Mid-level Environmental Biologist - Santa Barbara

Position Overview

Location(s):
Santa Barbara County
Practice/Department:
Biological
Work Environment:
Hybrid
Compensation: $80,000-$90,000 annually*

As an employee-owner
, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. You are curious and solution-oriented
, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation
.

Dudek is currently seeking a full-time experienced Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudek’s biological resources practice locally in the Southern California region; manage and implement a wide variety of projects involving sensitive biological resources, including botanical surveys, wildlife surveys, and aquatic resource delineations; and work collaboratively with other Dudek staff based out of our southern and northern California offices.

This position will be a mix of technical writing, project management, and field-based work out of Southern California.

Duties and responsibilities for this position may include but are not limited to:

• Assist on large-scale or lead small-scale collection of detailed field data, work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and work full days in all types of weather, including but not limited to the following tasks:
  • Assist on aquatic resource delineations.
  • Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
  • Assist or lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife.
  • Assist on large scale or lead small-scale vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage small-scale biological resource projects and biological tasks on larger multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations with oversight from senior-level staff.
• Prepare Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports with senior-staff guidance.
• Preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations with senior-staff oversight.
• Serve as a mentor to junior-level staff and assist in building proficiency of technical skills.
• Ability to work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks on time and within budget.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven experience managing biological tasks or projects, including client communication, deliverable oversight, and team coordination.
• Knowledge and understanding of special-status plant species, vegetation communities, and sensitive vegetation resources that occur in the Southern California region.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, regulations, and permitting requirements relating to biological resources, in particular, the federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including overnight stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

• Master’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• Some demonstrated experience with management of projects involving biological impact analyses, special-status species, and mitigation planning, particularly experienced in the regulatory environment of Southern California.
• Proficient in wildlife identification and impact evaluation skills throughout California.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented project delivery approach.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exercises good judgment and sound…