Designated Biologist

ESA is seeking a Designated Biologist who can demonstrate at least 5 years' experience of construction compliance monitoring experience to join our Biological Resources and Land Management team. Specific species experience required includes experience with California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), and Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni). Crotch’s bumble bee (Bombus crotchii) and general nesting bird and raptor species monitoring experience is also desirable. A Designated Biologist must be qualified and have the ability to be approved by the natural resource agencies (i.e., California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), to support on-site surveys and construction compliance monitoring. The Designated Biologist will commit to approximately 85% fieldwork in the Fresno area for the California High Speed Train and conduct desk-based tasks comprised of data entry and analysis, and report preparation. We welcome a collaborative team member with a growth mindset able to conduct plant and wildlife surveys and habitat assessments, monitor sensitive biological resources, collect data digitally and analyze results, and deliver quality technical written work products.  

 

Who You Are 

You are an experienced biologist who has at least 5 years of experience supporting field studies and environmental compliance within California’s Central Valley. You will have experience doing field studies for Central Valley special-status species, which may include conducting surveys and habitat assessments for California tiger salamander, monitoring for San Joaquin kit fox, and/or Swainson’s hawk and nesting raptor surveys and active nest monitoring. General construction compliance monitoring experience is required. Qualification details to meet the required experience criteria for these protected species are provided on the following pages. As a Designated Biologist you will be expected to meet the as many of the criteria as possible and provide documentation for past approvals from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support surveys and monitoring for these species. Crotch’s bumble bee, San Joaquin Valley special-status species, and general nesting bird and raptor species survey and/or monitoring experience is also preferred.

You have previously worked on construction sites, worked around heavy equipment, and can effectively communicate with construction staff. You must have experience presenting information understandably and speaking clearly and confidently about biological resource and general compliance topics to construction contractors, construction managers, clients, and consultant partners. Further, you can work collaboratively with interdisciplinary groups as an effective communicator who contributes constructively and cooperatively to solve project and team challenges.

 You also have experience with habitat mapping and other species surveys, floral and faunal inventories and assessments, construction compliance monitoring, and preparing supporting documentation for compliance monitoring, including but not limited to daily monitoring reports and pre-construction survey reports. Experience with data collection applications such as Fulcrum, FieldMaps/ArcGIS Online, and/or Survey123 is desirable but not essential.

You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances. 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, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, and arid lands, and in inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. You are self-aware, self-motivated, and respectful and empathetic toward others. You accept responsibility for your actions, constructively give and receive feedback and work collaboratively with a team mentality. 

 

What You Will Do for ESA

As mid-level to senior biologist you will apply critical thinking and problem solving to select and apply standard techniques, methods and procedures for a wide range of basic to lower complexity biological studies. You will perform biological field studies to support California tiger salamander, San Joaquin kit fox, and Swainson’s hawk surveys and monitoring efforts in Madera and Fresno Counties. You may assist with relocation of California tiger salamander burrows, setting up track plates or wildlife cameras outside potential San Joaquin kit fox dens, and monitor active Swainson’s hawk nests as potential tasks. A significant task for you as a Designated Biologist will consist of species follow-up activities, including excavation of burrows to comply with project permit requirements prior to initiation of construction activities. You may also participate in other biological field studies, such as general pre-construction surveys, native flora and fauna surveys, rare plant surveys, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, nesting bird surveys, wetland delineations, endangered species occurrence documentation, and construction compliance monitoring.

You will also perform compliance monitoring, biological resource surveys, and related reporting activities for the California High Speed Train project, which is an ongoing large-scale construction project involving work near heavy equipment. You may need to travel across the project footprint and stop at multiple sites on any given day.

You will prepare and submit daily monitoring reports and observe work activities to help the client and contractor ensure activities comply with applicable mitigation measures and permit conditions. You will prepare draft documents that are clear, concise, well-written and supported. A writing sample may be requested. 

You will effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues, clients, and other teaming partners. You may be asked to disseminate and maintain related information and resources, meet with team members to gauge progress toward task completion, and respond to team member questions. You may also be asked to train and/or oversee other staff on higher-level responsibilities that a Designated Biologist conducts independently. You will demonstrate equitable and inclusive ways of working with others: treat others with respect, empathy, and dignity. You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and are able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines while working on a team or independently. You will thrive in a fast-paced, exciting, and challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines.

You will perform projects functions such as development and tracking of scope, schedule, and invoices under Project Manager’s direction. You will primarily perform work with some direction. You will deliver project assignments on time and within budget. You will check work for errors, accuracy, and applicability to project needs.

