Senior Biologist

San Diego, CA

Full Time

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING + COMPLIANCE

Experienced

Why Join us?
Harris’ growing Environmental, Engineering, and Consulting Division does industry-leading work in environmental planning and compliance, community planning and housing solutions, engineering design, municipal and district finance, and one water solutions. Harris continues to expand the scope of these services while also building new capabilities in planning, climate change/adaptation, hazard mitigation, resilience, and management consulting.

Harris has an opening for a Senior Biologist to join our Environmental Planning and Compliance team in the Biology Group. If you are a passionate and motivated professional looking for a collaborative environment at a firm that invests heavily in your growth, you could be a perfect fit for Harris & Associates.

What you will do...

Assist in managing staff preparing large, complex natural resources documents such as Biological Resources Technical Reports and other biological or aquatic resources documents. Operates as primary author or senior reviewer without guidance or assistance.
Manage projects/tasks that include all aspects of biological analyses and can be creative in thinking to strategize best approaches for clients.
Provide species expertise and can guide and train junior and mid-level staff. Provide mentorship to junior and mid-level staff.
Operate as primary point of contact for clients and resource agencies on projects.
Develop work breakdown structure for control and integrity of work to be performed as and defined by the contract.
Manage projects with large-scale field efforts and intensive schedules including compliance projects requiring adherence to permit conditions.
Perform project management duties such as forecasting, tracking, accounting updates, invoicing, progress reports, and scheduling.
Review contracts for understanding of scope, fee, schedule, and deliverables.
Monitor and analyze project costs, commitments, accruals, and changes, and takes corrective action where necessary.

The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and proven record of working collaboratively in a team environment.

What you will have...

Bachelor’s Degree in biology or ecology
6+ years of experience as a biologist in San Diego County/Southern California
Experience with environmental compliance and compliance monitoring
Experience with protocol and focused wildlife and plant surveys
Experience with habitat assessments, vegetation mapping, and general biological reconnaissance surveys
Possession of a valid USFWS 10(a)1(A) permit to conduct wildlife protocol surveys for species in southern California, including, but not limited to one or more of the following: least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), California gnatcatchers (Polioptila californica californica), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), large listed branchiopods (i.e., San Diego fairy shrimp), Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino), or other federal listed species within to San Diego Count/Southern California.
Experience in leading field survey efforts of all sizes and managing field crew schedules.
Have a solid understanding of CEQA, NEPA, resource agency permits, and local MSHCPs concepts and requirements.
Interest in the mentoring and career development of junior and mid-level staff (experience preferred)
Outstanding oral and written communication skills
Data management experience, including electronic data collection in field; managing large data sets.
Ability to work in a high-paced environment where changing client priorities result in the need to determine creative ways to get the job done.
Candidate must be flexible and willing to support multiple projects.
Valid Driver's License with satisfactory driving record required

It would be nice if you had...

Experience with regulatory agency permitting processes and agency negotiations
Experience complex environmental issues and regulation requirements
Experience with ornithology, and sensitive bird species not listed under Endangered Species Acts
Experience with native plant species identification including rare plants.
Proficient use of Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Google Earth, and other related software.
Experience with GPS units/software, ArcGIS, ArcCollector and sub-meter field data collection.

Work Environment
The Biologist must be capable of working in temperature extremes for long hours and be able to handle strenuous physical activity and conditions (i.e., hiking for hours a day while carrying equipment).

About Us

For more than 40 years, Harris & Associates has helped to improve communities and create better places to live through smart, safe, more sustainable planning, design and construction solutions. Harris is a 100% employee-owned company focused on solving today's complex challenges in planning, design, and construction. Our offices and project sites span the West Coast in California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Washington with a staff of over 250 employee-owners focused on serving clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets.

Compensation & Benefits
The annual salary range offered for this position is $85-145K. Actual pay offered will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.

In addition to base salary, we also offer:

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
ESOP
401K Match
PTO, 8 Paid Holidays + "1 WorkAversary" paid holiday to celebrate you!
Health & Well-Being Allowance
Tuition reimbursement
Flexible hybrid/remote work plans

Harris & Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability) and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.

Harris expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

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