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 looking for a Senior Fisheries Biologist to join us on a full-time basis.  The successful candidate will be responsible for developing fisheries resources work and managing fisheries projects in WRA’s focus areas, including the Northern California area and the Central Valley, as well as Southern California in conjunction with our San Diego office. Additionally, the Senior Fisheries Biologist will implement and monitor several large-scale restoration projects throughout California focused on recovering listed fish species.

The position is currently remote, however eventual return to a physical office is expected when feasible. Hybrid remote / in-person options will be considered.

In this role, you will:

• • Work with interdisciplinary teams to champion WRA’s fisheries services
  • Promote WRAs technical expertise through internal and external thought leadership
  • Collaborate with WRA teams to identify highly suitable properties to recover listed species in priority California watersheds
  • Perform marketing, project and client management, and proposal preparation
  • Develop new projects and client relationships
  • Develop restoration and monitoring plans for listed fish species
  • Analyze and present on aquatic resource data
  • Participate in interdisciplinary teams formed to implement large-scale restoration projects
  • Conduct fish surveys and inventories to document performance of restoration actions
  • Coordinate with restoration implementation and maintenance crew to achieve performance standards and habitat restoration goals
  • Represent WRA in public forums on technical and resource management issues
  • Develop new projects and client relationships
  • Conduct marketing, project and client management, and proposal preparation
  • Lead authorship on fisheries-related technical reports
  • Mentor junior staff on technical, project management, and career development matters

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• • A minimum of 10 years of experience at a professional services firm and to be an established Fisheries professional with an advanced degree
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to describe technical matters in common relatable terms
  • A proven track record in business development – including new client development – and a commitment to support marketing efforts, attend business development events, client meetings, etc.
  • Experience with CEQA/NEPA – biological analysis, impact evaluation, mitigation measure guidance
  • Expertise in conducting fisheries survey/study design, sampling, and analysis experience
  • ESA/CESA/NMFS/CDFW consultation experience
  • Experience with restoration design and guidance – floodplain habitat, spawning habitat, large woody placement, bank stabilization, fish passage, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience working with engineers – ability to review and understand plan sheets and engineer drawings
  • Project management experience and proficiency – managing budgets, task and budget development, client management, staff utilization and assignment, scheduling
  • A commitment to internal and external thought leadership

Desired Skills/Experience

• • Federal Recovery Permit, Scientific Collection Permit, MOU, etc. for salmonids, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, tidewater goby, pupfish, unarmored threespine stickleback, or other California fishes
  • Habitat inventory including salmonid restoration manual (CDFW) or similar protocol for quantifying aquatic habitat
  • Hydrology experience including flow measurements, functional flow experience, fish screens (approach velocities), water level monitoring, etc.
  • Geomorphology experience including sediment/substrate and channel surveying, stream classification, experience with channel form and function assessment, surveys, and incorporation of data

WRA, Inc. is an environmental consulting firm based in San Rafael, California, with offices in Emeryville, Petaluma, and San Diego. For nearly 40 years, WRA has provided outstanding ecological and design expertise to develop successful solutions for our clients. We employ experts in the fields of botany, wildlife, and wetland ecology, GIS, environmental and master planning, engineering, and landscape architecture.

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.