Staff Scientist

Kleinschmidt has a full-time opening for a Staff Scientist to participate in a diverse array of aquatic resource projects in our Essex, Connecticut office. Our flexibility and core value of relationships allows us to offer employees the opportunity to work in an office, or remotely, based on personal needs. We understand the concerns with COVID-19 and have policies in place to help keep our employees safe.

Who You Are

A Fisheries Biologist/Ecologist with a BS in Fisheries, Aquatic Biology, Ecology, or related field with 2 to 3 years of professional work experience in the New England region with native fish species performing habitat assessments, impact assessments, routine monitoring, or related field efforts.

Knowledgeable: Working knowledge of New England fish species ecology, life history, and species differentiation. Understanding of biotelemetry techniques and applications. Familiarity with hydroelectric facilities and impacts to fish. Competency in scientific writing and data analysis. Proficient with MS Office Suite. Knowledge of consulting and working within budgets. Able to perform literature reviews and summaries.

Experienced: Demonstrated experience working in and around rivers within the New England region. Comfort with operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting boat engines and trailers. Experience working from boats, kayaking, and wading in moving water.

Dedicated: Willingness to travel for work within the United States and Canada. Ability to work independently without supervision, as well as part of a team. Flexibility to work occasional weekends and some longer/earlier/later than normal workdays. Committed to safety and harmonious working relationships.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds at a time
• Ability to work in remote, rugged conditions exposed to cold, wet, and hot weather.
• Ability to traverse various types of terrain for extended periods of time.

Additional Requirements

• Must possess permanent authorization to work in the United States and able to acquire authorization to work in Canada
• Must be willing to travel and possess a valid driver's license
• Possess basic carpentry skills including use of power tools

About the Position

This position provides an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic applicant looking to further their career by using their experience and technical knowledge to collaborate with our team of scientists, engineers, and regulatory professionals on a range of projects to meet our clients' objectives. Much of our work focuses on fish behavior, populations, and habitats, water quality, wetlands, and wildlife. The successful candidate will have many opportunities for career development and long-term advancement within this diverse and well-established firm. Specific duties for this position will include:

• Conducting aquatic habitat surveys and fish sampling, including fish handling, electrofishing, trapping and netting techniques, and visual estimation techniques;
• Supporting fish telemetry, fish tagging, and behavior studies;
• Supporting flow assessments, terrestrial surveys, and water quality measurements;
• Assisting with field work logistics, including schedule coordination, preparation of safety documentation, organizing and maintaining equipment and supplies;
• Implementing comprehensive data collection, management, and QAQC goals;
• Providing routine field data collection summaries;
• Developing technical report components including tables, figures, and text;
• Assisting with maintenance of vehicles and field equipment, including standard maintenance of boats and trailers.

Who We Are

Kleinschmidt is one of the few employee-owned consulting firms in North America specializing in hydropower and we have been doing it for more than 50 years. We focus on developing engineering, regulatory, and environmental solutions that benefit our clients by lowering cost, shortening schedules, and improving regulatory relationships.

Our people are passionate, engaged, and enjoy learning from one another while working on unique and creative projects. Technical excellence is at the heart of our continued success, and we strongly encourage learning and continuous improvement to create professional growth and new opportunities for our employees.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Bonus program - annual and quarterly
• Comprehensive medical/dental/vision package
• 401(k) with 4% employer match and 100% immediate vesting
• 10 floating holidays annually
• Paid time off
• Short-term disability
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition assistance
• Employee ownership

Kleinschmidt is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. It is our company policy and culture to provide equal opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender status, disability status, national origin, veteran status, and all other dimensions of diversity.