Principal Biologist - Environmental Scientist

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields with dedication, a creative spirit, and a vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties worldwide and are devoted to fostering a community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. Here, you can apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental professionals on work that's vital to our clients and the communities they serve.

Join a team that's naturally committed to the environment.

Your Opportunity

Stantec is seeking a principal-level Environmental Scientist with at least 15 years of experience to join our southern California Natural Resources Assessment & Permitting Group by operating out of our Santa Barbara, California office. We welcome a talented and collaborative team member with demonstrable experience in southern California and elsewhere. As a Principal Environmental Scientist with Stantec, you will work in a highly dynamic team environment with biologists, environmental scientists, environmental planners, and water resources specialists, as well as wider multidisciplinary teams.

This will be a leadership role providing direction and mentorship for junior team members, project management, and responsibility for driving business development. This position will primarily entail office work but may include limited opportunities for field work.

In this position, you will be responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams across multiple sectors, including, but not limited to renewable energy, electric and gas transmission and distribution projects, and natural resource planning and management projects. As a Principal Environmental Scientist, you will oversee and provide expertise in technical deliverables, regulatory strategy, CEQA/NEPA analysis, and permitting strategy.

Specific background and expertise should consist of expertise with regulatory compliance and permitting, and proven success in project and client management. This position requires extensive coordination with clients, resource agencies, and environmental and technical staff. The ideal Santa Barbara, California candidate will also have the following qualifications:

- Experience managing complex projects and/or programs in southern California as a Project Manager for multidisciplinary teams.

- Experience working on utility-related biological compliance projects, particularly with Southern California Edison (SCE) and Southern California Gas Company (So Cal Gas ), is highly desirable.

- Familiarity with environmental permitting processes, biological monitoring protocols, and utility corridor operations is considered a strong asset.

- Experience working on other projects for other clients, including but not limited to:

- Renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

- Oil and Gas (O&G).

- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and/or California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

- Department of Defense (DOD).

- Water infrastructure.

- Community development.

What You Will Do for Stantec

As a Principal Environmental Scientist

- Your assignments/projects will be advanced in nature and require the application of experience and strategy.

- You will frequently interact and interface with environmental regulators and clients; proactively assessing and resolving concerns.

- You will be responsible for independently planning, strategizing, implementing, and orchestrating the team to deliver complicated projects related to natural resources, wetlands, biophysical impact assessments, environmental assessments, and regulatory approvals.

- You will manage tasks and projects according to approved scopes of work and deliver quality reports on schedule and within budget, while maintaining consistency with Stantec's Project Management Framework and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-certified Integrated Management System (IMS).

- You will provide senior technical peer reviews and independent reviews relating to natural resource science and biology on multidisciplinary projects.

- You will apply technical and business knowledge and methods to develop…