Senior Biologist/ Scientist – Desert Tortoise/ Mohave Ground Squirrel – California
Opportunity:
Parsons is now hiring a Scientist, Biologist for our rapidly expanding environmental project.
Parsons is a leader in engineering, designing and managing the construction of roads and highways throughout California. We are hiring colleagues with an entrepreneurial spirit who thrive on professional challenges in a high energy environment.
We have a position for a Biologist who will work on a part-time or casual employment basis in the Bishop, CA area. The work would include preparation of biological reports on all types of transportation projects, including those with complex or extensive impacts. Other tasks could include, but are not limited to, performing and evaluating database and literature searches, performing construction monitoring, protocol–level surveys and field surveys for special-status plant and animal species, developing biological mitigation and monitoring reports, preparing permit applications, preparing and/or reviewing biological reports and visual displays.
Responsibilities:
- Perform field surveys for special-status plant and animal species and prepare mitigation planning and monitoring reports. Field surveys include, but are not limited to walking transects, trapping, collecting specimens, digging soil pits, and visually identifying plant and animal species. Direct individuals or teams responsible for preparation of biological studies to the standards necessary for state and federal endangered species clearances;
- Perform construction monitoring both during and outside normal working hours (defined as an 8-hour work-day; Monday through Friday); and some weekends.
Requirements :
Bachelors’ degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in animal biology, plant biology, ecology, fisheries management or wildlife management is required .
Must meet at least one of the following:
Desert tortoise and/or Mohave ground squirrel Designated/Authorized Biological Monitor:
Qualifications: Designated Biologist (DB)
Must show proof of a current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) issued by CDFW for MGS and DT and a current California Scientific Collecting Permit.
Able to conduct all biological related activities of a given Task Order including identification of both species and their sign and burrows.
Experience working in the Mojave Desert and knowledge of native species.
Qualifications: Authorized Biologist (AB)
Must provide a USFWS Desert Tortoise Authorized Biologist Qualifications Form to handle DT to be sent by the Department to USFWS for approval.
Follow instructions required by USFWS to ensure qualifications:
https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/PalmSprings/DesertTortoise/CHAPTER 3.pdf [fws.gov] and
Able to conduct all biological related activities of a given Task Order including identification of species and their sign and burrows. Experience working in the Mojave Desert and knowledge of native species. 1600/404/401 Permit Compliance Monitoring Designated/Authorized Biological Monitor:
Qualifications: Designated Biologist (DB):
- At least 2 years of experience conducting permit compliance monitoring on construction projects; at least 1 year of experience in delineating and identifying desert wash/wetland/riparian habitat of the Arid West.
- Must demonstrate knowledge of CDFW 1600 code, Clean Water Act, and recent changes under the Army Corps. Of Engineers and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board implementation of the Clean Water Act.
- The monitor must also be knowledgeable and experienced in the biology, natural history, collecting, and handling of appropriate species; specifically, the DB should have experience with the flora and fauna of Inyo County or the Owens Valley biogeographic region.
- The DB shall ensure that all avoidance and minimization measures in the Agreement are implemented and maintained, including, but not limited to: conduct pre-activity surveys, present Worker Environmental Awareness Training (WEAT), oversee installation of Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) fencing, monitor all dewatering activities, conduct fish salvage, monitor all construction activities in Fish and Game Code section 1602 resources (i.e., ensuring the prescribed access routes and work areas are respected), monitor any active bird nests, perform necessary pre-activity surveys within all areas subject to Fish and Game Code section 1602, and ensure impacts to wildlife habitat are minimized.
- 2 years of experience conducting permit compliance monitoring on construction projects.
Qualifications: Authorized Biologist (AB):
- The monitor must be knowledgeable and experienced in the biology, natural history, collecting, and handling of appropriate species; specifically, the AB should have experience with the flora and fauna of Inyo County or the Northern Mojave Desert.
- The AB shall have previous specialized professional experience surveying for and handling special-status species (e.g., species of special concern, rare, threatened, endangered, and candidate species). The AB shall possess the appropriate authorization from the State (e.g., Scientific Collecting Permit, Voucher Collection Permit, Memorandum of Understanding) where necessary for handling of fish, wildlife, or plant species.
- For an AB to be qualified to conduct burrowing owl habitat assessments, surveys, and impact assessments, the AB needs to at a minimum possess all the Biologist Qualifications listed in the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=83843&inline=true [nrm.dfg.ca.gov])
Knowledge of various governmental organizations as they relate to environmental planning and methods and techniques of evaluation of environmental impacts and GIS/GPS technologies.
Proficiency in local, state and federal regulations pertaining to endangered species and environmental protection.
Adapt and apply formal natural sciences methods and principles to planning problems of an applied practical nature. Gather and analyze data and prepare written reports and visual displays
Ability to hike in uneven terrain up to 5 miles per day.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
Proficiency in MS Office is required
Experience with MS Project, ARCGIS, and Adobe Illustrator is desirable.
Please email resumes to Chris.Miles@Parsons.com