Mid-level Environmental Biologist - Santa Barbara

Overview

Location(s): Santa Barbara CountyPractice/Department: BiologicalWork Environment: HybridCompensation: $80,000-$90,000 annually*

 Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies. 

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.  

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. 

Learn more about our award-winning culture, the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape. 

Position Overview

Who You Are 

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.  

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation. 

How You’ll Make an Impact

Dudek is currently seeking a full-time experienced Biologist to join our biological resources team. The successful candidate will help grow Dudek’s biological resources practice locally in the Southern California region; manage and implement a wide variety of projects involving sensitive biological resources, including botanical surveys, wildlife surveys, and aquatic resource delineations; and work collaboratively with other Dudek staff based out of our southern and northern California offices. This position will be a mix of technical writing, project management, and field-based work out of Southern California.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

Duties and responsibilities for this position may include but are not limited to:

• Assist on large-scale or lead small-scale collection of detailed field data, work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and work full days in all types of weather, including but not limited to the following tasks:
• Assist on aquatic resource delineations.
• Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
• Assist or lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife.
• Assist on large scale or lead small-scale vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage small-scale biological resource projects and biological tasks on  larger multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations with oversight from senior-level staff.
• Prepare Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports with senior-staff guidance.
• Preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations with senior-staff oversight.
• Serve as a mentor to junior-level staff and assist in building proficiency of technical skills.
• Ability to work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks on time and within budget.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in biological resource consulting (or equivalent experience in a regulatory agency setting) with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven experience managing biological tasks or projects, including client communication, deliverable oversight, and team coordination.
• Knowledge and understanding of special-status plant species, vegetation communities, and sensitive vegetation resources that occur in the Southern California region.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes, regulations, and permitting requirements relating to biological resources, in particular, the federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including overnight stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability i