Senior Habitat Restoration Project Manager – Northern California

If you’re passionate about restoring California’s natural landscapes and want to be involved in the entire restoration process from concept through implementation and long-term success, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact. As a Senior Restoration Project Manager
, this position will be based in either Bay Area or Sacramento
. You’ll help lead and grow HELIX’s expanding habitat restoration practice in Northern California while working alongside a team that designs, builds, monitors, and maintains restoration projects entirely in-house.

Why HELIX?

At HELIX Environmental Planning, we take pride in delivering innovative environmental solutions that make a meaningful difference. Our team works on diverse public and private sector projects across California, from coastal habitats to mountain ecosystems and the Central Valley. What sets HELIX apart is our ability to handle every stage of habitat restoration under one roof, from planning and permitting to plant propagation, field implementation, and biological monitoring.

The Senior Restoration Project Manager role offers a unique chance to join a growing Northern California team and help shape the future of our restoration services. We offer a flexible hybrid work schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.

Day in the Life

As a Senior Restoration Project Manager
, no two days are the same. You may start your morning collaborating with biologists and restoration practitioners on a large-scale habitat restoration design, spend the afternoon evaluating a field site, and finish the day helping secure funding for future restoration efforts. The Senior Restoration Project Manager works closely with regulatory agencies, field crews, project managers, and clients while helping lead restoration projects from planning through implementation and adaptive management.

What You’ll Do

• Design and support habitat restoration projects to achieve project goals and success criteria.
• Lead site investigations and restoration feasibility assessments.
• Collaborate with field restoration crews during project implementation and adaptive management.
• Develop habitat restoration plans and support environmental permitting efforts.
• Assist with restoration grant applications and project development.
• Conduct and oversee biological surveys, vegetation mapping, and special-status species surveys.
• Lead biological monitoring for restoration and construction projects.
• Support wetland permit applications and regulatory documentation.
• Participate in business development, proposal preparation, and project interviews.
• Travel occasionally overnight as project needs require.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience as a biologist, restoration ecologist, or restoration practitioner.
• At least 2 years of experience working in Northern California.
• Experience with field data collection methods and habitat restoration implementation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to hike long distances across varied terrain and weather conditions.
• Valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record.
• Ability to travel overnight occasionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Environmental consulting experience.
• Society for Ecological Restoration CERP certification.
• ISA Arborist Certification.
• Wetland Delineation or Professional Wetland Scientist certifications.
• Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies.
• ArcGIS field data collection experience.
• Experience with plant propagation, equipment operation, or herbicide application.
• Experience leading biological surveys, monitoring programs, and…