Senior Wetland Scientist Lead | Restoration & Permitting

Anchor QEA; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus

Healthcare benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Job summary

Anchor QEA is seeking a Managing Wetland Scientist to lead field surveys, environmental assessments, and regulatory documentation in the Northwest from Portland OR or Seattle WA. You will mentor junior staff and oversee scopes, schedules, budgets, and client relations for restoration and mitigation projects.

The role requires strong expertise in wetlands, habitat mapping, biology, and regulatory permitting with opportunities for business development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degree in biology or a related environment or ecological field.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience leading wetland and natural resource studies to support development, habitat restoration, mitigation, or related environmental consulting projects.
• Proven ability to develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, contracts, and subcontracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams and successfully delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with client expectations.
• Experience with local critical area codes, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.
• Experience leading Wetland and Stream Reports, critical area reports, mitigation plans, impact evaluations, scientific discipline reports, and permit applications such as Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Applications and Joint Permit Applications.
• Ability to lead field survey efforts and data collection for environmental projects, including the ability to safely traverse uneven ground, creeks, and other obstacles.
• Experience coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies, including organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state environmental agencies, and local governments.
• Strong client management skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with private-sector, federal, state, municipal, and port clients.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including experience facilitating meetings and presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or other relevant professional certification is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead natural resource assessments from planning through permitting and support design, construction, and post-construction monitoring of restoration and mitigation areas.
• Lead wetland and aquatic resource field surveys to collect data for environmental projects, coordinating with senior and junior staff, subconsultants, and clients.
• Serve as primary author of environmental documents, including critical area reports, wetland and habitat mitigation plans, impact evaluations, biological and habitat evaluations, and scientific discipline reports
• Serve as project manager, deputy project manager, or task lead, depending on project complexity. Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, resource allocations, and contract requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring client objectives are achieved.
• Lead and advise on the development of permitting and mitigation strategies. Coordinate with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to support project permitting, environmental compliance and stakeholder engagement efforts.
• Lead teams completing technical studies that support permitting efforts. Provide technical review and QA/QC for project deliverables, including reports, plans, specifications, permit applications, and construction documents.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations to clients, regulatory agencies, public stakeholders, and professional organizations.
• Provide mentorship for a team of junior and senior wetland scientists and habitat specialists.

Skills

Wetland delineation

Habitat assessment

Wildlife ecology

Fisheries biology

Botany

Habitat restoration

Project management

Client relationships

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology

Master’s degree in biology

Job description

Anchor QEA is seeking a Managing Wetland Scientist to lead field surveys, environmental assessments, and regulatory documentation in the Northwest from Portland OR or Seattle WA. You will mentor junior staff and oversee scopes, schedules, budgets, and client relations for restoration and mitigation projects.

The role requires strong expertise in wetlands, habitat mapping, biology, and regulatory permitting with opportunities for business development.