California Tiger Salamander Biological Monitor

ESA is seeking a California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense, CTS) General Biological Monitor who can demonstrate at least 2 years' experience of construction compliance monitoring experience to join our Biological Resources and Land Management team.Preference given to candidates with 3+ years' experience. The ideal candidate must have documented experience with CTS. Preference given to candidates with CTS experience along with other species such as the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), Crotch's bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), and general nesting bird and raptor species. The CTS General Biological Monitor must be qualified and able to meet the project-specific criteria set by the natural resource agencies (i.e., California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to support on-site surveys and construction compliance monitoring. This project-based hire will commit to approximately 85% fieldwork in the Madera/Fresno, CA area for the California High Speed Train Project and conduct desk-based tasks comprised of data entry and analysis, and report preparation. We welcome a collaborative team member with a growth mindset who can conduct plant and wildlife surveys and habitat assessments, monitor sensitive biological resources, collect data digitally and analyze results, and deliver quality technical written work products.

Who You Are
You are an experienced biologist who has 2+ years' experience supporting field studies and environmental compliance within California's San Joaquin Valley. Preference given to candidates with 3+ years' experience. General construction compliance monitoring experience is required. Qualification details to meet the required experience criteria to be a CTS General Biological Monitor are provided below. As a CTS General Biological Monitor candidate, you will be expected to meet all the species-specific qualification criteria and provide documentation for potential past approvals from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

You have previously worked on construction sites, worked safely around heavy equipment, and can effectively communicate with construction staff. You must have experience presenting information understandably and speaking clearly and confidently about biological resource and general compliance topics to construction contractors, construction managers, clients, and consultant partners. Further, you can work collaboratively with interdisciplinary groups as an effective communicator who contributes constructively and cooperatively to solve project and team challenges. Implementation of Avoidance & Minimization Measures/Conservation Measures for biological resources on one or more projects within the San Joaquin Valley is desirable.

You also have experience with habitat mapping and conducting floral and faunal inventories and assessments within the San Joaquin Valley. Additionally, you are skilled in performing other species surveys construction compliance monitoring, and preparing supporting documentation for compliance monitoring, including but not limited to daily monitoring reports and pre-construction survey reports. Experience with data collection applications such as Fulcrum, FieldMaps/ArcGIS Online, and/or Survey123 is desirable but not essential.

You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, and arid lands, and in inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. You are self-aware, self-motivated, and respectful and empathetic toward others. You accept responsibility for your actions, constructively give and receive feedback and work collaboratively with a team mentality.

What You Will Do for ESA
As mid-level biologist you will apply critical thinking and problem solving to select and apply standard techniques, methods and procedures for a wide range of basic to lower complexity biological studies. You will perform biological field studies to support CTS surveys and monitoring efforts in Madera and Fresno Counties. You may assist with excavation of potential CTS burrows. You may assist the Designated Biologist(s) with species follow-up activities to comply with project permit requirements prior to initiation of construction activities. You may also participate in other biological field studies, such as general pre-construction surveys, native flora and fauna surveys, rare plant surveys, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, nesting bird surveys, wetland delineations, endangered species occurrence documentation, and construction compliance monitoring. All specialized compliance monitoring and biological resource surveys will be conducted under the direct supervision of a Designated Biologist.

• You will also perform compliance monitoring, biological resource surveys, and related reporting activities for the California High Speed Train project, Construction Package 1 (CP1), which is an ongoing large-scale construction project involving work near heavy equipment. You may need to travel across the CP1 project footprint and stop at multiple sites on any given day.
• You will prepare and submit daily monitoring reports and observe work activities to help the client and contractor ensure activities comply with applicable mitigation measures and permit conditions. You will prepare draft documents that are clear, concise, well-written and supported. A writing sample may be requested as a step in the interview process.
• You will effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues, clients, and other teaming partners. You may be asked to disseminate and maintain related information and resources, meet with team members to gauge progress toward task completion, and respond to team member questions. You may also be asked to train and/or oversee other staff on higher-level responsibilities that a Designated Biologist conducts independently.
• You will demonstrate equitable and inclusive ways of working with others: treat others with respect, empathy, and dignity.
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and are able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines while working on a team or independently.
• You will perform projects functions such as development and tracking of scope, schedule, and invoices under Project Manager's direction. You will primarily perform work with some direction.
• You will deliver project assignments on time and within budget.
• You will check work for errors, accuracy, and applicability to project needs.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 40 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground in a variety of environments, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some night and/or weekend work may be required. Multiple overnight stays in the Fresno area will be required. You will spend the majority of your time located in Madera and Fresno Counties. Field work may require very early morning or late-night end times, as well as long hours. Some night and/or weekend work may be required.
• You will participate in compliance monitoring and reporting activities for on-going construction projects requiring working near heavy equipment. You possess a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and have experience driving 4WD vehicles off-road.
  
  Species-Specific Qualifications
  The General Biological Monitor must fulfill the following criteria and be able to demonstrate the qualifications in their resume:

1. Completed The Wildlife Society Western Section's training course Wildlife Biologist Construction Awareness Training (WildC.A.T.] or similar construction safety training, OR completed a minimum of 40 hours of supervised construction monitoring/shadowing an experienced construction monitor.
2. Delineation, installation, or maintenance of wildlife exclusion fence, environmentally sensitive areas, no work buffers, or wildlife exclusion zones.
3. Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training presentation given and/or developed at least once.
4. Observed at least one CTS adult, metamorph, and larvae in the wild, at a zoo, or as museum specimens. These observations must be correlated with a project or an accredited organization.
5. Resume demonstrates ability to differentiate CTS from other salamander and lizard species that may inhabit the area (e.g. course work/training/experience).
6. A minimum of 20 hours of experience identifying and delineating San Joaquin Valley vegetation/landcover types.

What's Special About Our Team

Our Biology Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many municipalities throughout California. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state's sensitive natural resources.

We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration. To read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed, check out this link: https://esassoc.com/projects/

What's Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.