Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Project Manager - San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, CA, US

H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for a senior wildlife ecologist and project manager for projects in the San Joaquin Valley, Antelope Valley, and Central Coast, California. The anticipated pay range for this positio ...

Job description

H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for a senior wildlife ecologist and project manager for projects in the San Joaquin Valley, Antelope Valley, and Central Coast, California. The anticipated pay range for this position is $98,500–$114,000 annually. Actual compensation within the range will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

What it's like to work with us

The new wildlife ecologists will become part of the 12-person team and will work with other wildlife ecologists and experts in botany, land management, conservation planning, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture. H. T. Harvey & Associates has a reputation for deep scientific expertise and a high caliber of work. Our San Joaquin Valley team leaders have been researching and working in the region for more than three decades and have unparalleled expertise with the region's species, habitats, regulatory environment, and habitat plans. The team has long-standing experience with transportation, solar energy, land management, and conservation projects. Services provided include ESA and CESA permitting; endangered and threatened species surveys and assessments, preconstruction surveys and monitoring; and conservation land assessment, preservation, and management.  

Project managers will apply their expertise as the lead biologist on projects and lead project teams, helping develop solutions to ecological challenges in the San Joaquin Valley as well as in the broader Central Valley and Central Coast regions. The work will require local species expertise, a strong background in regulatory issues, and solid technical writing skills. Successful project managers possess a high level of personal organization and apply critical thinking to develop a project-specific approach. Many of our clients seek our expertise with the goal of going above and beyond project requirements, giving us the opportunity to contribute to projects that benefit the environment. Externally project managers serve as the liaison with clients, project team members, and agency contacts and work on proposals and business development efforts. 

Our San Joaquin Valley team works remotely, with team members living throughout the region, from the Central Coast to Sacramento. We closely collaborate both online and in person, with a strong focus on team alignment and shared learning. This position does not require regular presence in a company office but will require travel to a company location in Fresno (or other regional locations) on occasion for in-person collaboration. 

Current project needs include conducting surveys, population monitoring, and permitting projects involving rare plants and wildlife species including San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Burrowing owl, California tiger salamander, and/or Swainson's hawk.

Competencies, skills, and experience

We assume those who want to join our company as an ecologist have a strong and relevant academic background as well as prior applicable experience. We aim to hire team members who strive for excellence in their everyday work and who are interested in continually improving their scientific knowledge and collaborating with experts in other fields. 

In addition to having strong ecological training and experience, the ideal candidates would also have experience with a variety of special-status wildlife species and their habitats in the greater Central Valley and/ or Central Coast, specifically with one or more of the following:  San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Burrowing owl, and/or Swainson's hawk.

Candidates applying for a project manager position should have:

• At least 6–10 years of applicable professional experience, including at least one year of management experience
• Ideal candidates would also have experience with a variety of special-status wildlife species and their habitats in the greater Central Valley and/ or Central Coast. Specifically with one or more of the following:  San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton's kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, California tiger salamander, burrowing owl, and/or Swainson's hawk.
• Prior experience with:
  • authoring and editing technical reports, with demonstrated exceptional writing ability
  • federal and state biological permitting processes, preferably in California
  • assessing project impacts within regulatory frameworks (CEQA and NEPA)
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills 
• Willingness to travel and work in a range of locations and terrains
• A commitment to learning new things and coaching junior staff

Desired qualifications

• A degree biological studies, natural resources, wildlife management, wildlife biology, or an equivalent subject. M.S or Ph.D. preferred.
• Prior experience serving as a Designated Biologist for projects in the region

If you have a portion of the above items, but not all, we still welcome you to submit your application so we can learn more about your ecological expertise and experience

Compensation

The anticipated pay range for a management-level position is 98,500–$114,000 annually, with a generous benefit package and managerial bonus plan. Actual salary will depend on a range of factors including length, relevancy, and type of work experience, education, permits held, skill set, and competencies. More details on our employment package are included below. 

A few other nitty gritty details

This position requires the future employee to:

• Follow best practices for field safety
• Hold a valid driver's license with no major traffic violations or multiple minor violations
• Walk over varied terrain for surveys and work in inclement weather

How to apply

To start the application process, please submit your resume and a cover letter through our applicant portal. In your cover letter please:

• describe your strengths as a manager
• include some observations about your favorite species
• share some of your goals for your next position

Ultimately, we'll ask candidates who move forward in the process for references and a work sample and potentially academic transcripts, but if you don't have them handy now, they can be submitted later. 

Please combine your cover letter and resume into one file.

Employment Package, Benefits, and Work Culture

We strive to support employees' career goals and their health and wellness. Our employment package includes a competitive salary and a generous benefits package. Project managers and other senior staff are part of a robust managerial bonus program.

Health insurance

H. T. Harvey & Associates has always placed a strong emphasis on health and wellness. At the center of these offerings is our top-notch medical coverage (Cigna PPO and Kaiser Permanente HMO plans) along with Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Savings Account (FSA) options. For full-time employees who opt in to one of our plans, we cover 100% of the premiums for that employee. Additional options include 50% premium coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and children. The package also includes dental and vision coverage at no cost to the employee. Pro-rated plan options are available for those who work at least 50% time. 

Retirement benefits

We offer 401(k) and Roth 401(k) plans with a 33% employer match. This includes a 401(k) and Roth 401(k) catch up plan that also has an employer match. The plan offers approximately 50 fund choices including a notable number of socially responsible investment fund options.  

Paid time off

We observe 9 company holidays, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for voluntary participation in a National Day of Service. Additionally, employees accrue paid vacation / personal and sick leave time.

Professional development

In addition to having a core value of ongoing development of scientific and professional expertise, we support participation in external training and certification programs, attendance at conferences and workshops, and membership in and engagement with scientific and professional associations. We also offer presentation, poster, and publication bonuses. 

Flexible work arrangements

We offer flexible scheduling options during the work week, with employees working from project sites and from both company and home offices. Our goal is to facilitate collaboration and accommodate business needs while providing flexibility to employees. 

About H. T. Harvey & Associates

H. T. Harvey & Associates is an ecological consulting firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with four offices in California and one in Hawaii. Our core areas of expertise are wildlife ecology, plant ecology, aquatic ecology, restoration ecology, and landscape architecture. We hire people who strive to be the best in their fields and provide training, support, and work opportunities to grow their expertise. We have been cultivating excellence in our staff and work in pursuit of our mission to create ecologically sound solutions to our clients' complex natural resource challenges for more 55 years.

H. T. Harvey & Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.