Senior/Principal Biologist - Permitting Lead - Lifelancer

About The Opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Biologist - Permitting Lead with experience in natural resources and aquatic permitting, natural resource management, biological studies, and mentoring for our Northern California Natural Resources and Ecological Restoration Programs. We are seeking a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and experience in planning, permitting, and project management to join our team and primarily support water resources, transportation infrastructure, and restoration projects. This individual will work with a dynamic and company-wide team to successfully drive projects throughout all phases, from early planning and permitting through construction compliance and restoration monitoring.

The ideal candidate will be interested in developing a long-term consulting career that combines high-level technical expertise with commercial acumen and leadership. Responsibilities may include managing interdisciplinary projects, reviewing wetland/waters permit applications, endangered species consultation documents at the state and federal level, reviewing aquatic resources and natural resources technical reports, consulting with state and federal regulatory agencies, developing mitigation strategies, developing restoration monitoring plans and adaptive management plans, leading jurisdictional delineation and natural resource technical assessment efforts, and business development. An important aspect of the work will involve staff mentorship and subject matter expert-level review of reports. The candidate will be experienced in leading a multidisciplinary team to complete project permitting requirements and ensure compliance with those permit requirements. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, the ability to work directly with clients, and interest in pursuing new business is imperative.

The Senior/Principal Biologist - Permitting Lead has the option to participate in SWCA’s Scientific Leadership Program, which allows top subject experts to be recognized and rewarded for distinguished productivity and intellectual acumen, to make regular contributions to corporate strategies, and provide input to all levels of the company.

Our Northern California Natural Resources and Ecological Restoration programs work on diverse projects across many business lines, including renewable energies, utilities, infrastructure, transportation, habitat restoration, and mitigation banking. In addition, the Bay Area and Sacramento offices offer a unique work environment and specializes in natural resources, cultural resources, planning, and permitting.

This is a regular, full-time, salaried position. The position can be based out of our Bay Area or Sacramento office, including in a hybrid work environment. Highly qualified, remote employees based in Northern California will also be seriously considered. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP).

Individuals under this job requisition can be hired at either of the two levels:

• Senior Biologist: Typically with at least 10 years of relevant industry experience and expertise.
• Principal Biologist: Typically with at least 12 years of relevant industry experience and expertise.
  
  

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants.

What You Will Accomplish

• Serve as a regulatory subject matter expert, focused on wetlands/waters and State/federal Endangered Species Act permitting for Northern California.
• Lead wetlands/waters and permitting team, including planning and cultural resources staff
• Provide quality assurance of our wetland and natural resource studies
• Conduct all aspects of leading wetland and waters projects including: wetland and waters jurisdictional determination, delineation, permitting, agency coordination/consultation, mitigation planning and design, adaptive management plan, and construction and post-construction monitoring
• Lead biological technical assessment and survey efforts including preparing and providing subject matter expert review for technical reports and environmental permits such as biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, State and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting, Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission permits, and compliance with the California Coastal Act.
• Prepare and review technical documents, including wetland and waters delineation reports; complete wetland resource area delineations and functional assessments
• Work closely with a project team to develop innovative approaches to resource assessment that meet client needs that can withstand agency and public scrutiny
• Manage small and large, complex projects, including maintaining budgets, schedules, and quality of service
• Prepare and review project budgets
• Supervise, mentor, and provide project technical support to biological staff
• Collect field data and write reports for natural resource assessments
• Serve as project manager or technical lead on a variety of resource management projects, including larger, more complex and potentially multidisciplinary projects
• Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.
• Work with Corporate accounting department to review invoices, expenditures and project audits for projects/tasks
• Work closely with SWCA’s resource scientists and environmental planners, managers and directors in both natural and cultural resources throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
• Serve a lead client interface and grow Northern California business especially in the water resources and transportation business lines.
  
  

Required

Experience and qualifications for success

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a biological science or closely related field
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in environmental consulting or within agencies
• Minimum of five (5) years managing wetlands/waters and related projects
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality written reports and verbal presentations at hearings
• Experience managing complex, interdisciplinary project teams.
• Demonstrated experience preparing, obtaining wetlands/waters permits, and consulting with regulatory agencies for compliance with the Clean Water Act Section 404/401, California Fish and Game Code Section 1600, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, California Coastal Act, and associated regulations such as the federal Endangered Species Act.
• Working knowledge of the Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory, 1987) and National Historic Preservation Act
• Demonstrated successful client and regulatory agency relationships
• Field experience describing soils, California flora, and wetland and waters hydrology indicators; especially with conducting delineations in arid environments
• Supplementary experience in other areas of natural resources consulting such as wildlife surveys, botanical surveys, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document preparation is beneficial
• Ability to travel as needed for projects throughout Northern California including overnight travel
• Business development and client management experience
  
  

Preferred

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in a biological science or closely related field
• At least twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in environmental consulting or within agencies
• Minimum of seven (7) years managing wetlands and related projects
• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor natural resources staff
• California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) training in one or more areas
  
  

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

 

Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Northern, CA-based position can expect a salary of $107,328k-$139,776k/year for the Senior Biologist role and an annual salary of $122,304k-$159,744k/year for the Principal Biologist. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

Applicants must be willing to participate in a drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings. Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.