Senior Biologist at Dudek Santa Barbara County, CA

Dudek; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudek is seeking a full-time Senior Biologist to join our Biological Resources team in Santa Barbara, CA. The role involves growing our local practice, managing complex projects, and collaborating with colleagues across California offices.

Work will be a mix of technical writing, project management, business development, and field duties in a hybrid setting. The successful candidate will conduct botanical surveys and aquatic resource delineations, mentor staff, and support regulatory permitting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science, or related natural resources field.
• 15+ years of biological resource consulting experience (or equivalent) with increasing responsibility.
• Experience managing complex biological tasks or projects for at least 5 years.
• Knowledge of field and data analysis techniques for wetlands and water features.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for work including overnight stays.
• Valid driver’s license and active automobile liability insurance by start date.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale collection of detailed field data in remote locations and across varied terrain.
• Manage standalone biological resource projects including scheduling, budgeting, and client coordination.
• Prepare and oversee reports and documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA evaluations.
• Lead and support business development efforts for biological resources projects and mentor junior staff.

Skills

Strong written and oral comms

Willingness to travel

Valid driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology/ecology/botany/env science

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Overview

Location(s): Santa Barbara CA Practice/Department: Biological Work Environment: Hybrid Compensation: $00/annually* Dudeks journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern Californias 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 been recognized by leading industry organizations and weve been 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 our award-winning culture the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are As an employee-owner you embrace accountability working safely and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. Like all Dudekians you are curious and solution-oriented with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.

How Youll Make an Impact Dudek is currently seeking a full-time senior Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudeks 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

• Bachelors 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 drivers license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters 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

Compensation: $00/annually**Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to an individuals 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 job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones printers etc. This job requires occasional project site visits based outdoors which 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 for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.
• Employees must be capable of bending squatting climbing ladders and lifting up to 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 hearing and listening are.
• 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.

Connect with us!

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 and equitable processes 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 laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudeks 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 Dudeks 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.

Required Experience: Senior IC