POSITION PURPOSE
Senior Environmental Scientists use their species specific and relevant environmental knowledge to provide important services pertaining to the health of communities and work to protect the environment from serious hazards. This position is a professional position with responsibility for gathering, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting complex data, then utilizing the information to prepare technical documents and presentations, with an emphasis on NEPA and CEQA compliance. This position can also act as a project manager. The Senior Environment Scientist will complete analysis of environmental problems and develop solutions to these problems. This includes the assessment of the risks of new construction to the environment needed in order to complete our projects. The Senior Environmental Scientist is also key contact for clients.
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Project management and business development for those projects requiring collection and analysis of field data
- Prepare technical, biological reports, including constraints analysis, wetlands delineation reports, wetland permit applications, and biological resources reports in accordance with NEPA and CEQA
- Perform or oversee ecological research and data collection, participate in natural resources studies, monitoring, and restoration
- Manage, lead, train, develop, and mentor technical staff with less experience
- Conduct and oversee field surveys for threatened, endangered, or rare species and species’ habitats in support of ESA, CWA, Section 404, and other environmental regulations
- Observe and monitor species in the field
- Conduct archival/electronic research with USFWS and other state and federal agencies in support of permitting, NEPA and CEQA, ESA, CWA, and other policies and regulations
- Prepare proposals, technical memoranda, meeting minutes, transmittals, presentations, and other written materials
- Attend meetings inside and outside the firm
- Coordinate and provide support to planners, engineering, and other staff as needed
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with agency personnel and clients
- Prepare and present relevant information at public presentations / meetings / workshops
- Work with key clients to revitalize and reuse contaminated sites and assist owners with understanding and managing their regulatory requirements
- Effectively mentor and lead other project team members to successfully complete assigned responsibilities
- Conduct quality control reviews of plans to ensure the highest quality product is delivered to our clients
- Assist in managing, developing, improving and maintaining best practices for the firm
- Review technical documents to ensure highest quality deliverable, coach other writers to help in technical writing growth
- Other duties as assigned or as needed in order to successfully complete project deliverables or meet internal goals
WHO WE NEED
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Species identification and research/survey, vegetation community and habitat classification and inventory, monitoring, data synthesis and interpretations required
- Excellent writing, research, analytical, interpersonal, communication, and time management skills required
- Ability to work as a team member and independently, with other QK professional and technical staff, clients, subcontractors, and agency staff
- Strong project management skills
- Ability to find creative solutions to complex environmental and planning issues, which may include political and socioeconomic issues, while meeting the needs of the client
- Ability to organize, collect, and analyze data, generate and evaluate alternatives, reach logical conclusions, and formulate consistent recommendations as necessary
- Quantitative analysis skills
- Ability to sit and stand for long periods
- Strong ability to communicate well (in writing and verbally) with other staff, clients, and agencies to accomplish team goals
- Visual acuity and manual dexterity
- Ability to perform repetitive wrist and hand motions required
- Ability to travel to field sites and walk long distances may be required on occasion
- Current driver’s license and clean driving record required
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s or Master's degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, ecology, environmental biology, or environmental science
EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience (or MS/MA and ten (10) years’ experience), especially in the areas of NEPA and CEQA compliance, wetlands delineations, CWA, ESA, and related federal and/or state environmental compliance regulations. Prefer field experience in California
- Extensive experience in teaching, training, motivating and/or leading other environmental staff with proven track record of successful career growth with teams managed/mentored
- Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in marketing, proposal writing and/or other related business development tasks preferred
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Senior Environmental Scientist provides leadership to all members of the environmental scientist group, as well as the planning group. Senior Environmental Scientists are assigned to a Group Leader or Branch Manager for reporting/managerial purposes but will also receive guidance and direction from the discipline’s Technical Leader. The Senior Environmental Scientist is expected to create a mentor/protégé relationship by either being the mentor or the protégé. The person may be asked to act as a Teaming Advisor for junior staff. Senior Environmental Scientists are expected work with both planning and bio team members throughout the entire firm in order to promote our “One Company” philosophy.
QK understands that solutions for today’s challenges require innovation created by sharing diverse perspectives openly and safely, which is why we celebrate and cultivate diversity and our inclusive environment.
QK is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of any kind. QK provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, etc. All employment decisions are based on qualification, merit, and business needs. QK encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically be in the U.S.
Please no calls, emails, or additional contact for inquiry. Our HR team will be in contact with you if we need additional information or wish to schedule an interview with you.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES
Please note that QK does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, QK will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, QK explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of QK.
