and traveling on a regular basis to project sites which may require overnight stays.
• Able to perform field work on uneven terrain.
• Required to work with tools.
• Be able to lift up to 25 lbs.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $50.00/hour

Benefits

• Flexible Work Environment
• 401(k) with Company Match