Senior Ecologist – (1890)

Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) is a dynamic medium size consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada.  We are looking for a full-time Senior Ecologist to join our team focused on managing large-scale energy projects.

WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in applied ecological studies, the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data, and impact assessment and permitting. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped our work through our core values and key principles that our work matters to our clients, communities, and the environment. Join WEST and discover a company of passionate, committed, and highly motivated individuals.

Please click here to see what benefits WEST offers!

The minimum base salary for this position is $100,000, plus annual bonus. Salary may vary based on education, knowledge, and experience.

Location is flexible, although a location in the southwest, northwest, or Rocky Mountain region of the United States, is preferred (see https://west-inc.com/about-us/locations/).

Job Summary:

This role is identified specifically for growth within WEST’s Power Delivery and Environmental Planning, Permitting, and Assessment groups. The person selected for this role will be an experienced project manager that has documented success leading large-scale energy projects, including transmission, oil and gas, solar, and/or wind. The job will involve managing projects, assembling and managing large teams of permitting specialists, wildlife/wetland specialists, and other environmental specialists through pre-construction surveys, agency coordination, and permitting. As part of a growing team, this role will also have an emphasis on mentoring deputy project managers and providing senior advisement.

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in environmental consulting as project manager for utility-scale energy projects. Although the position will likely focus on transmission line projects, the person selected may also support other renewable energy or development projects as needed and based on their experience. 

Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will work with a team of environmental planners, natural resource specialists, scientists, and GIS specialists, which will include the following:

• Complete and direct various project management and support tasks related to project siting evaluation, environmental planning, or environmental reviews (e.g., federal/state/local site permitting and environmental reviews, wetland and/or water resource permitting, environmental site assessments).
• Coordinate and manage natural resource field studies (e.g., wildlife, wetlands).
• Direct multi-disciplinary teams (including internal staff and external sub consultants) in completing environmental review for small, medium, and large-scale energy projects.
• Coordinate with local/state/federal agencies, tribes, and stakeholders in support of client-directed project work.
• Collaborate closely with clients to support real-time requests and help clients implement scientific consulting solutions. Take lead on navigating the regulatory landscape and providing clients with novel and innovative solutions.
• Review reports, applying expertise to present and interpret the results of field and desktop studies in their scientific and regulatory context.
• Ensure team alignment on field data management and GIS data processes to meet WEST standards and client/agency requirements.
• Market WEST’s capabilities, respond to proposal requests, and provide oversight into the development of scopes of work and budget estimates.
• Foster current business relationships and promote new business development efforts.
• Cultivate strategic client relationships, identify new opportunities, and support business pursuit strategies.
• Help maintain WEST’s position as thought leaders in the environmental consulting market.
• Supervision/Mentorship:
  • Manage project teams, deliverables, and budgets for multiple projects
  • Mentor deputy project managers
• This position will require overnight travel

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties that may be associated with this position. 

Requirements:

The successful candidate must be a self-starter who possesses:

• Strong understanding of environmental permitting and experience effectively communicating with clients and agency staff through planning regulations at the local, state, and federal level (e.g., Clean Water Act Section 404/10 permitting, NEPA, NPDES permitting, ESA compliance, BGEPA permitting, zoning/land development permitting). This regulatory understanding would also come a preferred background in natural resource science (including wildlife biology, wetland delineation, plant identification, restoration science, or other areas of ecology potentially of interest to commercial clients).
• 10+ years of directly relevant experience in environmental consulting and project management, including demonstrated experience in managing and providing leadership of large and complex projects.
• Extensive experience in budgeting large projects and proposal writing.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage large and diverse teams, natural resource field studies, data collection and GIS processes, and personnel with varying range of experience and expertise.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to pay close attention to detail and accurately report the scientific methods and results of field studies, including GIS data management.
• Demonstrated experience in business development, marketing, and maintaining positive relationships with clients or stakeholders, and have a desire to drive and grow the WEST team.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Good time management, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to work well under time constraints and changing circumstances.
• Strong focus on quality deliverables and client service, while maintaining a positive collaborative team approach.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, biological sciences, natural resources, ecology or equivalent, and/or GIS. Master’s degree preferred.

After an offer of employment is made, the candidate must successfully pass a pre-employment background check, drug screening, and a DMV records check that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company.  A valid driver’s license will be required. 

WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, genetics, and any protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  Further, WEST takes affirmative action to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly, and without discrimination, for recruitment, selection, advancement and every other term and privilege associated with employment.