Senior Biologist

~ Chambers Group, Inc. is an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Santa Ana, CA. ~

Chambers Group provides environmental planning, regulatory permitting, technical studies for biological and cultural resources, and construction mitigation and monitoring. We want the best and brightest to join our team – individuals with talent, passion, and commitment who bring new ideas, creativity, and energy. You will find variety, challenges, and growth opportunities. We invite you to discover the potential career opportunities available to you at Chambers Group with the current open positions. For more information please visit our website.

Position Overview

We have an immediate need for a Senior Biologist/Project Manager with overall experience in natural resources, biology, report writing, and solid project management.

Responsible for technical studies associated with medium to large-scale projects for both standalone biological services and services in support of larger California Environmental Quality Act/National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA) projects (i.e., local, state, and federal lead agencies).

Preparation of proposals for competitive and sole-source clients, development of new clients, and coordination with internal project managers and biological staff. Preparation of constraints analyses, wetlands delineations, wetlands permit applications, focused survey reports, vegetation mapping, general wildlife or botanical surveys, federally and state-listed sensitive species surveys and permitting documents, and biological resources technical reports in accordance with CEQA/NEPA and/or a variety of other environmental documents.

Demonstrates strong leadership, producing quality documents, developing effective permitting strategies, and public communications. Proven record of maintaining positive client and project team relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical training and supervision to staff.
• Provides a high-level of quality control.
• Serve as Project Manager by preparing project scopes of work, budgets and schedules, coordinating with clients, and planning and executing project and proposal meetings.
• Demonstrates ability to provide proposal development and new business activities.
• Ability to prepare proposals that include qualifications, scopes of work, cost estimates, schedules, milestones, risk assessment for particular tasks, project mitigation matrix, as well as incorporation of scope and cost from other departments and from sub-contractors for public and private clients for biological services.
• Demonstrates ability to complete large and complex projects on time and within budget.
• Demonstrates experience in Environmental Management for medium and large-scale projects.
• Demonstrates experience in the development of Environmental Workplans to ensure environmental compliance with state and federal permits and mitigation measures.
• Demonstrates experience managing MSAs, including administrative duties, such as staffing, scheduling, budgeting and allocating resources to meet project requirements.
• Responsible for new bookings with existing and new clients.
• Demonstrates firm experience in the preparation of environmental permitting documentation, including large, technical documents, Biological Assessments, and biological sections for PEA, EIR, and IS/MND.
• Demonstrates extensive experience providing guidance to clients and team members with federal and state regulations, including CEQA/NEPA, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species acts.
• Provides guidance in the preparation of complex environmental permitting strategies.
• Demonstrates experience in regulatory reviews and preparation of local, state and federal permit applications, resource analysis, corridor identification, route refinement, agency consultation, and public outreach.
• Ability to lead wetland and jurisdictional surveys and assist with the preparation of wetland and waterbody encroachment permits (CWA Section 404 and 401, CDFW Section 1600).
• Demonstrates technical expertise in one or more aspects of field biology, such as botany, wildlife biology, restoration, or wetland biology.
• Ability to lead coordination efforts and preparation of Incidental Take Permits and USFWS Section 7 and 10 consultations; support informal and formal endangered species consultation, as appropriate, with the resource agencies. 
• For Senior Restoration Ecologists, ability to prepare, design and implement habitat restoration plans and habitat mitigation and monitoring plans.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize critical thinking; a flexible approach to problem solving; excellent interpersonal communication (oral and written), planning, and organizational skills; and attention to detail. 
• Provide detailed presentation to potential future clients to showcase Chambers Group’s qualifications and experience.
• Ability to speak to a potential client panel during interview/bid process.
• Mentor junior biologists and cross-train other staff members, and provide opportunities for them to assist with field work as appropriate.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrates strong leadership skills, ability to work independently, manage internal staff and sub-contractors, and provide exemplary work habits.
• Performs support in business development, responsible for new bookings, demonstrates initiative, independent thinking, and strong problem-solving skills. 
• Demonstrates excellent organization and communication skills and experience managing multiple staff on medium to large-scale projects.
• Demonstrates strong relationships with clients and agencies/regulators.
• Responsible for technical direction and resource management support to meet client, project and office objectives.
• Demonstrates firm understanding of the FESA and CESA, experience in Section 7 and Section 10 documentation and consultation support, USACE preliminary wetland delineation and verification process [post Rapanos with an understanding of the 2015 CWA Final Rule], USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Section 401 Water Quality Certification permitting requirements, California Fish and Game Code (CDFW Streambed Alteration Agreement and 2081 Incidental Take Permits), and CEQA and NEPA.
• Demonstrates experience with 10(A)(1)(a) federal permit with an MOU from CDFW for listed species and/or agency approved experience for survey of sensitive species.
• Provides positive and enthusiastic leadership/mentoring and trainings for younger staff.

Education and Experience:

• BS required, approximately 7-10 years of experience in technical discipline required and 4 years of experience in a technical lead and/or demonstrated leadership preferred.
• Advanced degree preferred. Advanced degree – MS, PhD may be substitute for up to 2 years experience. Professional certifications required.

Compensation: The position is full-time position with benefits. This work will be done in the office with field visits, as needed, to manage projects.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter and resume. 

~ Chambers Group Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and we value inclusion and diversity. EOE-Minorities/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Chambers Group Inc. will make employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner. ~