Bat Biologist - Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

What a Day in the Life Looks Like

As a full-time Bat Biologist and Ecologist with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC), you’ll work with project teams on bat presence/absence mist-net and acoustic surveys, radio-tracking, emergence surveys, and habitat assessments. You’ll independently lead a two-person crew and conduct surveys for federally- and state-listed bat species east of the Rockies. Depending on your interest, you may also find yourself involved in analyzing bat call recordings, producing findings reports, proposal efforts, working directly with clients, and other ecological opportunities. This position can be based out of our Austin (TX), Buffalo (NY), Charleston (WV), Columbus (OH), Indianapolis (IN), Monroeville (PA), Nashville (TN), Pittsburgh (PA), or St. Louis (MO) office.

What Makes CEC Different

As a Bat Biologist/Ecologist at CEC, you are in charge of your career trajectory. You will have the opportunity to manage projects and staff, if and when you are ready to do so. We are constantly trying to promote from within and balance the needs of our clients along with those of our employees. We want you to be involved in landing in the types of projects you desire. We already have several multi-faceted bat survey projects on the books for 2024. As part of a team of over 130 ecologists nation-wide, you will have a chance to learn from expert wetland scientists, bat, bird, and fisheries biologists, botanists, ecosystem restoration ecologists, NEPA practitioners, and more! 

What You’ll Need for Success

This position is ideal for a detail-oriented, motivated, and enthusiastic biologist who enjoys working outdoors with like-minded individuals on a variety of projects in a wide range of settings.

Specifically, you’ll need the following:

• Possession of a valid Federal Scientific Collecting Permit (or currently sub-permitted) to conduct surveys for federally listed bat species (Indiana, northern long-eared, and/or gray bats) or have the qualifications to be added to CEC’s Permit;
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a natural sciences field (e.g., Wildlife Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology);
• Experience leading mist-netting survey crews, including identifying and establishing good survey sites and handling and identifying bats of the eastern U.S.;
• Experience setting bat acoustic detectors for survey and data download;
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude while working with others and conducting fieldwork with changing schedules due to weather and/or bat captures on other projects;
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Other Experience to Offset the Daily

CEC Ecologists are into more than just bats and we would love to see you working in other disciplines too even during summer bat season. Therefore, in your application, please identify other relevant ecological/ permitting interests or experience that could be considered during review of your application. Examples of things that CEC currently does are: NEPA document production, ESA Section 7/10 consultation including Biological Assessment (BA) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) preparation, wetland delineations, avian surveys, botanical surveys, archaeological surveys, herpetological surveys, mussel surveys, or other listed species assessments.

We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.

We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!

We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.

CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.

CEC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.