Project Level Biologist – Desert Tortoise

SWCA, Incorporated; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants in Las Vegas, NV seeks a Project Level Biologist – Desert Tortoise to support diverse projects across renewable energy, transmission, and restoration. This is a field-based, full-time, hourly role with benefits, primarily in Nevada’s desert environment.

The role offers growth through ownership of project components, mentorship to junior staff, and collaboration with clients and agencies to ensure regulatory compliance and accurate data delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or related field.
• Two (2) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in biological studies.
• Ability to work up to 10 hours in the field in a desert environment.

Responsibilities

• Directs and participates in field data collection and management for projects.
• Collaborates with GIS and Statistical teams on data analysis and reporting.
• Prepares sections of technical resource reports and ensures quality deliverables.
• Mentors junior staff on resource science, methods, and regulatory requirements.
• Assists with planning documents and regulatory compliance reviews.

Skills

Field data collection

Data analysis

Mentorship

Regulatory compliance

Communication with partners

Team collaboration

Documentation

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology

Environmental science or related field

Tools

GIS

GPS units

Radio-telemetry

Statistical software

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Project Level Biologist – Desert Tortoise to join our Natural Resources team in Las Vegas, NV. In this role, you will support various projects across renewable energy, transmission, infrastructure, restoration, local agency, etc., sectors.

This is a field-based opportunity based out of Las Vegas, NV. Priority will be given to applicants in Nevada or the desert Southwest. Travel is not expected for this position. You will collaborate with project managers, clients, and multidisciplinary teams to support project execution and ensure successful delivery of environmental outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to expand project responsibility, strengthen technical expertise, and take ownership of key project components.

This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt and regular (with benefits) position.

This requisition can hire at two levels –

• Assistant Project Biologist: Typically, with at least two (2) years of relevant professional experience and expertise.
• Associate Project Biologist: Typically, with at least four (4) years of relevant professional experience and expertise.

What you will accomplish

• Directs and participates in the collection, management, and summarization of field data and other best available information. Expected to ensure that information collected and applied to projects is accurate, complete, and verifiable.
• Directs and performs simple descriptive data analysis and collaborates with GIS and Statistical teams on more complex tasks to analyze significance, identify trends, and make predictions applicable to project questions. Directs and performs monitoring or management actions in the field to implement project requirements or regulatory terms and conditions. Creates and maintains records of completed activities and conditions for the project record.
• Coordinates and prepares sections of technical resource reports, including setting, objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions. Collaborates with Technical Editors to ensure quality of written deliverables.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff on resource science, methods and practices, regulatory requirements, and project or client insights.
• Assists with identifying strategies for avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating project impacts and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Assists in drafting of planning and compliance documents for regulatory reviews and approval.
• Communicates directly with teaming partners, experts, clients, landowners, and agency staff to present or solicit technical information. Memorializes communications for project records and shares important insights, action items, or issues with project teams and supervisors.
• Engages in opportunities to increase understanding of and keep current on matters of science, regulation, and industry related to project work.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct biological natural resource field surveys collecting observational and spatial data concerning a variety of vegetation, terrestrial and/or avian species. Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, and associated landforms.
• The potential to complete biological survey reports, data entry, impact assessment, and assist in Endangered Species Act, wetland delineations and/or Clean Water Act permitting. Conduct research as appropriate and assist with proposal development.
• Adhere to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• Use radio-telemetry to track Mojave desert tortoise, sometimes in rugged terrain.
• Perform compliance monitoring for construction projects, including pre-construction avian and desert tortoise surveys.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or related field.
• Two (2) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in biological studies.
• The ability to work up to 10 hours in the field in a desert environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Four (4) years of related experience; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.
• Previous U.S. Fish and Wildlife approval as an Authorized Mojave Desert Tortoise Biologist
• Diverse experience with desert southwest plants and wildlife.
• Detail-oriented and capable of adhering to established protocols.
• Ability to record project data accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Experience with avian and/or bat identification is a plus
• The ability to conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes inclement weather conditions, including walking at least 10-miles in rugged terrain carrying equipment and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds, is a must.
• Willing and able to work construction hours, including being flexible when crews need to work longer hours than anticipated that day, as well as the potential to work weekends