Senior Avian Field Biologist

Company Description

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Job Description

AECOM is seeking a highly motivated Senior Avian Filed Biologist for immediate on-call, project-based employment in the Imperial and Riverside County region. This is a field-based, remote position requiring the ability to be local on assignments for extended periods but linked to a Southern California-based office. This position could support numerous natural resource projects in the southern Mojave Desert region of California with a focus on conducting biological surveys for burrowing owl. Candidate may be located in (or willingness to relocate to) the Mojave Desert region (including Riverside and Imperial County), based on assignment. Other assignments may include vegetation mapping, wildlife assessments, habitat restoration, and/or regulatory compliance and permitting implementation with support from a senior biologist. Training and/or experience conducting surveys for listed species local to southern California and Nevada desert regions including desert tortoise and flat-tailed horned lizard is preferred. Applicant must meet the required qualifications to lead surveys for burrowing owl.

The responsibilities of this position could include a subset of those listed below based on relevant experience:

• Lead wildlife and/or botanical surveys, including vegetation and habitat mapping.
• Identify and record native and non-native fauna and/or flora in the field.
• Conduct special-status species surveys, following established protocols or guidelines as relevant.
• Avian species identification and avian mortality monitoring.
• Support project execution, including pre-construction surveys and construction monitoring.
• Assist with environmental compliance monitoring.
• Botanical knowledge and ability to evaluate phenology for native seed scouting.
• Oversight of restoration crew work and native seed collection activities.
• Perform other related duties assigned, such as coordination with team members, scheduling of work, etc.
• Conduct restoration vegetation performance monitoring.
• Utilize electronic data collection methods (including GPS); manage, interpret, and analyze data, as needed.
• Conduct monitoring and survey fieldwork as part of a team and alone in inland and desert environments, which can include rugged terrain.
• Work under the supervision of a senior project manager or senior-level team member.
• Ability to independently manage tasks.
• Ensure assigned tasks stay on schedule and budget.
• Work independently and as part of a team; be innovative and a problem solver.
• Elevate compliance concerns to senior-level team members. 
• Provide clarification of resource project requirements to the compliance and construction teams.
• Promote safety culture and adherence to Safe Work Plans.

Burrowing Owl Qualifications:

To conduct burrowing owl surveys, the applicant must have the knowledge and experience to conduct any or all of the following, as needed:

• Familiarity with the species and its local ecology.
• Experience conducting habitat assessments and non-breeding and breeding season surveys, independently.
• Familiarity with the appropriate state and federal statutes related to burrowing owls, scientific research, and conservation.
• Experience with analyzing impacts of development on burrowing owls and their habitat.

About AECOM’s Environment Business Line
Join AECOM to be part of an expert global team who is connected through a well-developed, worldwide, internal technical practice network through which you can learn from and brainstorm with the best in the world. AECOM is an industry-leading, world class environmental firm, and we want you to succeed within it.  We respect and encourage your own pathway to excellence via