Remote Biologist

AECOM; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 58,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life

AD&D

Disability benefits

Paid time off

Leaves of absences

Voluntary benefits

Perks

Flexible work options

Well-being resources

Employee assistance program

Business travel insurance

Service recognition awards

Retirement savings plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

AECOM seeks an Authorized Desert Tortoise Field Biologist for field-based work across southern/central California deserts. This remote, on-call role requires extended field deployments with occasional Southern California office ties.

You will lead tortoise and owl surveys, monitor wildlife, and support environmental compliance while using field data tools. Responsibilities include supervising monitors, training staff, relocating tortoises when needed, and ensuring adherence to federal/state

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field; 4 years of relevant desert experience or demonstrated equivalency.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass MVR check.
• Experience with biological surveys and regulatory requirements for listed species in southern California desert regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead desert tortoise surveys and pre-construction monitoring.
• Lead and conduct burrowing owl surveys and monitoring, including passive relocation.
• Lead and conduct surveys for American badger and desert kit fox; conduct general wildlife and botanical surveys.
• Support project execution and environmental compliance monitoring; manage field data.

Skills

Desert tortoise surveys

Burrowing owl surveys

Wildlife field surveys

Data collection in the field

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Field teamwork

Driver/Vehicle operation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology/ecology

Tools

Fulcrum

Field Maps

Job description

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

AECOM is seeking an experienced Authorized Desert Tortoise Field Biologist in the southern/central California desert regions. This is a field-based, fully remote, on-call position requiring the ability to be local on field assignments for extended periods but linked to a Southern California-based office.

Responsibilities

• Lead protocol and pre-construction desert tortoise surveys and monitoring.
• Lead and conduct focused burrowing owl surveys and monitoring, including passive relocation.
• Lead and conduct focused American badger and desert kit fox surveys and monitoring.
• Conduct general wildlife and/or botanical surveys, including vegetation and habitat mapping.
• Identify and record native and non-native fauna and/or flora in the field.
• Conduct other special-status species surveys, following established protocols or guidelines as relevant.
• Conduct avian species nesting surveys and avian mortality monitoring.
• Support project execution, including pre-construction surveys and construction monitoring.
• Assist with environmental compliance monitoring.
• Provide oversight of restoration crew work and restoration vegetation performance monitoring.
• Utilize electronic data collection methods in the field; manage, interpret, and analyze data, as needed.
• Conduct monitoring and survey fieldwork as part of a team and independently in inland and desert environments, which can include rugged terrain.
• Work under the supervision of a senior project manager or senior-level team member.
• Elevate compliance concerns to project or construction managers.
• Provide clarification of resource project requirements to the compliance and construction teams.
• Willingness to temporarily relocate to the California Desert region (including Blythe, El Centro, Palm Springs, Barstow, etc.)

Authorized Desert Tortoise Biologist

• To be approved by the USFWS to conduct activities that may result in “take” of the desert tortoise, an authorized biologist should have thorough knowledge of desert tortoise behavior, natural history, and ecology, and demonstrate substantial field experience and training to successfully:
• Relocate/translocate desert tortoises prior to implementation of projects.
• Unearth and relocate desert tortoise eggs.
• Directly supervise desert tortoise monitors during clearance surveys and train monitors in all aspects of protecting desert tortoises during implementation of projects.
• Be familiar with project biological assessments and biological opinions or incidental take permits.
• Direct proper implementation of protective measures.
• Halt project activities according to the provisions of the biological opinion or permit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (biology, ecology, etc.)
• 4 years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience working in desert environments within the range of the desert tortoise with raining and/or experience conducting surveys for listed species local to southern California desert regions, particularly desert tortoise and burrowing owl.
• A valid driver’s license is required, along with the ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check in accordance with company policy.
• Experience conducting biological surveys and/or environmental compliance monitoring and biological construction oversight.
• Field experience with special status species of southern California or Nevada, and knowledge of regulatory requirements.
• Substantial field experience and training to safely and successfully conduct desert tortoise surveys and monitoring.
• Substantial field experience to conduct focused burrowing owl surveys
• Familiarity with the Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population) Field Manual (USFWS 2009).
• Possess a 10(A)(1)(a) permit for listed species local to southern California and Nevada.
• Familiarity with mitigation, monitoring, and reporting programs.
• Experience on construction-associated transmission and/or utility projects.
• Familiarity with regulatory and permitting requirements under the federal Endangered Species Act, California Endangered Species Act, NEPA, CEQA, and the Clean Water Act.
• Flexibility and willingness to support multiple projects as needed.
• Experience with electronic data collection (Fulcrum, Field Maps, etc.).

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• AD&D
• disability benefits
• paid time off
• leaves of absences
• voluntary benefits
• perks
• flexible work options
• well-being resources
• employee assistance program
• business travel insurance
• service recognition awards
• retirement savings plan
• employee stock purchase plan

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AECOM Technical Services Inc

Business Line: Environment

Work Location Model: Remote

Operating Group: Americas

Primary Location: US - San Diego, CA - 401 West A Stre

Compensation: USD 42.00 - USD 54.00 - hourly