Wetland Biologist

We are looking for a Wetland Biologist with a minimum of 2-5 years of experience supporting wetland delineations, environmental planning, permitting, document writing, and review for small to complex projects in the Pacific Northwest. The ideal candidate shall serve as the primary author on a variety of environmental documents such as wetland delineation reports and functional assessments, biological resources assessments and evaluations, technical reports, and permit applications utilizing your excellent writing and communication skills. The selected candidate shall work on a hybrid schedule working onsite 2-3 days per week in our Seattle, Portland and/or Bend office. 

Who You Are

• You are known for preparing documents that are clear, concise, well-written, and supported and for your ability to present information understandably and speak persuasively about complex topics to clients, regulatory agency staff, teaming partners, other project stakeholders, and the general public.
• You hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related environmental or ecological field and a minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience.
• You have expertise in some or all of the following: wetlands, fisheries, wildlife, botany, restoration ecology, regulatory permitting, compliance monitoring and reporting, mitigation planning, and ecological monitoring.
• You can perform occasional field survey work, safely operate, load, and transport equipment and gear, and cross fences, creeks, and other obstacles.
• You have experience with digital field data collection tools such as GPS, ArcGIS Collector/Field Maps, Fulcrum, and Survey 123 is desired, but not required. 
• You have experience delineating wetlands using the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and Regional Supplements.
• You work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver your projects on time and within budget, and have aided in or solely managed scope, schedules, and budgets. You are an effective team member and communicator who contributes constructively and cooperatively to solve project and team challenges. You provide mentoring to foster teamwork and elevate others. 
• You are located near Seattle, Portland, or Bend.

What You Will Do for ESA

• Use judgment and critical thinking to select, apply and adapt standard techniques, methods and procedures for a wide range of biological studies.
• Perform and occasionally lead biological field studies such as native flora and fauna surveys including rare plant surveys, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, nesting bird surveys, wetland delineations, and endangered species occurrence documentation.
• Serve as a contributing or primary author of environmental documents including technical memoranda, biological assessments/habitat evaluations, scientific discipline reports, and impact evaluations to support resource-related permit applications, including in support of Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Serve as a Task Lead or Deputy Project Manager. Oversee the completion of specific project tasks including coordinating the project delivery schedule, handling project logistics, disseminating and maintaining project related information, serve as the point person for team members and client questions and deliver project assignments on time and within budget.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, exciting, and challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, while working on a team or independently. 

What ESA Will Do for You

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 spend our days helping to keep the environment in balance, and we want to help keep your life in balance too—by providing benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), a 401(k) plan with company match, an employee stock ownership program, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

No matter what stage you are at in your career, we provide opportunities for continued growth, development, and recognition. 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, and we believe these efforts will not only benefit you, but will also benefit all ESA colleagues and clients. Specific programs we offer include tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

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

Our team includes Wetland Biologists, Fisheries Biologists, Environmental Scientists, and Resource Policy Specialists that provide expertise for many agencies in Washington, Oregon and across the Northwest. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.

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)