Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Project Manager

Position: Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Project Manager (Full-time)
H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for a senior wildlife ecologist and project manager for projects in the San Joaquin Valley, Antelope Valley, and Central Coast, California. The anticipated pay range for this position is $98,500-$114,000 annually. Actual compensation within the range will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

What it's like to work with us

The new wildlife ecologists will become part of the 12-person team and will work with other wildlife ecologists and experts in botany, land management, conservation planning, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture. H. T. Harvey & Associates has a reputation for deep scientific expertise and a high caliber of work. Our San Joaquin Valley team leaders have been researching and working in the region for more than three decades and have unparalleled expertise with the region's species, habitats, regulatory environment, and habitat plans.

The team has long-standing experience with transportation, solar energy, land management, and conservation projects. Services provided include ESA and CESA permitting; endangered and threatened species surveys and assessments, preconstruction surveys and monitoring; and conservation land assessment, preservation, and management.

Project managers will apply their expertise as the lead biologist on projects and lead project teams, helping develop solutions to ecological challenges in the San Joaquin Valley as well as in the broader Central Valley and Central Coast regions. The work will require local species expertise, a strong background in regulatory issues, and solid technical writing skills. Successful project managers possess a high level of personal organization and apply critical thinking to develop a project-specific approach.

Many of our clients seek our expertise with the goal of going above and beyond project requirements, giving us the opportunity to contribute to projects that benefit the environment. Externally project managers serve as the liaison with clients, project team members, and agency contacts and work on proposals and business development efforts.

Our San Joaquin Valley team works remotely, with team members living throughout the region, from the Central Coast to Sacramento. We closely collaborate both online and in person, with a strong focus on team alignment and shared learning. This position does not require regular presence in a company office but will require travel to a company location in Fresno (or other regional locations) on occasion for in-person collaboration.

Current project needs include conducting surveys, population monitoring, and permitting projects involving rare plants and wildlife species including San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Burrowing owl, California tiger salamander, and/or Swainson's hawk.

Competencies, skills, and experience

We assume those who want to join our company as an ecologist have a strong and relevant academic background as well as prior applicable experience. We aim to hire team members who strive for excellence in their everyday work and who are interested in continually improving their scientific knowledge and collaborating with experts in other fields.

In addition to having strong ecological training and experience, the ideal candidates would also have experience with a variety of special-status wildlife species and their habitats in the greater Central Valley and/ or Central Coast, specifically with one or more of the following:
San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Burrowing owl, and/or Swainson's hawk.

Candidates applying for a project manager position should have:

• At least 6-10 years of applicable professional experience, including at least one year of management experience
• Ideal candidates would also have experience with a variety of special-status wildlife species and their habitats in the greater Central Valley and/ or Central Coast. Specifically with one or more of the following:
  San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, California tiger salamander, burrowing owl, and/or Swainson's hawk.
• Prior experience with:
  • authoring and editing technical reports, with demonstrated exceptional writing ability
  • federal and state biological permitting processes, preferably in California
  • assessing project impacts within regulatory frameworks (CEQA and NEPA)
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Willingness to travel and work in a range of locations and terrains
• A commitment to learning new things and coaching junior staff

Desired qualifications

• A degree biological studies, natural resources, wildlife management, wildlife biology, or an equivalent subject. M.S or Ph.D. preferred.
• Prior experience serving as a Designated Biologist for…