Biologist- Field Lead

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants’ Baton Rouge, LA office is actively seeking to fill Staff Biologist – Field Lead position. Our Baton Rouge office offers a unique work environment and specializes in natural resources and planning. Project work may include oil and gas development, transmission/pipelines, transportation, mining, and Federal clients.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading natural resource field crews in conducting biological surveys in the South region. This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), hourly/non-exempt position that will require extensive travel for field-based projects.

What you will accomplish

• Lead field crews under the supervision of Field Directors and/or Project Managers in the performance of natural resource fieldwork
• Conduct biological surveys, habitat assessments, and wetland/OHWM delineation
• Accurately collect data and complete field forms, digital photography, and mapping
• Collect GPS data using Trimble units; manage data and download data to and from GPS units
• Coordinate and communicate with project managers, land surveyors, landowners and other SWCA staff as necessary
• Assist with report preparation
• Operate SWCA vehicles, assure they will perform safely, and notify appropriate person if vehicle needs maintenance.
• Adhere to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• For staff biologist positions, depending upon project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise a biological survey crew in the field. This includes:
• Independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery.
• Ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely.
• Serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers.
• Receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field.
• Monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when correction action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum qualifications
:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related field
• Two (2) years of field experience in biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related field along with some or all of the following additional knowledge/experience:
• Experience with accurate data collection procedures, and data entry QA/QC
• Experience conducting avian studies in the southern United States, including presence/absence surveys, population and nesting studies
• Small mammal and/or herpetofauna experience
• Vegetation sampling and habitat assessment experience
• Wetland delineation experience in the South
• Previous field supervisory experience
• The ability to conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and at high altitudes; the ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Experience with Trimble GPS units. Familiarity with Arc Pad is a plus
• Ability to research and prepare technical documents
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications

• Three (3) years of field experience in biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related field.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants
is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services.
Our Vision (the North Star) is
to makeSWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as#OneSWCA;weare#Always Learning
, we#Never Settle,and we#Give Back.

We are 100% employee-owned
, and we build…