Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist – Construction Monitor

Office location: Berkeley or Davis, CA          

Stillwater Sciences seeks a highly motivated wildlife and fisheries biologist based in Berkeley or Davis (CA) to play a key role in construction monitoring and environmental compliance projects. Construction monitoring will mainly be based in the Delta, greater Sacramento area, and on occasion in the San Francisco Bay Area (e.g., San Jose, San Pablo Bay). This position would largely focus on construction oversight and environmental compliance with some in‑office preparation or reporting. We are looking for a biologist who has experience with special‑status fish and wildlife in the Bay Area and Delta. Experience with one or more of the following species is a plus:

• Swainson’s hawk
• Ridgway’s rail
• Western burrowing owl
• Giant garter snake
• Northwestern pond turtle
• Salt marsh harvest mouse
• Delta smelt
• Valley elderberry longhorn beetle

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the lead biologist or construction monitor for a variety of projects in rural or urban settings.
• Conduct pre-construction surveys, habitat assessments, and targeted breeding surveys.
• Coordinate and communicate with project managers, construction personnel, clients, and coworkers regularly and with professionalism.
• Clear and organized data entry, data management, analysis, and reporting.
• Potential to participate in interdisciplinary teams for various resources, projects, or tasks (e.g., field work or data analysis/report writing support for fisheries, water quality, invasive aquatic species sampling, etc.).

Qualified applicants should ideally have the following skills or experience:

• Experience construction monitoring, conducting pre-construction surveys, and performing worker environmental trainings.
• Experience with special-status species in the Delta or Bay Area (including specific experience with species listed above).
• Experience working with a construction crew.
• Experience and comfort with 4-wheel drive vehicles, safely driving on rural, remote, or levee roads (including one‑lane roads).
• Experience working with boats and motors (inflatable zodiacs, gas and electric motors) is a plus.
• Willingness to travel and endurance to work long hours in the field (10- to 12-hour field days), including work on uneven terrain.

Qualified applicants should possess:

• Valid driver’s license in good standing.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Attention to detail, commitment to sound science, and dedication to resource protection.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs.
• BS in Wildlife Biology (or natural resource field with 2+ years’ experience in the environmental field).

Availability, Compensation and Application Details:

• Apply for the position here: https://stillwatersci.bamboohr.com/careers/59?source=aWQ9MzE%3D
• Full-time, seasonal, position in Davis or Berkeley, CA
• $28–36 an hour; salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• This is a seasonal full-time position with health/dental/life insurance, paid time off, and 401(k) match.
• Out-of-town work (requiring overnight stays) likely required of the position.
• Please provide a cover letter describing experience, a resume, and a writing sample in MS Word or PDF format.
• Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.
• Electronic submissions must be submitted through the website submission portal. Only online applications will be considered.
• Position will remain open until filled.

About Stillwater Sciences:

Stillwater Sciences is an employee-owned environmental consulting firm specializing in scientifically based solutions to aquatic, terrestrial, and watershed resource management. We assist government agencies, NGOs, and private clients with environmental problem solving, planning, and permitting using a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates physical and biological processes. We have approximately 95 full-time, dedicated, and enthusiastic employees throughout the Western U.S. in nine offices. We maintain a collaborative work environment that promotes productive and rigorous applied scientific research. We pride ourselves on defining and shaping our individual careers in a way that provides a healthy rhythm of work and life responsibilities. Success at Stillwater requires a blend of passion, initiative, commitment, flexibility, and teamwork. Stillwater Sciences is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Due to the collaborative nature of our work and given that our company is a Federal contractor, Stillwater Sciences employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (or apply for an accommodation for a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief), and we strongly encourage employees to receive booster shots.