Associate Biologist

Job Description

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We're a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that's critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.

Your Opportunity
Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with at least 5 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group by operating out of our Bakersfield, California office. We welcome a talented and collaborative team member with demonstrable experience in the San Joaquin Valley. As an Associate-level Biologist with Stantec, you will be relied upon to lead and mentor field teams on a variety of multi-disciplinary projects for diverse clientele and business sectors.

Your Key Responsibilities

What You Will Do for Stantec
As an Associate Biologist:

• You will lead and mentor project field teams and provide support to project managers undertaking renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
• You will schedule, assist, and/or lead teams for field tasks, as needed, such as special-status species surveys/inventories, nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments and mapping, jurisdictional waters delineations and assessments, and compliance monitoring.
• You will provide guidance to junior staff, including providing training recommendations, coaching, and mentoring.
• You will plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• You will work with business development teams to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) including defining the scope of work, associated cost, and compiling relevant sections of proposal documents
• You may contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees
• Under the supervision of senior staff:
  • You will coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of various survey efforts and technical reports.
  • Assist with the development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
• You will assist teams in pursuing and contributing to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
• The role has a target 80-85% direct project utilization goal.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required within and outside of southern California.

Your Capabilities and Credentials
Your skills should include:

• Demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of the San Joaquin Valley. Demonstrable field experience with Burrowing owl, San Joaquin kit fox, San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel, and Kangaroo Rat, and blunt nosed leopard lizard preferred.
• Experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys.
• Experience in preparing technical documentation including biological survey reports, technical memoranda, Biological Resources Technical Reports (BRTRs), jurisdictional waters delineations and Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs), biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley and southern California.
• Ability to prepare or contribute to the preparation of regulatory permit applications such as Clean Water Act Section 404/401, Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs).
• Experience in compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
• Experience with using GPS/GIS technology to collect survey data, map vegetation communities, and delineate jurisdictional waters.
• You are a collaborative team member who works effectively in multi-disciplinary project and field teams.
• You possess strong oral and writing skills and have the ability to effectively communicate with team members, junior staff, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to coordinate with project managers to conduct work efficiently and within project scope, budget and schedule expectations.
• Must have a good driving record and valid Driver's License.
• A medical physical and/or drug and alcohol screening may be required for some project assignments.
• Proficient in policies and procedures for Health and Safety, including client-specific training, leads by example, and applying Health and Safety policies and procedures as appropriate to their work.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

You are a biologist or natural resources management specialist; you at minimum hold a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or related field; and have a minimum 5 years of related experience demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility in conducting biological resources surveys and preparing technical reports.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what's previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what's possible.
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About the Team

Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.

Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).

Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.

The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements