Senior Biologist and Project Manager

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA seeks a highly motivated Senior Biologist and Project Manager to join our Northwest Biological Resources and Land Management team. Our ideal candidate has at least 20 years of experience delivering projects in the Northwest United States. The candidate will have experience developing and implementing wildlife studies, conducting wetland delineations, preparing permitting packages and mitigation strategies, completing environmental documentation for permits in Washington, Oregon, and other Northwest states to support consultation with regulatory agencies, and Project Management experience as a consultant.

Experience with managing staff level of effort, project budgets, and contract requirements is a must. Experience across multiple markets, including airports and aviation, renewable energy, community development, and transportation, is preferred. This is a full-time position and will consider candidates working between 32 and 40 hours per week (salary will be prorated accordingly).

This individual needs intellectual curiosity and initiative to lead, experience managing projects with complex biological resource issues, and thrives serving in a client-facing role. The candidate will represent clients in agency discussions, plan and direct surveys, mentor and develop staff, and pursue and win new contracts. This is a senior-level opportunity in our Biological Resources Team and is focused on collaboration, quality, outstanding client service, and being part of a team with a passion to do great work and have fun together.

This is a salaried, full-time exempt role. Qualified candidates must be able and willing to work hybrid (1-2 days per month or more) from one of our Northwest office locations including Seattle, Portland, & Bend. The role is comprised of approximately 30% travel for in-person team collaboration, project visits, and field work as needed, and 70% office work.

We are interested in proactive candidates who have extensive experience in one or more of the following: Wetland and aquatic resource delineations, wildlife and habitat studies;
Endangered Species Act consultations; mitigation planning; client service and project management as a consultant; preparing and reviewing reports and applications for local, state, and federal permits coupled with experience and field work in wetlands, botany, soil science, fisheries biology, wildlife ecology, and habitat restoration ecology. Candidates must have strong technical writing skills and substantial experience preparing environmental documents.

Who You Are

• You are a Senior Biologist and Project Manager with a minimum of 20 years of experience with strong communication skills and experience in aquatic resource evaluations, wildlife surveys, project permitting, and project management to join our team and support multiple markets and growth areas. Experience throughout Washington, Oregon, and other Northwest states is required.
• You have demonstrated experience with state and federal agencies such as the USFWS, NMFS, WDFW, ODFW, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service. Experience with the Federal Aviation Administration is a plus.
• You have experience managing projects throughout all phases, from early planning and permitting through construction. You have experience managing large, complex projects and meeting milestones within schedule and budget expectations, as well as competency in providing quality assurance, quality control (QA/QC) oversight. You value a strong project management and client focused culture.
• You have strong interest in business development and have experience acquiring work through your existing network.
• You have served as the primary author on a variety of environmental documents such as Wetland and Stream Reports and Biological Assessments…