Lead, Senior, or Principal Biologist - San Francisco Bay Area

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead, Senior, or Principal Biologist with experience in natural resource management and biological studies for our Half Moon Bay, CA office. We are seeking a candidate who is looking to develop or continue a long-term consulting career that combines high-level technical expertise, business acumen, and the potential for leadership. Responsibilities may include project management, business development, natural resource planning, leading surveys, and staff coordination. An important aspect of the work will involve staff mentorship and technical review of reports.

This position is a regular, full-time, salaried/exempt position and can be worked in a hybrid or remote capacity from most locations in the San Francisco Bay area. Pay rate will be competitive, based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP).

We are considering candidates for the below levels:

• Lead Biologist – Typically with at least six (6) years of relevant experience and expertise
• Senior Biologist – Typically with at least eight (8) years of relevant experience and expertise
• Principal Biologist - Typically with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and expertise

Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

About SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

We are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.

What you will accomplish

• Strategic Project Leadership: Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control.
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements.
• Project Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA's values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes.
• Business Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.
• Relationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects.
• Publishes and Presents Findings: Leads the preparation and presentation of scientific and regulatory findings, contributing to the body of knowledge and enhancing SWCA's reputation in the field.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

Job responsibilities for Senior/Principal levels will involve leading more complicated, larger and potentially multi-disciplinary projects and pursuits.

• Serve as project manager or technical lead on a variety of biological resource projects.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Take initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are addressed.
• Coordinate and/or lead biological survey and reporting efforts, including jurisdictional waters permitting.
• Work closely with SWCA’s other resource scientists, planners, on natural and cultural resource projects throughout the company.
• Work closely with a project team to develop innovative approaches to resource assessment that meet client needs and can withstand agency and public scrutiny.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field
• Six (6) years of experience in biological surveys and resource management in either the public or private sector.
• Wildlife and/or plant identification skills; familiarity with the federal and state Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, state and federal jurisdictional waters permitting and strategy, and excellent writing skills required.
• Experience of working with scientists, planners, engineers, contractors, and agency specialists.
• Experience managing subcontractors and ensuring technical excellence.
• Experience in writing technical reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field highly preferred
• Twelve (12) years of experience in biological surveys and resource management in either the public or private sector.
• The ideal candidate will also possess strong wildlife and/or plant identification skills; familiarity with the federal and state Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, state and federal jurisdictional waters permitting and strategy, and excellent writing skills required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to promote SWCAs services internally and externally.
• Ability to take initiative, resolve problems and ensure tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Ability to work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks in the most effective manner. Willingness to learn and grow into increased project-management and supervisorial responsibilities

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Half Moon Bay, CA-based position is:

• Lead Biologist - $97,344.00 to $127,196.00 per year;
• Senior Biologist - $111,621.00 to $145,367.00 per year;
• Principal Biologist - $127,196.00 to $166,134.00 per year.

Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.

As a 100% employee-owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact accommodations@swca.com or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact recruiting@swca.com.

Use of Technology in Hiring

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience.

Candidate Use of AI

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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