Senior Wildlife Biologist & Project Manager

We are looking for a Senior Wildlife Biologist and Project Manager with a minimum of 10 years of experience working on projects in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The ideal candidate will have experience developing and implementing wildlife studies, preparing permitting and mitigation strategies, preparing environmental documentation for permits in Washington and Oregon, supporting consultation with regulatory agencies, and project management. Experience with managing task level and project level budgets and contracted level of effort is a must. Experience on energy transmission and/or renewable energy projects is preferred. We are seeking a highly motivated biologist with the intellectual curiosity and initiative to lead, who has managed projects with complex biological resource issues, and thrives serving in a role managing projects and clients. The candidate will represent clients in agency discussions, will plan and direct surveys, mentor and develop staff, and pursue and win new contracts. This is a senior-level opportunity in our Biological Resources Team and is focused on collaboration, quality, outstanding client service, and being part of a team with a passion to do great work and have fun together.

Who You Are

You are a Wildlife Biologist and Project Manager with a minimum of 10 years of experience with strong communication skills and experience in wildlife surveys, project permitting, and project management to join our team and primarily support renewable energy generation and transmission projects. Your wildlife biology expertise includes the ability to identify local birds and fauna, conduct nesting bird surveys, document wildlife observations in accordance with the requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). You also have demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service. Experience with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and working with Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) is a plus.

You have technical expertise and experience in at least several of the following: development and implementation of wildlife studies, terrestrial mitigation planning, energy facility siting and constraints studies, regulatory permitting, compliance monitoring and reporting, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental effects assessment, and agency interactions at all levels including WDFW and ODFW.

You have experience managing projects throughout all phases, from early planning and permitting through construction. You have experience managing large, complex projects and meeting milestones within schedule and budget expectations, as well as competency in providing quality assurance, quality control (QA/QC) oversight. You value a strong project management and client focused culture.

You have experience in both Washington and Oregon; experience in the eastern portion of these states is highly desired. You perform occasional field survey work, safely operate, load, and transport equipment and gear, and cross fences, creeks, and other obstacles. Experience with digital field data collection tools such as GPS, ArcGIS Collector/Field Maps, Fulcrum, Survey 123 is desired, but not required.

You have an interest in business development and have experience acquiring work through your existing network.

You are within a commutable distance to Seattle, Portland, or Bend. Preference given to candidates able to work hybrid in our Seattle office.

What You Will Do For ESA

As a Wildlife Biologist and Project Manager, you will apply your technical and project management skills to natural resources projects. You will serve as a technical specialist, preparing and managing complex wildlife and environmental analyses and coordinating with key team members, including senior staff, subconsultants, and clients. You will produce technical work (as primary author and co-author) and written products that are clear, concise, and well supported. Occasional fieldwork is also required.

You will demonstrate a clear understanding of project management principles and practices and be responsible for leading large, multi-year, multi-disciplinary development projects. In this capacity you will be responsible for managing scope, schedule, and budget, working closely with project teams to navigate permitting challenges and meeting client needs. You will also take the initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are met effectively, lead and advise on all aspects of project implementation, including the development of permitting strategies, provide QA/QC of work processes and deliverables, and lead teams completing technical studies that support permitting efforts.

You will lead and support business and client development efforts collaboratively with other leaders focused on business development including preparing proposals, identifying opportunities, developing capture strategies, and engaging with proposal/interview teams. These efforts will include having the responsibility for preparing scopes of work and budgets.

You will be committed to treating people respectfully and equitably. You will work collaboratively with teams and clients and you will consistently demonstrate attentive listening skills. You will communicate constructively and work cooperatively to solve project and team challenges.

You will provide mentorship and support for junior staff, including reviewing their work for accuracy and clarity and providing constructive feedback and career development guidance while working on projects together.

You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 40 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some night and/or weekend work may be required.

Driving needs: You will participate in compliance monitoring and reporting activities for on-going construction projects; you will work near heavy equipment. You possess a valid CA driver’s license, a clean driving record, and have experience driving 4WD vehicles off-road.

What’s Special About Our Biological Resources Team in the Pacific Northwest

Our Biological Resources team includes Wildlife Biologists, Fisheries Biologists, Botanists, Wetland Scientists, Fisheries Biologists, Restoration Ecologists, Airports/Aviation Specialists, and Permitting and Environmental Compliance Specialists provide expertise for many public agencies, private developer, and non-profit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Our work matters because we help clients deliver projects that improve the environment and communities. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

ESA has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position, the range is approximately as listed based on our anticipated hiring locations as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including but not limited to an individual’s related experience, education, skills, and the city in which the applicant lives.

CA Pay Transparency Clause

$87,055—$145,092 USD

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)