Biologist – Mid-level

General position summary:

Mason, Bruce, & Girard, Inc., a natural resource consulting firm headquartered in Portland, OR., is growing and has an exciting opportunity for an experienced mid- or senior-level biologist who is interested in building a new environmental services group that will provide local support throughout northern and central valley California. MB&G has a well-established presence based in Auburn, California providing forestry-related services and seeks an environmental professional to lead a new environmental practice for this region. This is a great opportunity for a motivated and strategic individual who is looking for an opportunity to grow in their professional career. This position will serve as a technical expert and a project manager, initially performing both field and office-based work involving data collection, report preparation, and project and client management while building a local practice and hiring staff. Once a team is in place, duties will include project management, supervising staff who are supporting your work, and agency/client coordination/communication.

• Hiring and developing a new environmental team within an established and prominent office in northern California.
• Have a thorough understanding of the environmental regulatory process required to comply with local, state, and federal laws within the state of California including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Protection Act, Clean Water Act (CWA), and the state and federal Endangered Species Acts (ESAs).
• Provide background research and serve as a lead author for technical documents (e.g., Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Impact Reports).
• Initially perform a variety of field work adhering to specific protocols that may require travel. Overnight travel may be occasionally required.
• Once staff are hired, will lead and train staff to perform field surveys adhering to specific protocols.
• Serve as a project manager, leading staff to complete a project within budget and schedule expectations.
• May act in a supporting role to other project managers, preparing project deliverables within allotted level of effort and schedule.
• Independently prepare permit applications and project reports.
• Mentoring staff to prepare permit applications and other environmental documentation that meet industry standards.
• Understand and perform work using the correct level of effort appropriate for the scope, budget, and overall expectations.
• Responsible for accurate recording of notes and documentation for all client projects.
• Perform work with a high level of integrity.

Education and/or Experience:

• B.S. Biology or equivalent
• California environmental permitting experience including experience as a lead author preparing documents to comply with CEQA, the ESA, and the CWA.
• Minimum 4 years of experience serving as a lead author preparing sections for CEQA documentation.
• Minimum 5 years of experience serving as a project manager for projects involving environmental permitting and associated documentation.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience performing field work surveying for special status species within California.
• Demonstrated ability to both work independently and/or successfully lead a team through all stages of a project from design to completion.
• Design and perform field surveys.
• Experience leading staff to perform field surveys within proper protocols.
• Experience leading staff to prepare technical reports and permit applications that meet regulatory standards and requirements.
• Manage successful relationships with clients, stakeholders, regulators, and teaming partners.
• Create scopes of work reflecting an appropriate amount of time and understanding the process needed to complete a project.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife Qualified/Designated Biologist
• Surveys for the following species: goshawk, willow flycatcher, yellow and red-legged frogs, Northern spotted owl, and/or valley elderberry longhorn beetle.
• Rare plant and noxious weed surveys.
• Successfully completing CEQA documentation for vegetation management projects.
• Experience successfully permitting Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement through the California Department of Fish and Game Section 1601.

Conditions

This is a remote office-based position in northern or central California. It is anticipated that field work would initially compromise approximately 10-25% of the workload for this position during the spring and summer months.  This position also involves extensive computer use, physical ability to operate a telephone, and sitting for extended periods of time.

About Us

Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc. is a full-service natural resource consulting firm, with expertise in environmental services, forestry, and geographic information systems (GIS). A set of core values guide our work, focusing our efforts on providing responsible, sustainable solutions that meet client needs.

Our areas of expertise include forestry, wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, water quality, and GIS. Our work is characterized by the highest level of client service, the application of the best science and technology, quality processes and results, integrity, and our respect for the natural environment. We provide natural resource consulting services to both industry and government and have done so since 1921.