Biologist

General position summary:

Mason, Bruce, & Girard, Inc., a natural resource consulting firm headquartered in Portland, OR., seeks an experienced mid-level biologist to provide local support throughout northern and central valley California. This position will serve as a technical expert and a project manager, performing both field and office-based work involving data collection, report preparation, and project and client management. Duties include field work, report writing and research, supervising staff who are supporting your work, and agency/client coordination/communication.

• Performs a variety of field work that may require travel. Overnight travel may be occasionally required.
• Conduct various types of field surveys adhering to specific protocols.
• Leading and training staff to perform field surveys adhering to specific protocols.
• Have a thorough understanding of the environmental regulatory process required to comply with local, state, and federal laws within the state of California including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Protection Act, Clean Water Act (CWA), and the state and federal Endangered Species Acts (ESAs).
• Provide background research and serve as a lead author for technical documents (e.g., Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Impact Reports).
• Act in a supporting role to project managers and prepare project deliverables within allotted level of effort and schedule.
• Serve as a project manager, leading staff to complete a project within budget and schedule expectations.
• Independently prepare permit applications and project reports.
• Mentoring staff to prepare permit applications and other environmental documentation that meet industry standards.
• Understand and perform work using the correct level of effort appropriate for the scope, budget, and overall expectations.
• Responsible for accurate recording of notes and documentation for all client projects.
• Perform work with a high level of integrity.

Education and/or Experience:

• B.S. Biology or equivalent
• California environmental permitting experience including experience as a lead author preparing documents to comply with CEQA, the ESA, and the CWA.
• Minimum 5 years of experience serving as a lead author preparing sections for CEQA documentation.
• Minimum 3 years of experience serving as a project manager for projects involving environmental permitting and associated documentation.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience performing field work surveying for special status species within California.
• Demonstrated ability to both work independently and/or successfully lead a team through all stages of a project from design to completion.
• Design and perform field surveys.
• Experience leading staff to perform field surveys within proper protocols.
• Experience leading staff to prepare technical reports and permit applications that meet regulatory standards and requirements.
• Manage successful relationships with clients, stakeholders, regulators, and teaming partners.
• Create scopes of work reflecting an appropriate amount of time and understanding the process needed to complete a project.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife Qualified/Designated Biologist

Experience performing the following tasks:

• Rare plant and noxious weed surveys.
• Surveys for the following species: goshawk, willow flycatcher, yellow and red-legged frogs, Northern spotted owl, and/or valley elderberry longhorn beetle.
• Successfully completing CEQA documentation for vegetation management projects.
• Experience successfully permitting Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement through the California Department of Fish and Game Section 1601.

Conditions

This is a remote office-based position that will include field work. It is anticipated that field work would compromise approximately 25% of the workload for this position during the spring and summer months.  This position also involves extensive computer use, physical ability to operate a telephone, and sitting for extended periods of time.