Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: DOE
Deadline: Sep 30, 2021
Required Experience: 7+ years

See full details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-wetland–vegetation-ecology-practice-leader-san-rafael-california/2537699018

WRA, Inc. provides professional environmental consulting services in plant, wildlife, and wetland ecology; GIS; environmental planning; regulatory compliance; mitigation and conservation banking; landscape architecture; and engineering. We have been in operation for over forty years and are in the midst of a gradual shift from a small business to a medium sized business. This means that we simultaneously benefit from having developed a relationship-oriented company culture over the years while evolving and implementing systems, processes, and structures to support the growth and evolution as a business. WRA is an employee-owned company, and we are invested in long-term high-quality professional experiences for all of our staff. 

We are seeking a Wetland & Vegetation Ecology Practice Leader for WRA’s Technical Team.  Staff on the Technical Teams lead WRA’s application of best available science and practice in implementing our technical services through completing day to day project work, company-wide training programs, and oversight of WRA’s QA/QC program. The Wetland & Vegetation Ecology Practice Leader is relied upon as the senior company expert in the fields of wetland ecology and vegetation ecology, providing support to projects and staff in botanical surveys, wetland delineations, and vegetation management.     

The position may be based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, or San Diego.

In this role, you will:

  • Work with teams across WRA to mentor and support staff in completing wetland studies and delineations, botanical surveys, vegetation mapping and classification, and vegetation management
  • Advise WRA’s engineers and landscape architects on design parameters for restoration and mitigation projects, such as plant palettes, ecological goals and objectives, elevation and topography, and other site-specific details necessary for successful restoration and habitat enhancement 
  • Lead company-wide training through administration of regularly occurring Practice Group meetings and Workshops, as well as other forums
  • Lead and participate in completion of project related botanical, vegetation ecology and wetland studies including baseline data collection, ecological impacts evaluation, minimization and avoidance recommendations, and restoration design/visioning
  • Provide project-specific recommendations based on the outcomes of wetland, vegetation and other ecological studies   
  • Lead projects requiring expertise in these and related services including client and stakeholder management 
  • Promote WRA’s technical expertise through internal and external thought leadership such as through conference presentations, technical paper authoring, and participation in professional groups
  • Represent WRA in public forums on technical and resource management issues
  • Mentor and provide direct supervision to junior staff on technical, project management, and career development matters   

To be successful in this role, you will need: 

  • Minimum of ten years experience in wetland ecology, vegetation ecology, plant biology or related field 
  • Experience working in a consulting environment
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to describe technical matters in common relatable terms
  • Experience developing and implementing studies related to wetland and vegetation ecology
  • Experience successfully communicating with clients and other stakeholders on issues related to wetland and vegetation ecology
  • Demonstrated ability to review and understand plan sheets and engineer drawings
  • Experience supervising and mentoring staff with diverse skill sets and backgrounds
  • Project management experience and proficiency – managing budgets, task and budget development, client management, staff utilization and assignment, scheduling
  • Demonstrated problem solving and ability to mentor and advise junior staff as to appropriate approaches to resolving technical issues related to wetland and vegetation ecology
  • Experience in field restoration techniques such as invasive species management, native vegetation establishment, grazing management, and fire ecology desired, but not required 
  • A proven track record in developing client and project relationships desired, but not required

Who are we?

WRA’s company vision is ‘cultivating a sustainable future where people and the environment thrive,’ and that starts with our staff. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, and we have developed flexible policies, internal practices, and are investing in programs that prioritize learning and sustainability. We aim to create conditions that allow employees to prioritize their families, lead healthy and balanced lives, and to bring their authentic selves to work every day. We believe that by creating an exceptional workplace, our employees will be able to do their best work and be able to meaningfully contribute to the sustainability of the environment and the communities in which we live. 

WRA is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse environment. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply directly here: https://jobs.lever.co/wra-ca/338c9456-6808-4077-9d3a-1aa98ad66597?lever-origin=applied&lever-source[]=Conservation Job Board