Staff Scientist

Terracon; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon's Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas office seeks a Natural Resources Scientist to deliver critical environmental planning projects in the DFW region.

You will lead wetlands delineations, NEPA documentation, and wildlife assessments, manage scope and budget, mentor staff, and collaborate with cross-office teams to win proposals and ensure timely, quality deliverables for diverse clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Wildlife & Fisheries Science, Natural Resource Management, Biology or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred; professional accreditation encouraged.
• Experience with wetland delineations, permitting, and Waters of the United States.

Responsibilities

• Conduct wetlands delineations and prepare permit applications.
• Perform wildlife habitat assessments and presence/absence surveys.
• Develop NEPA documentation and support environmental assessments.
• Manage Natural Resources projects across regions and collaborate with Terracon offices.
• Lead safety initiatives and mentor junior staff; assist with client relations and proposals.

Skills

Wetland delineation

GPS mapping

GIS mapping

NEPA documentation

Wildlife surveys

Report writing

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science

Master's degree preferred

USWFS accreditation preferred

Tools

ArcGIS

GPS devices

MS Office

Job description

General Responsibilities:

Job Description :

General Responsibilities:

We are looking for an accomplished, Natural Resources Scientist for our practice in our Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW), Texas office.

Our DFW Environmental Planning team has been in the market for more than 15 years and has a multi-disciplined team that works on:

• -Wetland delineations and permitting
• -Threatened and endangered species (T&E) assessments
• -National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, environmental site assessment, remediation, redevelopment, and site renovation work for City and County agencies, school districts, national and local retailers, commercial real property developers and managers, telecom companies, energy providers, law firms, financial institutions, architect/engineer and construction clients

As a Natural Resources Scientist, you will work closely with a dynamic team to deliver natural resources projects and ensure that work is performed on time, on budget, and meets our client’s requirements as well as company policies, procedures and standards. You will work together with the Environmental Planning staff to prepare winning proposals and you will help to deliver proper scoping of services and pricing to be profitable. You will manage projects, prepare and review reports, and ensure quality data generation and reporting. You will have the opportunity to team with professionals to focus on safety, client experience, quality of services and work product, timely delivery of services and deliverables, staff training and development, efficient utilization of equipment and facilities, and overall quality of Terracon services. As a Natural Resources Scientist, you will also participate in business development activities with the office leadership team to identify, develop, win, and execute exciting project opportunities and build and maintain client relationships.

The Natural Resources Scientist under general direction with limited to moderate supervision is expected to apply experience and increase proficiency in the application of scientific principles, theories, practices and company standards. You will be expected to work autonomously and meet the required scope, schedule and budget of any given project as well as consult with other technical professionals and/or your supervisor on routine and moderately complex projects.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

Minimum 3 years’ experience in the following preferred:

• Wetland & Stream delineation / preliminary jurisdictional determinations
• Section 404 permitting
• GPS & GIS mapping
• Wildlife surveys and habitat assessments
• Vegetation identification
• Preparation of NEPA documentation

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conduct waters of the United States delineations and prepare associated reports and permit applications, including Pre-Construction Notifications and Individual Permits
• On behalf of clients, meet with United States Army Corp of Engineer application reviewers
• Perform Protected Species Habitat Assessments and Presence/Absence Surveys, for State and Federally Listed Species
• Manage and assist Natural Resource projects within the DFW region, Central and West Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and beyond
• Assist with the development of biological resource and other sections within NEPA documents
• Collaborate with Environmental Planning managers and staff in other Terracon offices to team on large project efforts and promote best practices
• Lead safety efforts for team and ensure team follows safety rules and guidelines
• Develop understanding and be aware of project‑related risks. Employ best practices for risk management and loss prevention. Be familiar with company risk policies
• Promote continuous quality review and improvement on projects
• Understand and implement technical requirements to complete client projects by directing and supervising field staff to sample, test and collect data and/or document site activities
• Perform site visits, field observations and field data collection in area of technical expertise

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Wildlife & Fisheries Science, Natural Resource Management, Biology, Range Management, or related science field
• Master’s degree preferred
• Associate Wildlife Biologist or Certified Wildlife Biologist accreditation or USWFS Scientific Permit preferred
• Experience with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act preferred
• Experience in conducting and managing wetland delineations, as well as permitting, Waters of the United States (Section 10 and 404) within the Great Plains and Arid West regions
• Wetland delineation training certificate preferred
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements
• Ability to direct staff technicians regarding data collection, preparation of figures and maps, and report production. Ability to mentor junior staff and supervise staff
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history
• Skills with GIS mapping, database management, and GPS technology
• Ability to travel out of town between 10-20 percent of the normal work week
• Flexible work schedule, to ensure project timelines are completed
• Possess strong writing skills
• Ability to work on a team and build networks across the division and company