Ecologist (full time)
H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for an exceptional and experienced ecologist to join our Sacramento Valley team.
What are some of the important projects that the Sacramento Valley office team works on?
H. T. Harvey & Associates’ mission is to help clients address their complex ecological challenges. Our Sacramento Valley office provides a diversity of ecological consulting services but specializes in projects related to conservation planning, land management, and ecological restoration. We work in a diverse array of habitats―grasslands, oak woodlands, riparian areas and wetlands including montane meadows. Projects are primarily located in the Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, northern Coast Range, and Sierra Nevada and include:
- Ecological studies, conservation plan development, and regulatory compliance for water resource projects of regional and statewide importance.
- Developing watershed assessments and natural resource management plans that balance working use of open space with ecological conservation and ecosystem benefits.
- Surveying for and handling threatened and endangered species, such as: Swainson’s hawk, California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog, foothill and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, vernal pool branchiopods, and numerous species of migratory birds and rare plants to support population- to landscape-scale conservation efforts.
- Designing, overseeing implementation of, and monitoring habitat enhancement, mitigation, and restoration projects for a diverse spectrum of native plant communities and sensitive species of plants, fish, and wildlife.
What you’ll do
Our scientists, including even our most senior-level staff, spend time both in the field and at our desks. Field work includes biological resources surveys in support of impact assessments, long-term biological monitoring, land stewardship, conservation plan development and implementation, and biological resource impact avoidance. H. T. Harvey & Associates ecologists produce biological resource reports, natural resource management plans, mitigation and monitoring plans, biological resources sections of environmental documents, regulatory permit applications, and similar technical documents. Our staff ecologists are guided by the expertise and training of senior ecologists, and we encourage collaboration among our staff with combined expertise in plant ecology, wildlife ecology, restoration ecology and fish and aquatic ecology, rangeland ecology, landscape architecture, GIS, and other ecological disciplines.
Who works at H. T. Harvey & Associates?
The senior leadership of the Sacramento Valley has nearly three decades of experience in the region and are recognized experts in the species and habitats of the region as well as in the regulatory environment. We seek to add an exceptional scientist to our friendly and collaborative team.
We are looking for those who strive for excellence in their everyday work, their science, and their long term careers and who are interested in continually improving their scientific knowledge, learning from others, and collaborating with experts in other fields of ecology. If this sounds like you and you have the experienced noted below, we look forward to learning more about your ecological interests and skills during the application process.
Required experience
- Strong academic background with a B.S. or B. A. in biological studies, natural resources, wildlife management, wildlife biology, botany and plant ecology or an equivalent subject
- A broad knowledge of at least one of the following: California’s flora, fauna, and/or regulatory environment
- Demonstrated field experience
- Minimum 2 years of ecological consulting or resource agency work in California or other areas of the Western U.S.
- Exceptional and demonstrated technical writing ability
- Good organizational and data handling skills
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Desired qualifications
While we are seeking candidates who meet the minimum experience requirements above, we are particularly interested in those who also have one or more of the following:
- Experience and/or training in the ecology and management of rangelands in California and one other related field (e.g., forest management, fisheries management and aquatic ecology, water resources management, wildlife management, ecological restoration, invasive plant management)
- Licensure as a California Certified Rangeland Manager, or ability to become certified within two years following hire
- Master’s degree or PhD in applicable field
- Work experience with a variety of sensitive species and habitats found throughout the Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, northern Coast Range, and Sierra Nevada
- Understanding of and experience with a variety of federal and California environmental regulations (federal Clean Water Act 404/401, California Fish and Game Code 1600, federal and California Endangered Species Acts)
This position requires the future employee to:
- Hold a valid driver’s license with no major traffic violations or multiple minor violations
- Work occasionally on nights, weekends, and early morning hours
- Walk over varied terrain for surveys
- Work in inclement weather (e.g., rain, heat , cold) and around unpredictable wildlife, livestock, and other potential hazards
- Lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
- Follow best practices for field safety
- Travel within California for fieldwork, including occasional overnight travel
How to Apply
Please send a resume, your academic transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable), at least 3 references who can attest to your skills and technical abilities, a technical writing sample of at least 10 pages in length, and a cover letter. In the cover letter, please share your professional and personal interests and career goals, and why you are interested in working with us.