BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Sapphos Environmental Inc. - 2.8 Pasadena, CA Job Details Full-time $75,000 - $90,000 a year 5 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Flexible spending account Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance Professional development assistance Life insurance Qualifications Environmental surveys Teamwork Interpersonal skills Organizational skills Delegation Full Job Description Job Summary The Biological Resources Specialist at Sapphos Environmental Inc. (SEI) works under the direction of the Biological Resources Manager or Director to provide oversight and leadership to Team members engaged in focused or protocol field investigations or environmental permits or monitoring of compliance with environmental commitments. The Biological Resources Specialist focuses on leading teams of 3-7 people to implement substantial work efforts to support a formal consultation under Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), or application for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) pursuant to Section 10 (a)(1) of the federal Endangered Species Act or Section 2081 of the California Fish and Game Code (CFGC) California ESA; or is able to lead a jurisdictional delineation and permit application under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act or Section 1600 of the CFGC. The Biological Resources Specialist should have demonstrated competency in Biological Resource management: State and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Fish and Game Code, natural resources databases, survey techniques, southern California plant communities, and identification of plant and wildlife resources. Must also have a working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA and other applicable federal, state and local statues and regulations. The Biological Resources Specialist may oversee assigned teams of SEI and on-call or contract biologists in their performance of contracted services and deliverables. The Biological Resources Specialist facilitates people, projects and components of projects with related responsibilities in seven core competencies: Leadership and Collaboration, Business Acumen, Marketing Focus, Technical Proficiency, Firm-Focused Behaviors, Emotional Intelligence, and Safety. Versatile and proven team player with demonstrated competency in relation to SEI Right Attitudes. Work efforts may be undertaken in diverse environments and may require being deployed to offsite locations for extended periods of time. Responsibilities

• Demonstrate professional knowledge, skills and experiences in the field of Biology and/or related natural resources disciplines.
• Use Kantata to schedule work, consistent with approved contract scope of work, approved budget, and schedule.
• Use Kantata to monitor work on a weekly basis.
• Coordinate budgets and labor specifications with project managers, field crew, technical managers, and other stakeholders.
• Schedule, train, and oversee teams responsible for biological monitoring of construction sites and activities to ensure environmental compliance, in conformance with executed contracts.
• Available to serve as a project manager for work efforts (tasks) assigned to the Biological Resources Team (e.g., Bio input to California High-speed Rail projects) and independently lead and prepare deliverables for multiple projects.
• Write, for Supervisor or Manager review, technically and procedurally adequate, legally defensible, organized, accurate, and grammatically correct technical documents.
• Support development and scripting of Worker Education and Awareness Programs.
• Attend meetings with clients consistent with the requirements of the work efforts to provide expertise related to assessment and permitting for endangered species and jurisdiction delineations.
• Advise and assist coworkers regarding assessment of and permitting for endangered species and jurisdiction delineations.
• Effectively delegate to and empower Biological Resources Team members as appropriate.
• Ability to conduct thorough biological surveys of project sites, often in remote locations, based on CDFW and/or USFWS guidelines. Navigate and collect data using a GPS device. Travel for multiple consecutive days may be required. Data collected will be appropriately recorded and incorporated into technical documents.
• Under direction of Biological Resources Supervisor or Manager, develop and/or refine templates for biological resources technical documents procedures for biological resources investigations.
• As required by project scope or directed by the Biological Resources Manager, coordinate with the USFWS, CDFW, USACE, Bureau of Land Management, High Speed Rail Authority, and other appropriate agencies and parties.
• Identify appropriate resources in preparing technical documents, including primary and secondary sources.
• Maintain the administrative record for all projects as specified in company procedures.
• Oversight of assigned Biological Resources Team members including: o Mentor and develop Biological Resources Team staff; o Provide input to evaluations, conducted by a Supervisor or above, including development of professional and education goals; o Review work products prepared by Biological Resources Team members for presentation to a Supervisor, Manager, or Director; and o Participate in invoicing and project kickoff/closeout procedures of Biological Resources Team members.

• Write, for Supervisor or Manager review, scopes of service, cost estimates, and schedules for statements of qualifications, proposals and contract amendments, and sub-contract agreements (consistent with marketing procedure in terms of approval authority) for biological work efforts valued up to $450K.
• As required by the project scope, make competent, accurate, well-prepared, and illustrated public presentations related to endangered species or jurisdictional delineations and participate in project-related public meetings (scoping, public review, and certification).
• Attend meetings with clients at the request of project managers to provide expertise and consultation related to biological resources endeavors and sustain client relationships in a manner that sustains the firm's reliance on returning customers for up to 70 percent of work efforts.
• Provide input to go/no-go decisions as appropriate
• Develop and manage key client relationships, as assigned in the business and marketing plan
• Develop Safety Plans for projects
• Ensure Team members are provided with appropriate equipment within authorized spending limit and requisition when in excess of authorized spending limit
• Prepare and present training sessions Experience Degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, or other related field Design and implementation of field investigations in accordance with at least two guidance documents for biological resource investigations: o

California Department of Parks and Recreation Vegetation Mapping:

A Primer for the California State Park System (https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/734/files/vegmap_primer.pdf); o California Native Plant Society (CNPS) CNPS Botanical Surveys or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Survey Protocols; o USFWS or CDFW Species-specific Survey Protocols for special-status wildlife species; o U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 1987 COE Wetland Delineation Manual; o CDFW Lake and Streambed Alteration application guidance; o City and County guidance documents for resources protected by Ordinance; and o Conservation plans for regional wildlife and wildlife movement. Strong technical writing and technical verbal communication skills. Review, write, and revise environmental compliance documents including Biological Resources Technical Reports, Habitat Assessments, Permit applications, and amendments: o Sections 401, and 404 of Federal Clean Water Act; o §7 Consultation and §10(a)(1) incidental take permitting (ITP under FESA; o CFGC § 2081 CFGC ITP application and amendments; o CFGC §1600, Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements; o Biological Resources sections of environmental documents pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including baseline conditions/affected environment, impacts/effects, and avoidance and mitigation measures; o Biological Assessments, Biological Resources Technical Report; and o Other reports to meet federal, State, and local requirements. California regulatory compliance and oversight experience. Demonstrated experience in project management. Knowledge of California plant and wildlife communities, in at least one of the provinces in California. Experience with CEQA and NEPA regulatory compliance. Effective written and verbal communications skills. Stakeholder relationship building, coordination and cooperation experience. Experience in the acquisition of environmental permits with one or more of the key agencies: USACE, USFWS, or CDFW. Experience in organizing, executing, and documenting internal staff and external client meetings. Dispute resolution and problem-solving skills that can be applied to Biological Resources Team oversight and guidance, particularly in the field.

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Professional development assistance Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person