Senior Ecologist Project Manager

Athena; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Flexible schedule

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Vision insurance

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

A leading environmental consulting firm in Nashville, TN is seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead ecological assessments and regulatory support. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree with at least 8 years of experience in environmental consulting. Responsibilities include managing project budgets, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The firm offers a range of benefits, including 401(k) matching and health insurance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant environmental consulting experience.
• Demonstrated experience with wetland delineations and stream functional assessments.
• Strong understanding of the Clean Water Act and related permitting processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight for ecological assessments.
• Prepare ecological technical reports and agency coordination materials.
• Manage ecological task budgets and schedules.

Skills

Wetland delineations

Stream assessments

Technical report preparation

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology

Master's degree in related field (preferred)

Job description

Company Overview

Athena Engineering and Environmental, LLC (Athena), headquartered just outside of exciting Nashville, TN, is a dynamic woman-owned small business consulting firm that delivers geotechnical, environmental, ecological, water resources, surveying, and value engineering services. We partner with clients nationwide in the government (federal, state, and local), transportation, energy, industrial, water, and commercial sectors to tackle their most critical infrastructure challenges.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead ecological assessments, regulatory permitting support, and natural resource evaluations across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, energy, transportation, and private development projects.

This role requires strong technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to mentor junior staff while managing client relationships and project budgets.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical oversight for wetland delineations, stream assessments, habitat evaluations, and threatened & endangered species surveys; serving as task lead as appropriate
• Prepare ecological technical reports, permitting documentation, and agency coordination materials
• Provide senior review and QA/QC of ecological deliverables
• Support NEPA documentation, including Environmental Assessments

Regulatory & Agency Coordination

• Coordinate with agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and applicable state environmental agencies
• Primarily support Clean Water Act permitting (Sections 401/404) with additional support for Section 10 authorizations, as applicable
• Assist clients with compliance strategy and mitigation planning

Project & Client Management

• Manage ecological task budgets and schedules
• Support proposal development and scope preparation
• Serve as a clientfacing technical lead
• Mentor junior ecologists and field staff

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant environmental consulting experience
• Demonstrated experience with wetland delineations and stream functional assessments
• Strong understanding of the Clean Water Act and related permitting processes (e.g., Sections 401/404 and Section 10, as applicable)
• Experience preparing technical reports and regulatory documentation
• Valid driver’s license and ability to conduct fieldwork in varying conditions

Bonus

• Tennessee Qualified Hydrologic Professional (QHP) certification
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or similar credential
• Professional stream restoration credential or demonstrated experience with restoration projects
• Experience with compensatory mitigation, including coordination with mitigation banks
• Familiarity with regional/state regulatory frameworks
• Existing agency relationships

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Bonus opportunities
• Profit sharing