Staff Biologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Staff Biologist to support projects in Texas and surrounding states. The role conducts field surveys, wetland delineations, data collection and report writing for natural resources projects, with about 80% field work and travel and 20% office time.

This regular full-time, hourly/non-exempt position reports into our Austin, TX office, with hybrid work environments encouraged.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related life sciences field.
• 1+ year of relevant natural resources field experience.
• Knowledge of flora and fauna in Texas and surrounding states.

Responsibilities

• Performs field surveys, wetland delineations, and habitat assessments.
• Drafts sections for technical reports and planning documents.
• Records field data and photographs habitats and resources.
• Coordinates with landowners, clients, and agency staff.
• Follows safety and quality protocols and project procedures.

Skills

Field surveys

Data collection

Report writing

Stakeholder communication

Safety compliance

Education

Biology or related life sciences

Tools

ESRI Field Maps

Survey123

ArcGIS

GPS units

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Staff Biologist role to support our projects in Texas and surrounding states. This position will perform biological field surveys, wetland delineations, assist with data collection, data entry, and report writing for a variety of natural resources projects. The position is anticipated to include 80% field work (with travel) and 20% office work. The selected individual will be part of the Austin Natural Resources team.

We work to support our client’s needs across multiple service areas including renewable generation, transmission, oil & gas, transportation, land development, and water infrastructure. The position requires the ability to work long hours in harsh conditions and be on the road for several days or weeks at a time.

This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, hourly/non-exempt position that will report into our Austin, TX office. Hybrid work environments are encouraged.

Field Supervisory Responsibilities:

Depending upon project assignments, this role may serve as the lead for field survey crews, independently directing daily work activities, promoting safe and productive work practices, communicating project and personnel issues to management, and providing performance-related feedback in support of successful project delivery.

Application Deadline:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates areidentified.Thisposition may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool isestablished.

What you will accomplish

• Performs tasks to collect, manage, analyze, and/or summarize data in the field, lab, or office. Expected to work efficiently to complete assigned tasks in a manner that ensures the data and findings are accurate, complete, and verifiable. Assigned tasks have multiple clear and complementary objectives, related primarily to the characterization of projects, sites, and analytical findings.
• Drafts written summaries of task activities and/or sections for technical reports and planning documents, including tables, text, and graphics as appropriate to the task.
• Supports coordination with stakeholders, including landowners, clients, and agency staff.
• Assists in presenting and publishing on environmental or regulatory topics under supervision.
• Communicates frequently and openly with team members and supervisors to ensure that task objectives and methods are clearly understood, task progress is shared, and questions or needs are promptly addressed. This includes initiating and/or responding to communication requests before, during, and after task implementation as part of a real-time, collaborative work effort.
• Follows directions, safety and quality protocols, and other established procedures to complete tasks successfully and with accountability.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Leads crews or assists crew leaders with natural resources field studies, including wetland delineations, wildlife habitat assessments, acoustical monitoring, avian point count, and vegetation surveys.
• Assist in preparing permit applications for local, federal, and state agencies under supervision.
• Records field data and photographs habitats, species, and aquatic resources using ESRI applications such as Field Maps and Survey123.
• Uses topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, ArcGIS, and related tools to locate project areas, habitat types, and aquatic resources.
• Operates SWCA vehicles, including four-wheel-drive vehicles on rugged backcountry roads.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.
• One (1) + years of relevant natural resources field experience (professional experience).
• Knowledge of flora and fauna in Texas and surrounding states.
• Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to travel to a location, conducting fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather and in rugged terrain.
• Frequent travel, including weekends, will be required for the position with field work sometimes reaching 80% of your time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of relevant natural resources field experience.
• Experience conducting wildlife and botanical surveys.
• Experience conducting aquatic resources delineations.
• Experience with preparing nationwide permit preconstruction notifications.
• Candidate has their Wetland Professional In Training (WPIT) or Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB) certification.
• Experience collecting field data using tablets with ESRI applications such as Field Maps and Survey123.
• Working knowledge of wetland and riparian plant species identification, wetland soils, and wetland hydrology indicators.