Natural Resources Biologist

Staff Natural Resources Biologist

Location:

Irvine, CA, US;
Rancho Cordova, CA, US;
Walnut Creek, CA, US

Company:
Black & Veatch Family of Companies

In this role as a Staff Natural Resources Biologist, you will have the opportunity to:

• Work with a dynamic team within an established global infrastructure and engineering company, collaborating with a team of natural resources biologists and other multi‑disciplinary environmental consultants and engineers to lead and support a wide range of terrestrial biological desktop and field studies and support related permitting activities in the Western US with a focus on California.

Our Environmental team is a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, engineers, scientists, project managers, and attorneys working together to identify optimum environmental solutions for our clients. We have provided environmental consulting services in support of projects for over 40 years inclusive of power generation, transmission, oil and gas facilities, pipelines, water and wastewater treatment, data centers, and food and beverage industries. Our services include impact assessment and planning, regulatory compliance and permitting, wetland and floodplain analysis, waterbody and water quality assessment, air quality permitting and management, environmental remediation, site due diligence, noise assessment, pollution prevention planning, and climate action solutions.

• Lead and support wetland and other waters delineations, habitat assessments, vegetation mapping, and related desktop and field evaluations for projects in California and elsewhere in the Western US.
• Conduct or support special‑status species and habitat surveys, biological reconnaissance, and field data collection in support of infrastructure, utility, water, energy, and other development projects.
• Prepare and contribute to biological resource analyses for CEQA and NEPA documentation by evaluating existing conditions, identifying potential impacts, and developing avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
• Identify and interpret applicable local, state, and federal biological resource regulations and permitting requirements, including Clean Water Act Sections 401, 404, and 408, Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10, Porter‑Cologne Water Quality Control Act, CESA, federal ESA, and California Department of Fish Lake and Streambed Alteration Program.
• Prepare permit applications and technical support materials for agency review, including USACE, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, CDFW, USFWS, and other relevant resource agencies.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies and multidisciplinary project teams to define biological study needs, support permitting strategies, and advance project delivery.
• Provide technical consulting support to clients and internal teams, including interpretation of biological constraints, review of project plans, and preparation of clear, defensible technical documentation.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, natural resources, or a closely related field strongly preferred. Advanced study, specialized training, or directly relevant experience may be considered where it uniquely supports the role.
• 5+ years of solutions‑oriented environmental consulting experience, including work on biological resources for infrastructure, utility, water, energy, or other development projects in California. Experience in additional Western US states a plus. Graduate work may count if directly applicable to job function.
• Experience preparing or supporting biological resource analyses for CEQA and, where applicable, NEPA documentation, including impact assessment and development of avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
• Working knowledge of California and federal biological resource regulations and permitting requirements, including CESA, federal ESA, Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404, California Department of Fish Lake and Streambed Alteration Program, and related agency review processes.
• Experience conducting or supporting wetland and other waters delineations, habitat assessments, vegetation mapping, special‑status species surveys,…