Permitting Specialist and Environmental Scientist

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan design permit mitigate and restore for projects across our communities infrastructure systems open spaces and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California the Pacific Northwest and the Southeastern United States.

ESA seeks a highly motivated Environmental ScientistandPermitting Specialistto join our Pacific Northwest Biological Resources and Land Management team. Our ideal candidate has8 years of experience in permitting and environmental sciences in Washington and Oregon but candidates with 5 years of experience who meet the qualifications will also be considered. This is a salaried full-time exempt candidates must be able and willing to work hybrid (1-2 days a week) from one of our Northwest Office Locations including:Seattle Portland & Bend. Some travel required for in-person team collaboration project visits and field work as needed.

We are interested in proactive candidates who have strong experience in one or more of the following: preparing reports and applications for local state and federal permits coupled with experience and field work in wetlands botany fisheries biology wildlife ecology habitat restoration ecology and water quality sampling and analysis. Technical writing skills are strongly preferred. This is a mid-level opportunity focused on collaboration with senior technical staff and helping to grow early-career staff quality outstanding internal and external client service and being part of a team with a passion to do great work and have fun together.

Please note technical writing samples may be requested during the interview process.

Who You Are

• A Scientist and Permitting Specialist with at least 5 years of experience in the Northwest collecting analyzing and presenting in writing ecological data and environmental documentation to support projects and obtain regulatory permits and approvals.
• You have experience developing and leading studies in one or more of the biological disciplines ESA projects require including wetlands botany fisheries biology wildlife ecology habitat restoration ecology and water quality sampling and analysis. Certifications and training in one or more of these disciplines are a plus.
• You have served as the primary or contributing author on a variety of environmental documents such as Biological Assessments for Endangered Species Act consultations wetland delineation reports critical area reports habitat mitigation plans strategic plans for watershed management fish passage barrier assessments and permit applications such asJoint Aquatic Resources Permit Applications and Joint Permit Applications.
• You have excellent writing and communication skills. You are known for preparing documents that are clear concise well-written and supported.
• You have project management or task management experience on environmental projects and possess the ability to synthesize information from other disciplines to develop well-written and complete project descriptions.
• You have experience drafting scopes of work for Senior level review on small to complex projects including identifying necessary tasks preparing task descriptions and estimating the associated level of effort.
• You hold a bachelors and/or masters degree in biology or a related environmental or ecological field.
• You perform field survey work safely operate load and transport equipment and gear and cross fences creeks and other obstacles. Experience with digital field data collection tools such as GPS ArcGIS Collector/Field Maps Fulcrum Survey 123 is desired but not required.
• You work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver high quality work products according to scopes schedules and budgets. You are an effective team member and communicator who contributes constructively and cooperatively to solve project and team challenges.
• You are able to work hybrid primarily in one of our NW offices in Seattle Portland or Bend with some days working remotely if you choose.

What You Will Do for ESA

• As an Environmental Scientist and Permitting Specialist you will serve as a contributing or primary author of environmental documents including technical memoranda biological assessments/habitat evaluations scientific discipline reports habitat mitigation plans and impact evaluations to support resource-related permit applications including in support of Endangered Species Act Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
• You will apply your technical skills and permitting knowledge to natural resources projects. You will serve as a technical specialist participating in environmental analyses and coordinating with key team members including senior and junior staff subconsultants and clients. Lead the preparation and implementation of biological field studies. This includes field studies such as wetland delineations vegetation classification and habitat mapping stream habitat assessment fish passage barrier assessment nesting bird surveys endangered species occurrence and water quality sampling. You will produce technical work and written products that are clear concise and well supported.
• You may serve as a Project Manager Deputy Project Manager or Task Lead depending on complexity of project. You will demonstrate a clear understanding of project management principles and practices including managing your work to the scope budget and schedule. You will proactively and constructively communicate to successfully navigate project or scope challenges that may arise. You will also take the initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are met effectively lead and advise on all aspects of project implementation including the development of permitting strategies provide QA/QC of work processes and deliverables and lead teams completing technical studies that support permitting efforts.
• You thrive in a fast-paced exciting and challenging environment and are able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines while working on a team or independently.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 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 and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments fields arid lands 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. Field work is expected to be approx. 40% with 60% in at home/office work.
• Driving needs: You possess a valid drivers license.
• Other ad-hoc tasks as needed

Whats Special About Our Biological Resources & Land Management Team

Our Biological Resources & Land Management Team includes Wetland Biologists Fisheries Biologists Wildlife Ecologists Environmental Scientists Conservation/Climate Planning Specialists and Permitting Specialists who provide expertise for many agencies in Washington Oregon and across the Northwest. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens. We value creative thinking teamwork and multi-disciplinary and cross disciplinary engagement and integration.

Whats Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of employee-owners 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.

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect recognizing that our variety of backgrounds experiences and perspectives leads to better solutions which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.

In accordance with ESAs duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the abilityor unable to usethe online application system and need an alternative method for applying you may contact our Human Resources Department via email:for assistance.

Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOEM/V/F/D)