Associate Biologist

GENERIC DESCRIPTION:

At GPA Consulting we pride ourselves in providing high-quality professional services to public and private clients throughout California, while maintaining a friendly and flexible workplace environment. GPA is currently seeking an Associate Biologist to join our team of biologists in Southern California.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least 3 years of experience performing biological resources evaluation/analysis, directing or conducting biological studies, or managing an interdisciplinary team preparing biological studies (a Doctorate Degree in Biology or related field may be substituted for 3 years of the general experience; a master’s degree in Biology or a related field may be substituted for 2 years of the general experience); and
• Equivalent to graduation from college in the Natural Sciences or Environmental Studies. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

GENERAL DUTIES:

The chosen candidate will complete a range of biological studies, including research, field surveys, technical reporting, regulatory permitting and approvals, and construction monitoring. The chosen candidate will also be responsible for coordinating with internal and external clients and sub consultants in the completion of biological tasks.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Knowledge of natural communities of California;
• Knowledge of, and experience with, ecology and resource conservation, mitigation strategies, and basic engineering concepts and practices;
• Knowledge of, and experience with, biological principles and ecosystem dynamics as applied in a planning setting;
• Ability to prepare technical biological documents, including survey reports, impact assessments, permit applications, and mitigation plans;
• Experience with communicating with regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over the natural environment in California;
• Knowledge of, and experience with, compliance monitoring for construction projects;
• Understanding of Geographic Information Systems mapping and analysis in the context of biological resources studies; 
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory permitting for waterways, including (but not limited to) Clean Water Act Section 404 Permits, Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications, and California Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements; and
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulations pertaining to biological resources, including (but not limited to) the National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and California Fish and Game Code.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS DESIRED:

• General ecology or general principles behind planning for the conservation and preservation of natural resources;
• General principles and techniques of research and statistical analysis;
• In possession of state and/or federal special-status species permits;
• Ability to conduct special-status species protocol surveys;
• Proficient in conducting avian, aquatic and/or other specialized wildlife surveys;
• Experienced in botanical surveys and strong working botanical identification;
• Communication skills for purposes of data gathering;
• Techniques and methods of evaluation of environmental impacts;
• Various types of public facilities and how they service the community;
• State and Federal laws and regulations relating to the environment;
• State, local and regional governmental organizations as they relate to environmental planning, specific knowledge of either the social sciences, natural sciences or environmental design arts; and
• Trends in environmental, urban and regional planning.

ABILITY:

The ideal candidate will:

• Conduct all work in a responsible and ethical manner; 
• Be highly self-motivated and productive;
• Be detail oriented and accurate;
• Work effectively and cooperatively both as an individual and in a team setting;
• Possess strong technical writing and analysis skills; and
• Possess strong organizational and computer skills (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Powerpoint, ArcGIS).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift; carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and coordination including use of a computer keyboard; 
• Sufficient physical ability to conduct site visits outside, walk more than one mile efficiently, walk occasionally on uneven ground, and lift at least 25 pounds;
• Must be able to drive for long periods of time;
• May be required to travel by air or car which may include some overnight stays;
• Must be able to multitask and work amid frequent interruptions; and 
• Must be able to telecommute until offices can reopen safely.

*GPA Consulting is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate anyone based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. Further, GPA does not discriminate based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

Salary : $80,000 - $90,000