Senior Biologist

Dudek; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Hybrid work

Award-winning culture

Job summary

Dudek is seeking a senior Biologist to join our Biological Resources team in Santa Barbara. The successful candidate will manage complex projects involving sensitive biological resources, with emphasis on botanical surveys and aquatic resource delineations, and collaborate with colleagues across northern and southern California offices.

The role combines technical writing, project management, and fieldwork, with opportunities to contribute to BD efforts and mentorship of staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex biological tasks or projects for at least 5 years, including client communication, contract negotiations, scheduling and budgeting, quality of deliverables, and large team coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale collection of detailed field data, including aquatic resource delineations and plant/wildlife surveys.
• Identify California flora to species and subspecies; lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered species.
• Prepare and oversee reports summarizing methodology, results, and recommendations; oversee Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports; support environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA evaluations.
• Lead and support business development for biological resource projects; mentor junior staff and build technical skills.

Skills

Biology

Field data collection

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Job description

Overview

Location(s): Santa Barbara, CA

Practice/Department: Biological

Work Environment: Hybrid

Compensation: $115,000-135,000/annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has beenrecognized by leading industry organizations, andwe’vebeen honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Learn more about ouraward-winning culture, thebenefits and perksof being aDudekian, and theprojectsyou will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are

As anemployee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, andcollaborationwhile thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like allDudekians, you are curious andsolution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit ofinnovation.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is currently seeking a full-time senior Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudek’s biological resources practice in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas; manage and implement a wide variety of complex projects involving sensitive biological resources, with a focus on botanical surveys and aquatic resource delineations; and work collaboratively with other Dudek staff based out of our northern and southern California offices. This position will be a mix of technical writing, project management, business development and field-based work out of Northern California.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale collection of detailed field data, work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and work full days in all types of weather, including but not limited to the following tasks:
• Lead complex and large-scale aquatic resource delineations.
• Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
• Lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife; and
• Lead large-scale and complex vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage standalone biological resource projects as well as biological tasks for multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations.
• Prepare and oversee preparation Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations;
• Lead and support business development efforts for biological resource projects;
• Serve as a mentor to junior and mid-level staff and assist in building proficiency of technical skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex biological tasks or projects for at least 5 years, including:
  • client communication,
  • negotiation of contracts and change orders,
  • developing and overseeing schedule and budget,
  • responsibility for quality of deliverables,
  • and large team coordination.
• Knowledge and understanding of field and data analysis techniques used to map and assess wetland and water features potentially jurisdictional under the federal Clean Water Act, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Expert-level knowledge of special-status plant species, vegetation communities, and sensitive vegetation resources that occur in northern California.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, regulations, and permitting requirements relating to biological resources, in particular, the federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including over-night stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• Demonstrated experience with management of projects involving biological impact analyses, special-status species, and mitigation planning.
• Experience successfully negotiating resource agency permits (e.g., USACE, USFWS, CDFW, Water Board, Coastal Commission)
• Experience successfully representing clients in front of elected officials (e.g., city councils, boards of supervisors, special district boards).
• Expert-level knowledge of California aquatic resource types and systems.
• Proficient in wildlife identification and impact evaluation skills throughout California.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented project delivery approach.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exercises good judgment and sound decision-making skills.

Compensation: $115,000-135,000/annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

• This joboperatesin a remote or office-basedenvironmentand this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• This job requires occasional project site visits, basedoutdoorswhich can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing forlong periodsof time in an office or remote office setting.

• Employees must be capable of bending, squatting, climbing ladders, andlifting upto 35 lbs. unassisted; 50lbs in a team lift (two or more employees).

• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with government agency representatives, members of the public, and others.Speaking,hearingand listening arerequired.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time.

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Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair andequitableprocesses, based on merit, free from any discrimination.

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable lawsprovidingequal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to allpersonsinvolved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.