Senior Field Biologist - AECOM

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.

AECOM is seeking a highly motivated Senior Field Biologist for immediate, on-call part-time employment in the southern/central California and Nevada region. This position would support numerous natural resource projects in the Mojave Desert region of California and Nevada with a focus on leading biological surveys, vegetation mapping, wildlife assessments, habitat restoration, and construction regulatory compliance and permitting implementation. This is a field-based, remote position requiring the ability to be local on assignments. A 10(A)(1)(a) permit for listed species local to southern California and Nevada is preferred (but not required), including species such as desert tortoise and/or Mojave ground squirrel, amongst others. This position will support multiple project managers on a variety of types of projects including utility, military, transportation, and renewable energy sectors. AECOM is proud to provide our employees with exciting, challenging projects and career opportunities, in a dynamic and flexible working environment.

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.
• 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.
• Provide Construction Lead support as needed.
• Lead environmental compliance monitoring teams, including coordinating with project managers, engineers, and construction contractors and conducting worker environmental awareness programs.
• Perform other related duties assigned, such as coordination with team members, scheduling of work, etc.
• Utilize electronic data collection methods (including GPS); manage, interpret, and analyze data, as needed.
• Botanical knowledge and ability to evaluate phenology for native seed scouting.
• Oversight of restoration crew work and native seed collection activities.
• Lead restoration vegetation performance monitoring.
• Conduct monitoring and survey fieldwork as part of a team and alone in inland and desert environments, which can include rugged terrain and long hikes.
• Work under the supervision of a senior project manager or senior-level team member.
• Ability to independently manage tasks and/or oversee project teams.
• Ensure assigned tasks stay on schedule and budget.
• Work independently and as part of a team; be innovative and a problem solver.
• Function as the primary point of contact for elevating compliance concerns. 
• Responsible for providing clarification of resource project requirements to the compliance and construction teams.
• Identify and record native and non-native fauna and/or flora in the field.
• Promote safety culture and lead by example through maintenance and implementation of Safe Work Plans.

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.

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 biological natural resources.
• Valid U.S. Driver's license is required for this role and must be able to safely drive to job site.
• Candidates must be able to work in the California and Nevada Mojave Desert region (including Laughlin, Barstow, Las Vegas), based on assignment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior consulting experience preferred, but non-consultant candidates with relevant experience will be considered.
• Ability to lead environmental compliance monitoring teams, including coordinating with project managers, engineers, and construction contractors and conducting worker environmental awareness programs.
• Strong organizational skills and proactive communicator.
• Understanding of 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.
• Knowledge of southern California and/or southern Nevada wildlife and plant species.
• Flexible and willing to support multiple projects as needed.
• Valid driver's license required and must be able to safely drive to job sites.
• Team player with excellent listening skills and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience with electronic data collection.
• Possess a 10(A)(1)(a) permit for listed species local to southern California and Nevada, such as desert tortoise and/or Mojave ground squirrel.
• Field experience with special status species of southern California or Nevada, and knowledge of regulatory requirements.
• Strong leadership and diplomacy skills.
• Thrives independently and as part of a team.

• Due to the nature of the work, US Citizenship is required

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program 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 absence, voluntary benefits, perks, U.S. and global well-being programs, 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 culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – 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 and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. 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.