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 in a variety of environments, 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. Multiple overnight stays in the Fresno area will be required. You will spend the majority of your time located in Madera and Fresno Counties. Field work may require very early morning or late-night end times, as well as long hours. Some night and/or weekend work may be required.

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

 

Species-Specific Qualifications

The Designated Biologist must fulfill the following criteria and be able to demonstrate the qualifications in their resume.

California tiger salamander [Ambystoma californiense] (CTS)

1. Completed a minimum of 40 hours of construction monitoring, including assistance with:
   • Exclusionary fence delineation, installation, and/or maintenance.
   • Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training presentation given at least once.
   • WEAP training developed at least once.
   • Implementing avoidance and minimization measures/conservation measures for biological resources.
2. Ability to distinguish CTS from other salamander and lizard species that may inhabit the area (e.g., course work/training/experience).
3. Minimum 20 hours experience identifying and delineating vegetation/landcover types of the San Joaquin Valley.
4. Be able to identify suitable aquatic and upland habitat for the species and have completed at least 20 hours of aquatic surveys under the supervision of an experienced CTS biologist, with only 4 hours of survey time with negative results.
5. Have surveyed for suitable burrows and/or refugia in upland habitat and conducted burrow excavations of a minimum of 10 potential burrows.
6. Observation of CTS eggs and their larval, metamorph, and adult life stages and be able to independently identify the species and distinguish them from other sympatric species.
7. Handled and relocated eggs, larvae, and adults.
8. Conducted aquatic CTS larval sampling at 2 distinct geographic locations.
9. Experience implementing proper decontamination procedures when conducting surveys for species in aquatic habitat.
10. Have delineated, installed, and/or overseen installation of at least one non-gaping/non-climbable CTS wildlife exclusion fence around CTS breeding habitat.

San Joaquin kit fox [Vulpes macrotis mutica] (SJKF)

1. Completed a minimum of 40 hours of construction monitoring, including assistance with:
   • Exclusionary fence delineation, installation, and/or maintenance.
   • Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training presentation given at least once.
   • WEAP training developed at least once.
   • Implementing avoidance and minimization measures/conservation measures for biological resources.
2. Ability to differentiate SJKF from sympatric canid species (e.g. course work/training/experience).
3. Minimum 20 hours experience identifying and delineating vegetation/landcover types for of the San Joaquin Valley.
4. Observed SJKF in the wild at least 15 times in the last 5 years.
5. Conducted numerous walking surveys to identify and evaluate SJKF habitat features (potential dens, known dens, natal dens, atypical dens) and SJKF sign (scat, tracks, prey remains), using Sacramento U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office's (SFWO) walking survey protocols.
6. Identified at least 2 natal dens in the field.
7. Identified adult and juvenile kit foxes, and sympatric canids (juvenile coyotes, red fox, gray fox, and adult coyotes), in the field, and in nighttime camera photos.
8. Installed remote cameras to monitor SJKF dens (both potential and known) at least 10 times.
   • Monitored SJKF known dens at least 2 times.
   • Used U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-approved passive harassment measures at least once to discourage use of a potential den.
   • Successfully determined when a known den is active but is temporarily vacant at least once.
9. Installed remote cameras and scent stations at least once.
10. Excavated known or potential dens.
11. Delineated exclusion zones around SJKF potential and atypical dens on numerous occasions, following SFWO protocols.

Swainson’s hawk [Buteo swainsoni]

1. Completed a minimum of 40 hours of construction monitoring, including assistance with:
   • Exclusionary fence delineation, installation, and/or maintenance.
   • Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training presentation given at least once.
   • WEAP training developed at least once.
   • Implementing avoidance and minimization measures/conservation measures for biological resources.
2. Must be very familiar with conducting protocol level surveys for Swainson’s hawk in accordance with the Swainson’s hawk Technical Advisory Committee’s “Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley.” [Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley_Swainson’s Hawk TAC_May 31, 2000]
3. Can identify potential nesting trees, old raptor nests, and potentially active nests during a survey.
4. Can identify courtship behavior and behaviors that indicate the pair has an active nest.
5. Monitored multiple active nests with experience viewing the species at different life stages (nestling, fledgling, adult).
6. Be able to independently identify the species and distinguish them from other similar raptor species, such as red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and Cooper’s hawk.
7. Minimum 20 hours experience identifying and delineating vegetation/landcover types of the San Joaquin Valley.

 

What’s Special About Our 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. To read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed, check out this link: https://esassoc.com/projects/ 

 

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.

 

 

 

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)