Senior Biologist

Overview

Location(s): Santa Barbara, CA

Practice/Department: Biological

Work Environment: Hybrid

Compensation: $115,000-135,000/annually*

Position Overview

Who You Are

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.

How You'll Make an Impact

Dudek is currently seeking a full-time senior Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudek's biological resources practice in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas; manage and implement a wide variety of complex projects involving sensitive biological resources, with a focus on botanical surveys and aquatic resource delineations; and work collaboratively with other Dudek staff based out of our northern and southern California offices. This position will be a mix of technical writing, project management, business development and field-based work out of Northern California.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale collection of detailed field data, work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and work full days in all types of weather, including but not limited to the following tasks:
• Lead complex and large-scale aquatic resource delineations.
• Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
• Lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife; and
• Lead large-scale and complex vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage standalone biological resource projects as well as biological tasks for multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations.
• Prepare and oversee preparation Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations;
• Lead and support business development efforts for biological resource projects;
• Serve as a mentor to junior and mid-level staff and assist in building proficiency of technical skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex biological tasks or projects for at least 5 years, including:
  • client communication,
  • negotiation of contracts and change orders,
  • developing and overseeing schedule and budget,
  • responsibility for quality of deliverables,
  • and large team coordination.
• Knowledge and understanding of field and data analysis techniques used to map and assess wetland and water features potentially jurisdictional under the federal Clean Water Act, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Expert-level knowledge of special-status plant species, vegetation communities, and sensitive vegetation resources that occur in northern California.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, regulations, and permitting requirements relating to biological resources, in particular, the federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including over-night stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• Demonstrated experience with management of projects involving biological impact analyses, special-status species, and mitigation planning.
• Experience successfully negotiating resource agency permits (e.g., USACE, USFWS, CDFW, Water Board, Coastal Commission)
• Experience successfully representing clients in front of elected officials (e.g., city councils, boards of supervisors, special district boards).
• Expert-level knowledge of California aquatic resource types and systems.
• Proficient in wildlife identification and impact evaluation skills throughout California.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented project delivery approach.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exercises good judgment and sound decision-making skills.

Compensation: $115,000-135,000/annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual's related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.

• Employees must be capable of bending, squatting, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 35 lbs. unassisted; 50lbs in a team lift (two or more employees).

• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with government agency representatives, members of the public, and others. Speaking, hearing and listening are required.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time.

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