CEQA Specialist - Biological Resources

CEQA Analyst - Biological Resources

Salary: Based on experience

Location: Southern California

Job Information: Aspen Environmental Group is seeking a highly motivated CEQA Specialist - Biological Resources in Southern California.

About Aspen: Aspen Environmental Group (www.aspeneg.com, IG: aspenenvironmentalgroup) is a dynamic, interdisciplinary environmental services firm that provides impact analysis, permitting, and compliance services for a wide variety of public and private clients. Aspen specializes in providing expert compliance services for complex, multi-faceted infrastructure and public works projects. Aspen has about 75 dedicated and enthusiastic employees located mainly across four offices in California. We maintain a collaborative work environment that promotes multi-disciplinary collaboration and rigorous applied science. We pride ourselves on shaping careers in a way that provides a healthy rhythm of work and life responsibilities. Success at Aspen will include a blend of motivated initiative, business acumen, technical expertise, commitment, flexibility, and teamwork.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience or demonstrated knowledge of analyzing biological impacts and developing mitigation strategies under CEQA.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience or demonstrated knowledge of regulatory permitting pursuant to USFWS, CDFW, USACE, and RWQCB requirements.
• A bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or a closely related field.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Working independently and/or as part of a team to write and edit biological resource sections of CEQA documents, including Environmental Impact Reports, Initial Studies, and Mitigated Negative Declarations.
• Developing adequate impact analyses and mitigation strategies under CEQA.
• Providing technical support and expertise related to local, State, and federal regulations, including, but not limited to, CEQA, federal and State Endangered Species Acts, Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, and Section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code, and developing associated permit applications.
• Reviewing and providing feedback on biological technical reports and regulatory documents.
• Participating in interdisciplinary and/or interagency teams to support a wide range of energy and infrastructure projects.
• Providing issue area support during the development of proposals and budgets.
• Leading and planning biological resource field investigations, including staffing coordination, survey procedures, and data collection, in support of project development and regulatory permitting.
• Performing periodic biological field investigations in sometimes remote locations to collect baseline information or verify existing data.
• Interacting with client and agency personnel.

Mandatory Qualifications for Success

• Must have demonstrated experience in writing biological resource sections for CEQA documents.
• Must have exceptional written communication skills, particularly the ability to produce high-quality written reports.
• Must have exceptional verbal communication skills to effectively interact with clients, agency personnel, and coworkers.
• Must have established experience with federal and State regulations pertaining to sensitive biological resources.
• Must have exhibited knowledge of sensitive biological resources in California (regional knowledge is acceptable).
• Must have experience with online database resources (e.g., BIOS, CNDDB, CNPS Rare Plant Inventory, iNaturalist, etc.)
• Must have the ability to interpret and collate biological field data and technical reports.
• Must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Must have the ability to periodically travel to sometimes distant and remote locations in areas of rugged terrain and under potentially inclement weather conditions.
• Experience developing biological resources sections under NEPA preferred but not required.
• Experience with conducting wetland delineations and permitting for federal and State jurisdictional waters and wetlands preferred but not required.

Compensation. Aspen offers a wide range of benefits and a competitive compensation package. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

To apply. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, references, and a writing sample in which the candidate was the sole or majority author. The subject line must state, “CEQA Analyst - Biological Resources Candidate – [NAME]”.

Aspen is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity and an inclusive work environment. Aspen considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, ancestry, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $138,000.00 per year

Application Question(s):

• Do you have strong working knowledge and demonstrated work experience with CEQA/NEPA compliance and permitting in California?
• Do you have experience in project permitting, impact assessments, proposal preparation, environmental planning, and biological delineation/mitigation?
• Do you have experience with California and southwestern ecosystems and knowledge of local southern California flora and fauna?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• CEQA/NEPA compliance and permitting: 5 years (Required)
• regulatory permitting with USFWS, CDFW, USACE, and RWQCB: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000 - $138,000