Senior Environmental Biologist

This Opportunity

Provides high level technical assistance and guidance for the collection, identification, compiling, and analysis of observational and spatial data concerning a variety of natural resources.  Provides support and guidance for environmental permitting projects across multiple sectors.  Ensures that documentation and recommendations accurately describe the results of analyses and addresses environmental impact and complies with applicable laws, regulations, and policies suitable for permit documentation.  Assists project leadership with environmental impact assessment, corrective/mitigation strategy development, permitting, and/or restoration activities.  Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards.

Your Impact

• Lead and provide guidance with data collection efforts for identifying wetlands, streams, marine areas, sensitive habitats, and other natural resources for projects.  
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, site impact, habitat types, and associated physical and wildlife sensitivities.
• Analyze literature, data and other sources of information to uncover direct, indirect and cumulative environmental impacts.
• Prepare and complete environmental survey reports, data entry, impact assessment, and permitting activities for assigned projects (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act permitting, SEPA, NEPA, Local Critical Areas and Shoreline Codes, etc.). 
• Prepare documents for local, state, and federal permitting including JARPAs/JPAs, Biological Assessments, critical areas reports, Hydraulic Project Approvals, Shoreline Management Act compliance, and SEPA approvals. 
• Ensure regulatory requirement compliance pertaining to the data integrity, documentation, procedures, training, monitoring systems, and record compliance and retention.
• Perform professional environmental biology/science work and conduct investigations, inspections, and environmental studies and surveys to gain further information on a particular environmental problem or issue, verify site characteristics, and/or to plan for future environmental needs.
• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses.
• Prepare and deliver comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, and recommendations to address, prevent, control, or restore mid- to larger-scale environmental problems.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, permitting strategy, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory compliance, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
• Provide high level oversite for desk-based research, fieldwork, and/or laboratory work, including measurements, data interpretation, and computer modeling.
• Provide environmental risk identification and impact assessment, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level threat mitigation and permitting activities projects to minimize impacts to the health of the environment and the population.
• Assist with development and scoping of medium-to large-sized projects.
• Working with contractors to implement in-water work in compliance with applicable environmental permits.
• Coordinate with clients, resource/regulatory agencies, and environmental and technical staff in a confident and professional manner.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
• Remain current in latest environmental science subject matter and techniques.
• Actively engage in business development and proposal writing.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
   

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.
• 10+ years of experience working as an environmental scientist and completing environmental surveys, fieldwork, habitat and impact assessments, and/or construction monitoring.
• Specific background and expertise should consist of strong environmental science / ecology skills with specific ecosystem, habitat, and/or applicable species.
• Expertise and experience with relevant environmental laws, permitting requirements, notification and compliance practices, and applica