Senior Environmental Scientist

SUMMARY: 

The Senior Environmental Scientist will support utility projects by conducting environmental assessments, including stream/wetlands delineation, plant and animal inventories, habitat assessments, environmental protection and mitigation planning, and environmental permitting. Incumbents are expected to have advanced knowledge of ecological systems, environmental regulatory conditions, have the ability to work independently, and mentor junior staff. In addition, the position will provide advanced support to the siting of electric transmission line and substation projects through the analysis of environmental, land use, cultural resource, and visual issues using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine the most viable siting opportunities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conducts field environmental assessments by traversing cleared and uncleared linear utility corridors and site-specific parcels to delineate, GPS, and map streams, wetlands, habitat, and identify plants and animal species.
• Prepares environmental and technical reports to document the findings of the natural resource assessments and supports environmental protection, mitigation planning, and permitting
• Provides regulatory and permitting application support; including but not limited to those associated with NEPA, SEPA, Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other state and local environmental review authorities. Coordinates with applicable review agencies
• Supports line and substation siting by applying environmental principles.
• Prepares, estimates, and budgets for specific environmental activities and monitors project costs
• Develop and guide junior staff scientists.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

COMPLEXITY OF WORK: Non-routine; general polices applied to frequently changing situations.

RELATIONSHIP OUTSIDE WORK GROUP: Influences decisions of major nature. High degree of tact and diplomacy to obtain favorable decisions or maintain good will. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Mentoring of junior staff scientist is expected

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

REGULAR ATTENDANCE is required

 EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

 Required A Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or University in Natural Sciences (e.g. biology, environmental sciences, ecology, forestry, soil science) or equivalent experience.

Experience 7-9 Year(s) Experience in Natural Resources and Ecological Consulting.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

Preferred certifications, licenses, and/or registrations may include but not necessarily limited to: 

• Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) 
• Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB) 
• ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Training 
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS)

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: 

On-the-job training for administrative responsibilities and executing the transmission line and substation siting process will be provided. Incumbents will be expected to perform at a high level completing natural resources assessments, permitting, and other environmental review responsibilities with limited training and oversight.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

A.Ability to read and interpret documents such as procedure manuals, operational procedures, etc. 

B.Ability to write reports, Business correspondence, and procedure manuals. 

C.Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 

A.Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. 

B.Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance. 

C.Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret spread sheets.

REASONING ABILITY: 

A.Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

B.Ability to define problems collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Effective planning, organizing, estimating, scheduling, and monitoring of work activities 
• Continuous improvement of job-related, technical, and professional knowl