Supervising Fisheries Biologist​/Senior Project Manager

Overview

Rincon Consultants is seeking an experienced Supervising Fisheries Biologist / Senior Project Manager to join our Natural Resources team. This role will support a variety of aquatic resource projects across California. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing fisheries-focused projects, supervising technical staff, overseeing workflow, and ensuring high-quality project delivery. This includes close collaboration with peers, junior staff, clients, and regulatory agencies on complex, multi-disciplinary efforts.

This position is ideally based out of our Oakland, Monterey, Sacramento, or San Luis Obispo offices, with other California locations considered. Flexible work arrangements may include a mix of in-office and remote work, but in-person collaboration and client teaming are prioritized for those within 50 miles of a Rincon office (Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura).

Overview of Key

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technical Work:
  Prepare high-quality technical studies and QA/QC of biological resource reports, CEQA/NEPA analyses, and regulatory permit applications with a focus on aquatic species and habitats
• Conduct fish and aquatic species surveys, habitat assessments, and impact analyses
• Identify optimal permitting strategies and develop supporting materials for FESA Section 7 consultations and Section 10 HCPs, CESA 2081 ITPs, and other regulatory approvals
• Lead development of restoration and monitoring plans for special status fish and aquatic species
• Present technical findings to clients and regulatory agencies
• Travel (including overnight stays) when required

• Project Management:
  Oversee complex regulatory permitting projects and coordinate with agencies (e.g., USFWS, NMFS, CDFW, USACE, RWQCB, CCC, BCDC, etc.)
• Manage moderate to complex, large-sized projects
• Coordinate scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables while ensuring high-quality execution
• Serve as Rincon’s primary point of contact for clients and regulatory agencies
• Provide both technical direction and team mentorship, encouraging collaboration and solution-oriented thinking
• Lead QA/QC of technical reports, project budgets, and schedules

• Business Development:
  Leverage existing industry relationships and conduct thoughtful, professional client outreach
• Maintain and grow client accounts through proactive relationship management
• Write compelling proposals with accurate cost and schedule estimates
• Participate in interviews and give presentations to prospective and current clients

• This job might be for you if you have the following:
• 8–12 years minimum of progressive and successful environmental consulting experience, including the technical, project management, and business development experience listed above
• BS, MS, or PhD in Fisheries Biology, Aquatic Ecology, or a related discipline
• Experience with fisheries-focused projects in the Bay Delta, Bay Area, and California Coast (preferred)
• Experience with fish and aquatic species surveys, habitat assessments, and ecological analyses to support CEQA/NEPA compliance and regulatory permitting
• Knowledge of federal and state permitting processes, environmental compliance, and mitigation monitoring requirements
• Authorized to survey for and handle special status fish species, including but not limited to listed salmonids, tidewater goby, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, and unarmored threespine stickleback
• Experience developing restoration plans, habitat management strategies, and supporting agency coordination and approvals
• Experience directly supervising, mentoring, and supporting the development of junior staff
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills; a collaborative approach to working with internal staff and communicating with clients, agencies, and subcontractors

Rincon Consultants is an award-winning environmental consulting firm with offices across California. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package and a benefits program designed to support well-being and financial security, including health plans (HMO, PPO, HDHP, and Health Savings Account options), employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance, dental, vision, prescription coverage, vacation, paid sick leave, holidays, a 401(k) / Profit Sharing Retirement Plan, bonus opportunities, professional development and mentoring, and additional perks.

We also support community involvement through Volunteer Pay for a Day and other benefits. Further details are available on the Rincon Consultants webpage.

Additional employment conditions: a pre-employment drug screening is required. For roles assigned to federal projects, additional drug testing (including cannabinoids) may apply in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act and applicable federal regulations.

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Environmental Consulting