Project Biologist

About the opportunity

SWCA is seeking a Project Biologist to support office goals by pursuing project opportunities, managing projects and clients, directing biological field studies, and supervising and mentoring staff. You will primarily assist clients with projects related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and other federal, state, and local environmental regulations. SWCA offers an enthusiastic, supportive, and casual work environment with flexible schedules and a competitive total compensation and benefits package, including a stock ownership program. If you share in the passion in delivering the highest-quality project work to your customers, then this could be an excellent fit for you!

This is a regular, full time, salaried position that is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. 

What you will accomplish

• Demonstrates strong technical and regulatory knowledge within own discipline
• Contributes to strategy for technical delivery at sub-regional level
• Leads projects/tasks from start to finishfor medium projects
• Meets schedules, budgets, and project key performance indicators
• Assigns and communicates technical needs and project tasks to project team members
• Designs field approach/plan and leads project staff in overall project completion
• Oversees and performs QA/QC, organization, and tracking to ensure project requirements are met
• Manages quality and completeness of data collection and analysis and report completion from start to finish
• Performs mid-level technical peer review of documents
• Is an active member in technical/industry organizations
• Adeptly interfaces with clients and agencies related to specific tasks to ensure needs and objectives are met
• Contributes to technical standards for sub-region
• Prepares draft scopes and budgets for mid-size projects, or contributes to large proposals
• Supervise; coaches others within the office
• Network within agencies and industry organizations to establish and expand our state and regional client base and revenue in the areas of environmental planning, permitting, and broad-based natural resources services.
• Supervise and facilitate professional growth and development of natural resources personnel.
• Work closely with SWCA’s other leads in both natural and cultural resources in Central Texas and throughout the company to promote the Austin office by extension, SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
• Manage the technical execution and financial performance of individual natural resources projects and effectively coordinate with and manage clients and agencies.
• Prepare and provide technical oversight for biological resources reports, biological assessments, wetland reports, NEPA documentation, and other natural resources project deliverables related to Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other regulatory/permitting/compliance requirements.
• Prepare protocols and supervise surveys for sensitive habitats and species; including general surveys for report writing, focused or protocol-level surveys, and pre-construction surveys.
• Develop recommendations for mitigation measures, monitoring, and permitting specific to biological resources.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in managing projects, QA/QC, developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work from pre-field tasks to final report preparation.
• Previous experience with environmental surveys, permitting, and field implementation on a variety of projects.
• Demonstrated experience with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing leadership for other natural resources professionals.
• Existing client base of established clients.
• Prior related work experience in the state of Texas.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response. 

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.