Wildlife Biologist / Project Manager

Overview

Location(s): Pasadena, Mission Viejo, RiversidePractice/Department: BiologicalWork Environment: HybridCompensation: $90,000-110,000/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 ImpactDudek 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 Orange County and surrounding regions; 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, with a focus in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Lead 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:
• Lead aquatic resource delineations.
• Identify California flora to species and subspecies or variety.
• Lead field surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered plants and wildlife.
• Lead vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Manage small-to-mid scale biological resource projects and biological tasks on   larger multidisciplinary projects, including scheduling, budgeting, client coordination, and quality control.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of reports summarizing methodology, field survey results and recommendations.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of documents supporting environmental permit applications and CEQA/NEPA biological evaluations.
• Serve as a mentor to junior to lower mid-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 8 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 Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura County regions and broader Southern California.
• 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.
• Familiarity with using a handheld GPS unit (e.g., EOS Arrow or similar) and experience using advanced software and mapping tools such as ESRI FieldMaps, Survey123, and Collector. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exercises good judgment and sound decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel for work, including overnight stays in hotels.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biology, ecology, botany, environmental science or related natural resources field.
• Demonstrated experience with management of projects involving biological impact analyses, special-status species, and mitigation planning, particularly experienced in the regulatory environment of San Diego County and the City of San Diego.
• Knowledge and understanding of field and data analysis techniques used to map and assess wetland and water features potentially jurisdictional under the federal Clean Water Act, California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and California Fish and Game Code.
• Knowledge of California aquatic resource types and systems.
• Proficient in wildlife identification and impact evaluation skills throughout California.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented project delivery approach.
• Possess or actively pursuing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 10(a)(1)(A) recovery survey permits and/or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Scientific Collecting Permits (SCPs) for regionally relevant species including, but not limited to, coastal California gnatcatcher, Quino checkerspot butterfly, southwestern willow flycatcher, burrowing owl, and Crotch’s bumblebee.
• Possess or actively pursuing a CDFW Plant Voucher Collecting Permit to collect voucher specimens of state‑listed rare, threatened, endangered, or candidate plant species.

Compensation: $90,000-110,000/annually* 

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment. 

Working Conditions

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc. 
• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment. 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following: 

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting. 

• Employees must be capable of bending, squatting, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 35 lbs. unassisted; 50lbs in a team lift (two or more employees). 

• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with government agency representatives, members of the public, and others. Speaking, hearing and listening are required. 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time. 

Connect with us! 

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🤝Dudek Talent Community 

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination.  

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization. 

Compensation: 90000 to 110000 (USD)