Project Manager II

Sequoia Ecological Consulting; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. seeks a Project Manager II to lead environmental permitting and compliance projects across California, focusing on quality outcomes for diverse clients.

This role supports work from our Sacramento office, guiding biology- and regulation-focused initiatives with clear communication and strong project management skills. You will collaborate with clients, agencies, and internal teams, oversee budgets and schedules, manage subcontractors, and mentor junior staff

Qualifications

• 6+ years in progressive PM/APM roles with increasing responsibility.
• At least 3 years at PM I level.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, budgets, clients, and teams.
• Strong leadership and written/verbal communication skills; knowledge of California flora/fauna.

Responsibilities

• Interpret complex permits and project scopes to ensure field compliance and make independent decisions.
• Lead author or contributing author for Constraints Analyses, Study Reports, Annual Reports, and similar documents.
• Coordinate, mentor, and review work prepared by Assistant Project Managers and Project Coordinators.
• Develop cost estimates and scopes of work for moderately complex to complex projects; supervise as needed.
• Support or lead marketing proposals and business development efforts.
• Attend site walks and pre-bid meetings; support marketing initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Budgeting

MS Office

GIS tools

Driver's license

Tools

GIS mapping tools

Job description

Project Manager II

ABOUT US

At Sequoia, we believe in providing a great place to work by living our shared core values of Belongingness, Excellence, Passion, Integrity, and Teamwork. As a member of the Sequoia team your unique talents and contributions will be recognized and appreciated, and your work will truly make an impact as we provide the highest level of service to our clients on projects that our staff are passionate about.

Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. (Sequoia) is a small, woman-owned environmental consulting firm that specializes in environmental and biological planning, permitting, and field services. We serve federal, state, and local public agencies, as well as private clients throughout California. Sequoia’s team develops creative solutions to complex projects through proactive planning, collaboration, and attention to detail.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE
you share our values and enjoy leading environmental permitting and compliance projects across California. You will support work based out of our Sacramento office and apply your understanding of biology, state and federal regulations, and project management to lead moderately complex to complex projects for a wide range of clients.

You are comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with project teams, clients, agencies, and internal leadership. You bring experience in project management and coordination, budget and schedule oversight, deliverable review and QA/QC, field survey coordination, impacts analysis, permit evaluation, and preparation of technical reports for biological and environmental work.

At the Project Manager II level, you may also take on greater ownership of client relationships, business development efforts, subcontractor coordination, and mentoring or training of staff. This role may include supervisory responsibilities, typically overseeing small teams of approximately 2–5 employees, depending on project needs and level.

Travel may be required and will vary by role and assignment, with most trips occurring within the Sacramento and/or San Francisco Bay areas. Occasional overnight travel may also be expected.

You will impact the team by:

• Interpret complex compliance packages, permits, and project scopes to ensure compliance in the field; make independent compliance decisions.
• Lead author or contributing author for Constraints Analyses, Study Reports, Annual Reports, and similar documents, depending on project complexity.
• Coordinate, mentor, and review work prepared by Assistant Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and other team members.
• Produce documents that are consistently free of technical and grammatical errors.
• Perform QA/QC and technical editing of documents and deliverables for content and accuracy.
• Develop cost estimates and scopes of work for moderately complex to complex projects, with level of supervision varying by experience.
• Support or lead marketing proposals and business development efforts, depending on level.
• Attend site walk-downs, pre-bid meetings, and support additional marketing initiatives.
• Support coordination of projects, staff resources, and schedules across multiple projects.
• Take initiative in managing budgets, schedules, risks, and client expectations.
• Organize and participate in client, agency, and stakeholder meetings, with increasing responsibility at higher levels.
• Manage prime and subcontractor agreements and change orders.
• Oversee subcontractors and coordinate deliverables as required.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and staff development activities.
• Act as a mentor to less experienced staff and project managers.
• Support or lead internal trainings, SOP development, and internal meetings.
• May supervise staff, with the number and level of direct reports depending on role level and project needs.

As the Primary Project Lead, the Project Manager has responsibility for the following:

• Define and implement project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Support Assistant Project Managers with project setup tasks.
• Manage prime and subcontractor agreements and change orders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for client communication, with increased ownership at the Project Manager II level.
• Review and understand all project materials, permits, and deliverables, including how permit constraints apply to current and future work.
• Coordinate with accounting during project setup to support accurate invoicing.
• Review and approve monthly invoices.
• Enter estimated labor needs and projections on a regular basis.
• Track budgets and support forecasting to ensure projects remain on budget.
• Attend scheduling meetings to confirm adequate staffing and resource allocation.
• Provide QA/QC of technical reports, memos, and deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to delegate work that supports staff development.
• Lead or support project kick-off meetings and ongoing project progress meetings.
• Train and mentor Assistant Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and Project Managers as appropriate.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed through leadership and QA/QC of safety procedures.
• Confirm that field and desktop work assignments align with project scope, approvals, and budgets.
• Work with Principals and leadership to identify staff for project approvals and delegate resume preparation as needed.
• Consistently comply with all company administrative and technical policies, including time and expense reporting and standard operating procedures.

WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU….

• 6+ years of progressive experience as a Project Manager and/or Assistant Project Manager
• At least 3 years of experience functioning at a Project Manager I level
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects, budgets, clients, and teams
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and mentoring skills
• Strong verbal and written communication/ editing skills
• Sophisticated understanding of California flora, fauna, and regulatory environment
• Proficient in MS Office Suite
• Familiar with GIS mapping tools and able to nagigate exiting systems
• Vaild Driver's License

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING AT SEQUOIA ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING, INC:

We provide a collaborative, employee-forward working environment We provide a space that encourages building and maintaining long-term relationships in your work and finding satisfaction in making a lasting impact in protecting our biodiversity. Sequoia is looking for a self-motivated individual who is eager to steer the direction of their career in a company that promotes and supports professional development. We don’t hire candidates to suit the job, we find the work that fulfills our employees and helps them meet their professional goals.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging:

At Sequoia, we create a safe space culture focused on fostering employee well-being, job satisfaction, and productivity. We are committed to a more inclusive and diverse workforce, where each employee can reach their full potential without the burden of discrimination or harassment. We strive to maintain a strong culture built upon our shared core values of Belongingness, Excellence, Passion, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Sequoia is an equal opportunity employer. We understand that diversity, including human diversity, is the key to the success of all healthy ecosystems. We are a forest of remarkable individuals, standing tall as our authentic selves and as one. At Sequoia, we grow together to form a stable community that is diverse in character and content.