Wetland Ecologist

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA is seeking a Wetland Ecologist with at least 5 years of experience to lead aquatic resources (wetland) delineations, prepare technical reports, and conduct quality assurance and quality control reviews for projects in Northern California.

Who You Are 

• You hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science, or Ecology, or a related field
• You are an Ecologist, Biologist, or Soils Scientist with a minimum of 5 years of experience conducting aquatic resources (wetland) delineations, in California using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and Regional Supplements.
• You evaluate aquatic resources for potential jurisdiction as waters of the U.S based on current regulations, and waters of the State according to the California Water Boards’ State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State.
• You have a solid foundational knowledge of California’s biological resources, with a preference for experience with Northern California habitats and species experience, relevant environmental regulations, and regulatory agency processes for wetlands and waters permitting.
• Your skillset includes expertise in some or all of the following: wetlands, botany, soils, hydrology, fisheries, wildlife, restoration ecology, regulatory permitting, compliance monitoring and reporting, mitigation planning, and restoration performance monitoring.
• You have strong project management, analytical, and oral presentation skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and well-supported written documents to convey complex information understandably to colleagues, clients, agency staff, project partners, and the general public.
• 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 regularly perform field survey work, safely operate, load and transport equipment and gear, and are comfortable crossing fences, creeks, and other obstacles.
• California Rapid Assessment Method experience or other wetland condition or functional assessment methods is desired but not required.
• Experience with digital field data collection tools such as GPS, ArcGIS Field Maps is required.  Experience with Fulcrum and Survey 123 is strongly preferred.
• You must be available to work at least half time in-office as needed a.
• You must live near one of ESA’s Northern California offices (Oakland, Petaluma, Sacramento, San Francisco, or San José) and willing and able to travel for field work as needed.  Occasional overnight stays for field work dependent on the project.

What You Will Do for ESA

• As an employee owner, you will perform and lead biological field studies including aquatic resources delineation, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, performance monitoring for habitat restoration sites, including invasive plant surveys and monitoring. You will also evaluate wetlands using California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) or other methods to document pre- and post- project wetland conditions.
• Characterize existing habitat conditions of uplands, riparian habitats, and wetlands and waters, to support infrastructure, habitat enhancement, and restoration project designs. You will also evaluate regulatory jurisdiction of various habitats, characterize project impacts, and identify compensatory mitigation opportunities.
• Serve as a contributing or primary author of environmental documents including technical memoranda, aquatic resource delineation reports, scientific discipline reports, and impact evaluations to support resource-related permit applications, including in support of Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, California Fish and Game Code Section 1600, California Environmental Quality Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Serve as a Task Lead or Project Manager. Oversee the completion of specific project tasks including coordinating the project delivery schedule, handling project logistics, communicating and completing project health and safety requirements, disseminating and maintaining project related information. Serve as the point person for team members and client questions related to technical tasks and deliver project assignments on time and within budget.
• Use judgment and critical thinking to select, apply and adapt standard techniques, methods and procedures for a wide range of biological studies.
• 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.

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.

Other job duties 

• Business development, including responding to requests for qualifications and proposals, preparing scopes and budgets and coordinating with subconsultants.
• Preparing project safety plans, job hazard analysis, and serving as a field safety supervisor;
• Performing quality control of project deliverables; and
• Training and developing the careers of junior level staff.
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our Team

Our Biological Resources team includes other Wetland Ecologists, as well as Wildlife Biologists, Botanists, Arborist, Environmental Planners, Restoration Ecologists, and Permitting and Environmental Compliance Specialists, and Conservation Planners who provide expertise for many public agencies and non-profit organizations throughout Northern California. Our work matters because we help clients deliver projects that improve the environment and communities. 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. 

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)