Regional Biology Lead

Bkfengineers; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Profit sharing

401k

Generous paid time off

9 Paid Holidays

Flexible schedules

Education reimbursement

Professional organization dues

Job summary

BKF Engineers seeks a Bay Area Regional Biology Lead to guide the biological resources team, oversee projects and budgets, and manage client interactions from the Bay Area office. This role supports growth and regulatory permitting initiatives with a focus on leadership and mentorship.

The position emphasizes staff development, project oversight, and collaboration with planners, engineers, and environmental scientists. Remote-compatible with required Bay Area presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Resources, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in vegetation mapping, habitat assessments, jurisdictional delineation of waters and wetlands, and presence/absence surveys.
• Strong technical writing, data analysis, and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Staff and project/task management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management oversight on projects, including budgets and task descriptions, and client interactions.
• Lead business development activities, including proposals and client interviews.
• Serve as a project/task manager on biological and regulatory permitting projects.
• Support environmental permitting for Incidental Take Permits, Habitat Conservation Plan drafting, and related permits.
• Lead jurisdictional delineations and fieldwork; train team on best practices.
• Drive thought leadership by presenting at conferences and publishing white papers.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams of planners, engineers, and environmental scientists.
• Supervise and develop entry-level staff.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Technical writing

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biological Resources, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

At BKF, we’re not just growing—we’re thriving! As a dynamic multi-service consulting firm, we specialize in planning, engineering, surveying, and construction management. With more than 20 West Coast offices, we’ve been a trusted partner in the land development, transportation, water resources, and government services and markets for over 110 years. Our firm combines deep technical resources with a collaborative approach to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions that bring community visions to life. If you’re looking to be part of a forward-thinking company that’s making a real impact, BKF is the place for you!

BKF is hiring a Bay Area Regional Biology Lead to support our growing biological resources and regulatory permitting team. The ideal candidate will be able to train and oversee biology staff, manage projects, and assist with business development. The position is compatible with remote work, but a physical presence in the Bay Area is required. This position is ideal for an experienced candidate who wants to lead their own team of biologists and regulatory specialists and take a meaningful leadership role in team building and project execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

BKF is seeking a self-driven, detail-oriented Bay Area Regional Biology Lead to support the continued growth of our biological resources team. Job duties include:

• Provide project management oversight on projects, including preparing and managing project budgets and task descriptions, and interacting with clients.
• Lead business development activities, including preparing proposals, participate in project interviews, and conduct proactive business development with key clients.
• Serves as a project/task manager on biological and regulatory permitting projects.
• Support clients in need of environmental permitting, including but not limited to Incidental Take Permits, Habitat Conservation Plan Drafting and consistency analyses, Clean Water Act 401 and 404 permits, California Coastal Commission permits, and CDFW Section 1600 permitting. The ideal candidate has the experience to provide and compare multiple permitting pathways for clients to consider.
• Leading Jurisdictional Delineations and other related fieldwork in supporting of regulatory permitting tasks, as well as training team members on best practices for fieldwork.
• Driving thought leadership and MNS name recognition by presenting at conferences, publishing white papers, and serving in a leadership role in professional organizations.
• Coordinating with interdisciplinary teams including planners, engineers, and environmental scientists.
• Supervision and management of entry-level staff. Ability to coach, mentor, and develop staff.

Requirements

• Established relationships with potential clients in the Bay Area and surrounding regions, and the candidate must be physically based in the Bay Area.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Biological Resources, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
• Completion of the wetland delineation training from a known school or program.
• 10+ years of experience conducting vegetation mapping, habitat assessments, jurisdictional delineation of waters and wetlands, and presence/absence surveys.
• Experience supporting mitigation compliance and construction monitoring projects.
• Staff and project/task management experience preferred.
• Strong technical writing, data analysis, and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• An articulate and persuasive communicator, both one-on-one and in front of large groups.
• A high energy, passionate, forward thinking, results-oriented, team player, and resourceful leader.
• Ability to handle critical conversations with internal staff, managers, and leaders.

Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $153,691.00 - $187,845.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
• Generous paid time off packages.
• 9 Paid Holidays.
• Flexible schedules.
• Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.