Job Information
AECOM Senior Avian Field Biologist in San Diego, California
Company Description
Work with Us. Change the World.
At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.
We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.
Job Description
AECOM is seeking a highly motivated Senior Avian Filed Biologist for immediate on-call, project-based employment in the Imperial and Riverside County region. This is a field-based, remote position requiring the ability to be local on assignments for extended periods but linked to a Southern California-based office. This position could support numerous natural resource projects in the southern Mojave Desert region of California with a focus on conducting biological surveys for burrowing owl. Candidate may be located in (or willingness to relocate to) the Mojave Desert region (including Riverside and Imperial County), based on assignment. Other assignments may include vegetation mapping, wildlife assessments, habitat restoration, and/or regulatory compliance and permitting implementation with support from a senior biologist. Training and/or experience conducting surveys for listed species local to southern California and Nevada desert regions including desert tortoise and flat-tailed horned lizard is preferred. Applicant must meet the required qualifications to lead surveys for burrowing owl.
The responsibilities of this position could include a subset of those listed below based on relevant experience:
Lead wildlife and/or botanical surveys, including vegetation and habitat mapping.
Identify and record native and non-native fauna and/or flora in the field.
Conduct special-status species surveys, following established protocols or guidelines as relevant.
Avian species identification and avian mortality monitoring.
Support project execution, including pre-construction surveys and construction monitoring.
Assist with environmental compliance monitoring.
Botanical knowledge and ability to evaluate phenology for native seed scouting.
Oversight of restoration crew work and native seed collection activities.
Perform other related duties assigned, such as coordination with team members, scheduling of work, etc.
Conduct restoration vegetation performance monitoring.
Utilize electronic data collection methods (including GPS); manage, interpret, and analyze data, as needed.
Conduct monitoring and survey fieldwork as part of a team and alone in inland and desert environments, which can include rugged terrain.
Work under the supervision of a senior project manager or senior-level team member.
Ability to independently manage tasks.
Ensure assigned tasks stay on schedule and budget.
Work independently and as part of a team; be innovative and a problem solver.
Elevate compliance concerns to senior-level team members.
Provide clarification of resource project requirements to the compliance and construction teams.
Promote safety culture and adherence to Safe Work Plans.
Burrowing Owl Qualifications:
To conduct burrowing owl surveys, the applicant must have the knowledge and experience to conduct any or all of the following, as needed:
Familiarity with the species and its local ecology.
Experience conducting habitat assessments and non-breeding and breeding season surveys, independently.
Familiarity with the appropriate state and federal statutes related to burrowing owls, scientific research, and conservation.
Experience with analyzing impacts of development on burrowing owls and their habitat.
About AECOM’s Environment Business Line
Join AECOM to be part of an expert global team who is connected through a well-developed, worldwide, internal technical practice network through which you can learn from and brainstorm with the best in the world. AECOM is an industry-leading, world class environmental firm, and we want you to succeed within it. We respect and encourage your own pathway to excellence via our Freedom to Grow initiative.
AECOM is known for our award-winning technical excellence, leading-edge science and innovative project delivery. We provide sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most challenging issues. Our global clients and their projects are diverse and interesting. They span market sectors and geographies and require innovative technical solutions to solve wide-ranging environmental problems within diverse community profiles.
AECOM’s Sustainable Legacies program describes our approach to the environment, social equity and governance (ESG.) We embed sustainability throughout our business and help clients embed sustainable practices into their work. We help clients reduce their impact on the environment, achieve compliance and reduce risks.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in related field (biology, ecology, etc.)
4 years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education in Avian biology/field work.
Valid driver license required and must be able to safely drive to job sites.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior consulting experience preferred, but non-consultant candidates with relevant experience will be considered.
Experience conducting biological surveys and/or environmental compliance monitoring and biological construction oversight.
Field experience with special status species of southern California, and knowledge of regulatory requirements.
Possess experience conducting biological surveys for desert tortoise and/or flat-tailed horned lizard.
Strong leadership and diplomacy skills.
Experience with electronic data collection.
Meets burrowing owl qualifications.
Knowledge of southern California and/or southern Nevada wildlife and plant species.
Thrives independently and as part of a team.
Familiarity with mitigation, monitoring, and reporting programs.
Experience on construction-associated transmission and/or utility projects.
Familiarity with regulatory and permitting requirements under the federal Endangered Species Act, California Endangered Species Act, NEPA, CEQA, and the Clean Water Act.
Additional Information
- Due to the nature of the work, US Citizenship is required.
Offered compensation will be based on location and individual qualifications. The expected range is $40.00/hour - $55.00/hour.
About AECOM
AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.
Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity
You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
ReqID: J10125545
Business Line: Environment
Business Group: DCS
Strategic Business Unit: West
Career Area: Science
Work Location Model: Remote
Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc