Senior Ecologist

Job Description

AECOM is seeking an experienced Senior Ecologist to join our Southern California Natural Resources Group as a senior level leader and mentor with expertise in business development and project management.

This role will have a focus on growth and sales and the preparation of high-quality proposals for new projects and clients within natural resources. This role is an exciting opportunity to manage and support industry leading projects and programs in the utility, energy, municipal, federal, and transportation sectors; and opportunities to lead and specialize in meaningful technical work such as complex permitting projects and large-scale environmental compliance projects.   

This hybrid role can be based in our San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, or San Luis Obispo, CA offices. 

This position will support numerous natural resource projects in the southern and central California regions, expanding as far as northern California and west covering states such as Nevada, Arizona etc including such as wildlife movement studies, Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), and large-scale environmental constraints analyses. Primary duties include growing portfolios of large-scale cutting-edge environmental projects, managing projects involving impact assessments, mitigation planning, regulatory compliance and permitting efforts including CEQA/NEPA, 404/401, CESA, and ESA, and preparing environmental documents and management plans. Candidate will coordinate with resource agency staff, lead complex environmental, waters, and/or species-related permitting projects and participate in public review processes.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Effectively responds to RFPs and develops winning proposals, including assembling proposal materials and participating in client interviews.
• Manages a team to prepare large, complex natural resources documents such as Biological Technical Reports, Biological Assessments, 2081 Permit Applications, Habitat Conservation Plans, Eagle Conservation Plans, and/or Delineation Reports, Aquatic Resources Permit Applications or other Federal and State Permit Applications. Operates as primary author or senior reviewer as appropriate.
• Become an AECOM Certified Project Manager. Manage projects/tasks that include all aspects of environmental analysis (e.g., biological, cultural, air quality, traffic, etc.).
• Manages projects with large-scale field efforts and intensive schedules.
• Manages large-scale compliance projects requiring adherence to permit conditions.
• Performs project management duties such as forecasting, tracking, accounting updates, invoicing, progress reports, and scheduling.
• Reviews contracts for understanding of scope, fee, schedule, and deliverables, and all other contractual obligations
• Develops work breakdown structure for control and integrity of work to be performed as and defined by the contract.
• Monitors and analyzes project costs, commitments, accruals, and changes, and takes corrective action where necessary.
• Identifies trends and deviations in financial performance to project team with recommended courses of action.
• Operates as primary point of contact for clients and resource agencies on projects.
• Performs client management duties such as recurring status meetings, milestone check-ins, and day-to-day interfacing.
• Focus on supporting career development of junior staff in the practice.
• Participates in interviews with large or small teams for a variety of clients.
• Candidate will contribute to growth of department through marketing pursuits including proposal preparation, interviews, and business development.

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 our Freedom to Grow initiative.

AECOM is known for our award-winning technical excellence, leading-edge science and innovative project delivery. We provide sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most challenging issues. Our global clients and their projects span a variety of market sectors and geographies and require innovative technical solutions to solve wide-ranging environmental problems.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related fields (biology, ecology, or project management/controls).
• 8 years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education in natural resources/project management with experience and expertise in Southern California ecology.
• Valid U.S Driver's license is required for this role.
• Due to the nature of the work, US Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in related fields (biology, ecology, or project management/controls).
• 15+ years of experience in natural resources/project management.
• Proven track record of bringing in new work, growing projects and clients and delivering winning proposals.
• Experience with career development of junior and mid-level biologists.
• Experience with protocol wildlife surveys, habitat assessments, and/or botanical surveys.
• Possession of valid USFWS 10(a) permits to conduct wildlife protocol surveys in southern and/or central California.
• Previous experience working on environmental programs in the utility, renewables, federal, and transportation sectors in southern and/or central California
• Data management experience, including electronic data collection in field; managing large data sets
• Willingness to work with multiple colleagues on a variety of initiatives
• Successful marketing/business development experience.
• Ability to work in a high-paced environment where changing client priorities results in the need to determine creative ways to get the job done.
• Candidate must be flexible and willing to support multiple projects.
• Team player with excellent listening skills and diplomacy.
• Wetland Delineation experience and certification.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM 

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. 

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work 

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

Compensation: 140000 to 170000 (USD) (YEARLY)