Associate Biologist

Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with a minimum of five years of experience to join our Southern California Ecosystems Group. The position is based in one of our Southern California offices (Bakersfield, Fresno, Irvine, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Paramount, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Maria, or Ventura) and requires the ability to travel within and outside of Southern California.

• Lead and mentor project field teams and provide support to project managers for renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
• Schedule, assist, or lead teams for field tasks such as special‑status species surveys, nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments and mapping, jurisdictional waters delineations and assessments, and compliance monitoring.
• Provide guidance to junior staff, including training recommendations, coaching, and mentoring.
• Plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• Work with business development teams to contribute to requests for proposals (RFPs), defining scope, estimating cost, and compiling relevant sections of proposal documents.
• Assist teams in pursuing and contributing to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
• Participate in professional associations and committees to contribute to our corporate profile.
• Under the supervision of senior staff, coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of survey efforts and technical reports.
• Assist with the development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
• Maintain an 80‑85% direct project utilization goal.
• Conduct overnight travel within and outside of Southern California.

• Collaborate effectively in multi‑disciplinary project and field teams.
• Understand and apply Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Coordinate with project managers to work efficiently within scope, budget, and schedule.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of Southern California.
• Conduct floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species‑specific protocol surveys.
• Experience with arroyo toad, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, and/or desert tortoise is a plus.
• Possession of a California Scientific Collecting Permit, State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and/or federal Recovery Permit for special‑status species is a plus.
• Being a USFWS‑approved biologist or a CDFW‑approved Designated Biologist for federally listed species is a plus.
• Wetland delineation training certificate or demonstrable experience in jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations is a plus.
• Strong verbal and technical writing skills, able to communicate with team members, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Experience preparing technical documentation such as biological survey reports, technical memoranda, Biological Resources Technical Reports (BRTRs), jurisdictional waters delineations, Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs), and CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in Southern California.
• Prepare or contribute to regulatory permit applications such as Clean Water Act Section 404/401, Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and incidental take permits (ITPs).
• Experience in compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post‑construction monitoring/reporting on projects.
• Proficient in MS Office applications.
• Use GPS/GIS technology (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, Online, and/or Field Maps) to collect survey data, map vegetation communities, and delineate jurisdictional waters.
• Must be able to travel; possess a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• OSHA HAZWOPER 40 certification may need to be obtained prior to employment.

BS and/or MS degree in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field with a…