Senior Biologist and Regulatory Permitting Specialist

Senior Biologist and Regulatory Permitting Specialist LSA is seeking a Senior Biologist and Regulatory Permitting Specialist to support and help grow our environmental practice in California's Central Valley. The successful candidate will combine strong biological and regulatory expertise with a practical understanding of environmental consulting, client service, and the steps necessary to move complex projects successfully from initial environmental review and permitting to environmental compliance. This position requires extensive knowledge of Central Valley plant and wildlife species, especially special-status species, sensitive habitats, and applicable federal and State environmental regulations. The ideal candidate will be an experienced consultant who can develop permitting strategies, prepare technically sound documents, coordinate effectively with regulatory agencies, manage schedules and budgets, mentor junior staff, and communicate clearly with clients, project managers, and multidisciplinary project teams. Primary Responsibilities • Lead biological site assessments, focused field surveys, conduct impact analyses, and lead preparation of technical reports including due diligence assessments, biological resource assessments, aquatic resource assessments and delineations, and other related technical documents. • Identify potential project-related effects on special-status species, sensitive natural communities, wetlands, and other aquatic resources. • Develop practical and defensible avoidance, minimization, mitigation, monitoring, and compliance measures to address project-related effects. • Prepare, obtain, and manage compliance with regulatory permits from agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and California State Lands Commission. This includes experience with submitting applications and supporting materials in agency platforms including the Environmental Permit Information Management System (EPIMS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Request System (RSS). • Maintain current knowledge of applicable regulatory definitions, permitting requirements and processes, including: • Current definitions of waters of the U.S. and State; • California Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements; • Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404; • Rivers and Harbors Act Section 408 permissions; • Central Valley Flood Protection Board encroachment permits; • California State Lands Commission leases and approvals; • Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation; and • Other applicable federal and State biological resource requirements. • Coordinate and communicate with clients, engineers, environmental planners, regulatory agencies, and other technical specialists and stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain project schedules. • Support environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including preparation and review of biological resource sections and supporting technical documentation. • Manage multiple projects, including preparing and managing scopes of work, budgets, schedules, deliverables, and conducting quality-control reviews of technical documents prepared by other staff. • Provide clients with clear, responsive, and solution-oriented guidance regarding environmental constraints, regulatory requirements, and permitting strategies. • Mentor and oversee junior biologists and permitting staff, including providing technical direction, reviewing work products, and supporting professional development. • Assist with proposal preparation, business development, and efforts to expand the firm's biological resources and regulatory permitting practice in the Central Valley. Required Qualifications • Bachelor's or advanced degree in field biology, botany, ecology, wildlife biology, environmental science, natural resources, or a related field. • Demonstrated knowledge of Central Valley plant and wildlife species, including identification of special-status species and sensitive habitats. • Relevant professional certifications or demonstrated previous agency approval to conduct focused surveys or monitoring of special-status species in the Central Valley. • Experience conducting aquatic resource delineations and assessments, special-status species surveys, construction monitoring, and permit compliance. • Substantial experience preparing and processing environmental permit applications and coordinating with federal, State, and regional regulatory agency staff. • Strong understanding of CEQA, NEPA, the federal and California Endangered Species Acts, and related biological resource requirements. • Experience with Section 7 consultation and preparation or review of biological assessments and supporting documentation. • Excellent technical writing, editing, organization, and verbal communication skills. • Demonstrated ability to understand client objectives and develop practical strategies that move projects forward while maintaining regulatory compliance. • Experience preparing project scopes, schedules, budgets, and managing staff assignments, and multidisciplinary teams. • Ability to mentor junior staff and provide clear technical guidance and quality-control review. • Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work within established schedules and budgets. • Valid California driver's license and ability to travel to project sites and agency meetings throughout the Central Valley, as needed. Preferred Qualifications • Master's degree in a related field. • Current 10(a)(1)(A) recovery permits for Central Valley species. • Established relationships with Central Valley clients and agency personnel. • At least five years of experience supporting water infrastructure, flood-control, transportation, agricultural, restoration, and/or public works projects in the Central Valley. • Business development and networking experience. Compensation The salary range for this position is $94,000 to $138,000 per year. The compensation offer will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience. LSA offers competitive pay, and for all eligible employees medical, dental, vision, long term disability, group life/AD&D insurance plans; vacation, sick, and holiday pay; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and a Profit Sharing and Savings Plan with 401k safe harbor match. For more details about our employee benefits package please visit our Careers Page on our company website.