Senior Biologist

Stantec; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 93,800 - 140,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) plan

Paid family leave

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Senior Biologist with extensive expertise in managing biological resources projects in Southern California. Candidates should possess at least 10 years of experience in the field, demonstrating strong project management and communication skills.

The role includes overseeing field biology, regulatory strategies, and conducting biological assessments. The position requires coordination with clients and regulatory agencies, with opportunities for both field and office work.

Join Stantec and contribute to impactful projects while collaborating with industry-leading professionals.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of related experience.
• Experience in conducting biological resources surveys.
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects and supervise staff.
• Lead teams for field tasks and ensure compliance.
• Prepare and review technical reports and assessments.

Skills

Project management

Biological impact assessment

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Knowledge of environmental regulations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GPS technology

GIS technology

Job description

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, Stantec’s experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that’s critical to our clients and the communities they support.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.

Your Opportunity

Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with at least 10 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group by operating out of one of our southern California offices, including but not necessarily limited to: Los Angeles, Fresno, Irvine, Monrovia, Paramount, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Ventura. We welcome a talented and collaborative team member with demonstrable experience in southern California and elsewhere. As a Senior-level Biologist with Stantec, you will work in a highly dynamic team environment with other biologists/ecologists/water resource specialists, and land planning and regulatory experts. This position will include opportunities for both field and office work; it may also involve field work during construction of projects and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects. In this position, you will be responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of siting and licensing of energy production, including renewable energy, electric and gas transmission projects, transportation projects, community development projects, and projects for other public and private sector clients. As a Senior Biologist, you will oversee and provide expertise in field biology, regulatory strategy, CEQA/NEPA analysis, and permitting strategy. Specific background and expertise should consist of strong botanical, wetland, or wildlife technical expertise, familiarity and experience with regulatory permitting, and project and client management. This position requires coordination with clients, resource agencies, and environmental and technical staff.

What You Will Do for Stantec

• Manage projects, supervise staff, lead and mentor project field teams, and provide support to other project managers undertaking renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
• Schedule, assist, and/or lead teams for field tasks, as needed, such as special-status species surveys/inventories, nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments and mapping, jurisdictional waters delineations and assessments, and compliance monitoring.
• Provide guidance to junior staff, including providing training recommendations, coaching, and mentoring.
• Plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• Work with business development teams and lead efforts to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) including defining the scope of work, associated cost, and compiling relevant sections of proposal documents.
• Contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees.
• Coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of various survey efforts and technical reports.
• Lead development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
• Assist teams and lead efforts in pursuing and contributing to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
• Have a target 75-80% direct project utilization goal.
• Conduct occasional overnight travel within and outside of southern California.

Preferred Skills

You are a biologist or natural resources management specialist; you at minimum hold a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field; and have a minimum 10 years of related experience demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility in conducting biological resources surveys and preparing technical reports. Skills desired include:

• Demonstrable experience in all aspects of project management, biological impact assessment and mitigation strategy development, and preparation and review of biological resources documents.
• Demonstrable experience in providing strong support and collaboration in delivering high quality work products to multi-disciplinary project teams within project scope, budget and schedule expectations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills.
• Business development acumen with established relationships with clients and regulatory agency staff and/or the capability of successfully developing and maintaining these relationships.
• Significant experience in reviewing and analyzing scientific data, maps, and drawings with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Significant demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California and experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys; experience in other areas of California and elsewhere will be considered a plus.
• Experience with and/or permits for arroyo toad, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, and/or desert tortoise will be considered a plus.
• Possession of a California Scientific Collecting Permit, State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and or federal Recovery Permit for one or more special-status species will be considered a plus.
• Qualifications and/or experience with being considered a USFWS-approved biologist for one or more federally listed species and/or a CDFW-approved Designated Biologist (DB) will be considered a plus, particularly for desert tortoise and Mohave ground squirrel.
• Significant experience in preparing technical documentation including biological survey reports, technical memoranda, Biological Resources Technical Reports (BRTRs), jurisdictional waters delineations and Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs), and/or biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California, such as:
  • Federal and California Endangered Species Act (FESA/CESA)
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (MBTA/BGEPA)
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Porter-Cologne)
  • California Fish and Game Code (FGC)
  • California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs (CCA/LCPs)
  • Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP)
  • Significant experience in preparation of regulatory permit applications such as Clean Water Act Section 404/401, Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and/or federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs).
  • Demonstrable experience contributing to environmental permitting of energy facilities, pipelines, and/or linear infrastructure projects.
  • Demonstrable technical competence and project experience in natural resource fields applicable to commercial (primarily conventional or renewable energy generation/transmission) siting and licensing or environmental permitting of other infrastructure projects.
  • Demonstrable experience in working on construction projects, compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
  • Demonstrable experience with using GPS/GIS technology to collect biological survey data, map vegetation communities, and/or delineate jurisdictional waters.
  • Wetland delineation training certificate and/or demonstrable experience in conducting jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations will be considered a plus.
  • Must have ability to occasionally travel.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
  • A medical physical and/or drug and alcohol screening may be required for some project assignments.
  • OSHA HAZWOPER 40 certification may need to be obtained prior to employment.

Education and Experience

BS (MS degree preferred) in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field with minimum of 10 years of experience.

Primary Location

United States | CA | Los Angeles

Other Locations

United States | CA | Irvine

Travel

Yes

Schedule

Full time

Pay Range

• Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ Areas-$93,800.00 - $140,800.00 Annually
• Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA areas-$100,700.00 - $151,000.00 Annually

Pay Transparency

In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.

Benefits Summary

Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law). Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law. The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.