Biological Monitor, On-Call (South San Francisco Bay Area)

ESA is seeking variable part-time (on-call) Biological Monitors to join our Biological Resources and Land Management team who can demonstrate 5+ years of construction compliance monitoring experience and resides in the following counties: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, or San Francisco. Specific species experience required includes experience with one or more of the following: California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), saltmarsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), or Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus). Experience with general nesting bird and raptor species, roosting bats, San Francisco dusky footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes annectens), vernal pool fairy shrimp, Crotch’s bumblebee (Bombus crotchii), or other sensitive species monitoring experience is also desirable.

A Biological Monitor must be qualified to be approved by the natural resource protection 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 Biological Monitor will commit to approximately 95% fieldwork 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 wildlife surveys, monitor sensitive biological resources, and collect quality digital data. 

Who You Are 

• You are an experienced biologist who has 5 years of experience supporting field studies and environmental compliance within the southern San Francisco Bay Area, and California Coast. Desired candidates have experience with wildlife and vegetation species and habitats in the following counties: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and/or San Francisco, and experience in the California Central Coast and/or San Francisco Bay Shoreline. Preference will be 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: California tiger salamander, monitoring for California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), San Francisco dusky footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes annectens), Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus), Crotch’s bumblebee (Bombus crotchii), and nesting raptor surveys and active nest monitoring.  
• General construction compliance monitoring experience is required. 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 resources 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. Construction compliance experience on transportation, water conveyance, and energy transmission projects is preferred. 
• You also have experience with habitat mapping and species surveys, construction compliance monitoring, and preparing supporting documentation for compliance monitoring, including but not limited to daily monitoring reports, pre-construction survey reports, and worker training programs.
• Experience with data collection applications such as Fulcrum, FieldMaps/ArcGIS Online, and/or Survey123 is desirable but not essential. 
• You are self-aware, self-motivated, and respectful and empathetic toward others. You respect safety protocols and procedures and promote a culture of safety in all operating situations. You accept responsibility for your actions, constructively give and receive feedback and work collaboratively with a team mentality. 
• 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. Overnight stays may be required on occasion. Field work may require very early morning or late-night end times, as well as long hours.

What You Will Do for ESA

• As a biological monitor, you will apply critical thinking and problem solving to apply standard techniques, methods, and procedures for a wide range of basic to high complexity biological resource protection monitoring. You will perform biological field surveys and monitoring efforts across the Northern California region. You may assist a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Designated Biologist and or California Department of Fish and Wildlife Qualified Biologists with activities to comply with project permit requirements prior to initiation of and during construction activities. You may also participate in other biological field studies, such as general pre-construction surveys, native flora and fauna surveys, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, nesting bird surveys, wetland delineations, and endangered species occurrence documentation.  
• You will perform compliance monitoring, biological resource surveys, and related reporting activities for large- and smaller-scale construction projects 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 documentation that is clear, concise, well-written, and supported. 
• You will effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues, clients, and other teaming partners.
• You may be asked to disseminate information and resources and respond to team member questions. 
• 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 while working on a team or independently.    
• You possess a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and have experience driving 4WD vehicles off-road. 

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.

You are eligible to participate in ESA’s sick leave program. You may be eligible to participate in our employee stock ownership program and tax deferred 401(k) plan if you meet the eligibility requirements for these plans.

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)