Environmental Project (Biological) Manager

Riverside County, CA

$109K — $173K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental, biological science, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 4 years of professional land use or water resource planning experience in a lead capacity.
  • Supervisory or managerial experience overseeing biological or environmental staff.
  • Familiarity with Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).
  • Strong technical background in ecological resource management, including advanced mapping and GIS skills.
  • Experience with UAV/Drone technologies for environmental assessments is a plus.
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Scientific Collecting Permit.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee the implementation of Habitat Conservation Plans and ensure project compliance with regulations.
  • Review and evaluate land use applications for adherence to regional ecological policies.
  • Conduct environmental evaluations related to conservation configurations and sensitive habitats.
  • Manage environmental processes for high-priority projects and coordinate with various stakeholders.
  • Direct and evaluate the work of department staff and consultants involved in environmental processes.
  • Review biological assessments for mitigation measures and conservation plan consistency.
  • Represent the department before regulatory agencies and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Eligibility for the Performance Recognition Plan for achieving organizational objectives.
  • Work with a team focused on guiding growth and development in Riverside County.
  • Opportunities for involvement with a range of technically complex ecological projects.
  • Engagement with various agencies, enhancing professional networking and collaboration.
Full Job Description
Salary : $109,409.03 - $173,682.52 Annually
Location : Riverside
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 26-74810-02
Department: TLMA Planning
Division: Administration
Opening Date: 08/11/2026
Closing Date: 9/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

The Environmental Project (Biological) Manager position focuses on the management of ecological resources. The incumbent will be responsible for:
• Overseeing the implementation of, and ensuring proposed project consistency with, Habitat Conservation Plans/Natural Community Conservation Plans.
• Ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and practices associated with land development projects.
• Reviewing and evaluating the biological elements of land use applications to ensure practical implementation of regional ecological policies and guidelines.
• Performing environmental evaluations related to ecological reserve/conservation configurations, urban/wildland interface issues, sensitive habitats/vegetation, animal movement, species relocation plans, revegetation plans, and other land use issues resulting from public and private development.
• Conducting meetings with various regulating agencies, including, but not limited to, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Regional Conservation Authority (RCA), and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE).
• Reviewing biological assessments to ensure proper mitigation measures and conservation plan consistency, which may include, but are not limited to: Habitat Assessments, Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) Consistency Analyses, Jurisdictional Delineations, and Determinations of Biologically Equivalent or Superior Preservation (DBESP).

In addition to the minimum qualifications, competitive candidates will possess:
• Supervisory or managerial experience overseeing professional biological or environmental staff.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).
• Experience working within California local government, consulting, resource agencies, or regional conservation programs is highly desirable.
• Strong technical background in ecological resource management paired with advanced mapping and technology skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of GIS mapping principles, application utilization, data input, and file sharing.
• Knowledge of, or experience applying, UAV/Drone technologies for site review and documentation will be especially competitive.
• An advanced degree in environmental, biological science, or a closely related field.
• A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Scientific Collecting Permit.
• A relevant certificate, license, or demonstrable experience in a biological discipline directly related to the work performed by the County, such as:
• Wetlands Delineation
• Regulatory Permitting

This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311 of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

Meet the Team!
The Department is responsible for Riverside County's General Plan, a comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of unincorporated areas within the County. This department formulates growth management plans and zoning for the County.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Provide project management support on an array of technically complex projects related to drainage, biology, water ways, water quality, and hydrologic data.
• Plan, organize, direct, review, and evaluate the work of professional department staff and external consultants involved in the oversight of the environmental process for either land use planning, and other urban infrastructure projects or studies; engage and direct staff while coordinating with department project managers, planners, or development applicants during project planning, design and construction phases, or development land use review phases to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and adherence to the County's General Plan and applicable ordinances.
• Direct and review the selection and design of techniques for the collection, coordination and development of methodologies for data applications and research in water quality and conservation planning, studies of land use, environmental resources and water/flood facilities, or patterns of environmental changes and community development in order to identify both existing and future water quality and conservation issues.
• Directly manage the environmental process for specific, high priority projects; prepare and review the scope of work; review and comment on environmental work products; coordinate project tasks and delivery with project managers, planners, and outside approving agencies.
• Direct or participate in consultant selection and proposal evaluation of Service Agreements; prepare Form 11s for consideration and approval by the Board of Supervisors; prepare and review the environmental project scope, budget, and schedule with consultant firms and on call consultants.
• May prepare, manage and monitor project budgets and schedules; review consultants' monthly progress reports to ensure compliance with project scope and agreement provisions, and approve consultants' invoices for payment processing.
• Review and comment on proposed land use or drainage project plans and legislation that affect the Agency's environmental compliance process; review current Department practices for environmental compliance and prepare or revise existing Department environmental policies and practices to ensure continual environmental compliance.
• Represent the Department before other County departments, governmental agencies, environmental regulatory and permitting agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Develop and manage environmental compliance through policy and regulatory development.
• Perform research, analyze, prepare, and/or manage complex environmental documents including Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs); provide technical expertise in comprehensive land use drainage or planning activities; may evaluate and/or review field checking project entitlement plans, grading plans, water quality improvement plans, drainage projects, or land use developments.
• May testify in court proceedings or other administrative hearings as an expert witness in areas within assigned purview.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably in engineering, physical, chemical, environmental, or biological science, planning, public administration, urban or physical geography, geology, architecture, or closely related field to the assignment. An advanced degree in a scientific field of study is highly desired.

Experience: Four years of professional transportation land use or water resource planning experience, which included two years of experience with responsibility for project oversight in a lead, supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity.

Other Requirements
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required. This position involves travel to various locations throughout the county to conduct site visits.

Physical/Environmental Conditions/Requirements
The Environmental Project Manager will:
• Walk over uneven outdoor terrain and work in a variety of environmental conditions.
• Be exposed to a variety of weather elements (e.g., high temperatures, rain) and local wildlife while performing field duties.

Essential job duties must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. For more information, see "Reasonable Accommodations" under APPLICATION INFORMATION.

Knowledge of: The principles and practices of project management especially as they apply to public works and/or development activities; the principles and practices of land use and transportation planning; environmental monitoring; state and federal standards concerning public works and/or land use design and construction; techniques of project management, personnel management, and project funding and budgeting; the laws and regulations affecting environmental permitting and permit clearance including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Clean Water Act, and California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.

Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct the work of an environmental or water resources planning unit; lay out and supervise the work of professional or water resources environmental personnel; perform difficult technical research, analyze situations accurately, and adopt effective courses of action; review, evaluate, and comment on proposed environmental plans or legislation that affect the Department's environmental process; review current department practices, prepare policies or revise existing policies to ensure environmental compliance; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Application Status
How to confirm your application was received or check on the status of your application, log-in to , click on your name in the upper right corner, and click on "Applications & Status."

Sign Up for Job AlertsGo to , click on "Careers," click on "County Job Openings," and click on "Subscribe to Job Alerts" icon.
General Information
If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Vanessa Diaz Beaird at or (951) 955-9112. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

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