Staff Biologist

About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Staff Biologist to join our growing Pensacola natural resources team, which includes staff from our offices in Pensacola, Gainesville, Tampa, and distributed team members across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. In this role, you will work on a diverse range of projects involving wetland delineations, rare species surveys, ecological inventories, environmental permitting, and construction monitoring. This position offers a balanced mix of fieldwork and office-based tasks, providing opportunities to apply your expertise in natural resource management while developing new skills. You will play a crucial role in conducting field studies, analyzing data, and supporting project teams by preparing technical reports and permit applications for compliance with federal and state regulations. Working on complex environmental projects across Florida and the Southeast, you will help fulfill SWCA's mission of preserving natural resources and supporting sustainable project outcomes. We are specifically seeking individuals with experience leading wetland delineations, and while experience with protected species surveys is preferred, it is not required. This is an hourly, full-time position with the option to work in a hybrid capacity from our offices in Pensacola, Gainesville, or Tampa. Atlanta-based staff are encouraged to apply due to our growing distributed team in the area. Well-qualified candidates from across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, or Tennessee may also be considered on a distributed basis for our Pensacola natural resources team. The selected candidate will be required to pass client-specific drug and alcohol testing, potentially including pre-fieldwork drug testing and random, monthly drug testing.
What you will accomplish

• Conduct field studies such as wetland delineations, vegetation and habitat surveys, threatened/endangered species assessments, and wildlife surveys.
• Assist with field data organization and prepare technical reports and permit applications for compliance under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other relevant regulations.
• Support projects with a mix of field and office work based on season and project needs.
• Supervise a small crew while conducting environmental fieldwork. This includes:
  • independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
  • ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
  • serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
  • receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.
    Experience and qualifications for success
    
    • Bachelor's degree in Wetland Science, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, or a related field.
    • At least 2 years of experience in natural resources, with demonstrated experience leading wetland delineations in the southeastern U.S.
    • Strong communication and technical writing skills.
    • Proficiency in MS Office applications.
    • Valid driver's license and access to personal transportation.
    • Flexibility to travel and work outdoors in various weather conditions.
    • Ability to travel for up to 3 weeks at a time for field assignments. Preferred Qualifications:
      • Master's degree in a related field.
      • Experience leading wetland delineations, protected species surveys, and construction monitoring.
      • Professional certifications (e.g., WPIT, AWB, CERPIT, CESSWI, APSS) or the ability to obtain them.
      • Strong knowledge of botanical species taxonomy and field species identification.
      • Experience in protected species surveys such as gopher tortoise, avian surveys, protected bat surveys, or aquatic invertebrate surveys. Additional Information:
        • Must pass a Motor Vehicle background screening.
        • Availability for travel, sometimes on short notice, for extended periods (including nights and weekends).
        • Ability to work long hours in harsh environmental conditions. SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms. SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. An employee in this Pensacola, FL - based position can expect an hourly pay rate of $23.00-$30.00/hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA's Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success. SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA's continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers. If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.#LI-LC1