Biologist

ESA is seeking a mid-level biologist with 2-7 years of experience in relevant scientific or environmental consulting environment.  This is an exempt, full-time, salaried role with hybrid flexible expectations. Qualified candidates must be located in the San Francisco Bay Area, vicinity of Sacramento, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Central Valley, or within 3 hours commute.  All qualified candidates must be willing & able to travel as needed. Preference given to candidates located in the bay area and central valley of CA. This role involves travel for site visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed.

Who You Are 

• Qualified candidates should have previous experience performing natural resource-related evaluations, technical studies, analyses and tasks requiring knowledge based on education and at least two years of professional experience. 
• Previous construction compliance monitoring experience required.
• Qualified candidates must demonstrate the ability to perform all aspects of biological monitoring on small to large, complex construction projects. Some night and/or weekend work may be assigned. General experience with wildlife and vegetation species from the geographic area of work: California Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
• Qualified candidates must have experience surveying and monitoring CA nesting birds. 
• Preference given to candidates with direct experience surveying, handling, and monitoring for, or with monitoring approvals by state and federal agencies for one or more of the following species: San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, northwestern pond turtle, San Francisco garter snake, giant garter snake, California black rail, western burrowing owl, western spadefoot, vernal pool brachiopods, Swainson’s hawk and/or other nesting birds, Crotch’s bumble bee, and bats.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 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 vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have own transportation to project sites
• Must have a smart phone with sufficient data plan to collect necessary data on-site

What You Will Do for ESA

• Perform biological compliance monitoring and reporting at active construction sites to ensure conformance with environmental/permit requirements
• Conduct special-status species surveys and nesting bird surveys
• Construction compliance monitoring
• Identify and may relocate sensitive species, when needed and if agency-approved
• Effectively communicate with senior ESA staff, construction crews, project personnel, and project management staff
• Take initiative and contribute to a respectful, feedback-driven team culture
• Maintain daily written monitoring and inspection logs, including utilizing electronic data collection tools, such as Fulcrum and Trello
• Enter data into an on-line GIS mapping application, such as Fieldmaps, Collector, Survey 123
• Deliver worker environmental awareness training to on-site staff
• Comply with all safety requirements and policies
• Field work outside, potentially in remote or rural settings, as well as in urban environments.
• Desk-based data processing, technical evaluations, and a range of client deliverables
• Training/mentoring early career biologists
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our Biology Team

Our Biology Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many municipalities throughout California. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state’s sensitive natural resources. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration. 

We encourage you to read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed. 

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.