Staff Wildlife Ecologist, San Joaquin Valley (Full-time, hybrid)

We’re looking for staff-level wildlife ecologists to join our San Joaquin Valley, California team. The anticipated pay range for this position is $81,500–$93,500 annually. Actual compensation within the range will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

What it’s like to work with us

The new wildlife ecologists will become part of the 12-person team and will work with other wildlife ecologists and experts in botany, land management, conservation planning, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture. H. T. Harvey & Associates has a reputation for deep scientific expertise and a high caliber of work. Our San Joaquin Valley team leaders have been researching and working in the region for more than three decades and have unparalleled expertise with the region’s species, habitats, regulatory environment, and habitat plans. The team has long-standing experience with transportation, solar energy, land management, and conservation projects. Services provided include ESA and CESA permitting; endangered and threatened species surveys and assessments, preconstruction surveys and monitoring; and conservation land assessment, preservation, and management.

Our staff-level ecologists spend time both in the field and working on the computer. When in the field you may conduct surveys and monitoring for special-status wildlife and plant species, serve in the role of an agency-approved Designated Monitor or Biologist for specific projects, complete habitat assessments, and assist with research and data collection. When not in the field, you’ll contribute to biological resource reports, support processes to obtain regulatory permits, and build your consulting skills and expertise by collaborating with senior ecologists both in person and on-line. This position does not require regular presence in a company office but will require travel to a company location in Fresno (or other regional locations) for pickup of equipment and vehicles, as well as for in-person collaboration.

Current project needs include conducting surveys and population monitoring for projects involving wildlife species including San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton’s kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Burrowing owl, California tiger salamander, and/or Swainson’s hawk.

Our San Joaquin Valley team works remotely, with team members living throughout the region, from the Central Coast to Sacramento. We closely collaborate both online and in person, with a strong focus on team alignment and shared learning.

Competencies, skills, and experience

We assume those who want to join our company as an ecologist have a strong and relevant academic background as well as prior applicable experience. We aim to hire team members who strive for excellence in their everyday work and who are interested in continually improving their scientific knowledge and collaborating with experts in other fields.

In addition to having strong ecological training and experience, candidates applying for a staff-level position should have:

• 4–8 years of applicable professional experience
• Ideal candidates would also have experience with a variety of special-status wildlife species and their habitats in the greater Central Valley and/ or Central Coast. Specifically with one or more of the following: San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat, Tipton’s kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, California tiger salamander, burrowing owl, and/or Swainson’s hawk.
• The ability to serve as a Designated Biological Monitor or Designated Biologist for regional projects
• A commitment to learning and applying new skills
• Relentless attention to detail
• Clear and precise writing skills
• A collaborative approach to work and communication

Desired qualifications

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in biological studies, natural resources, wildlife management, wildlife biology, or an equivalent subject.

If you have a portion of the above items, but not all, we still welcome you to submit your application so we can learn more about your ecological expertise and experience.

Compensation

The anticipated pay range for a management-level position is $81,500–$93,500 annually, with a generous benefit package and bonus plan. Actual salary will depend on a range of factors including length, relevancy, and type of work experience, education, permits held, skill set, and competencies. More details on our employment package are included below.

A few other nitty gritty details

This position requires the future employee to:

• Follow best practices for field safety
• Hold a valid driver’s license with no major traffic violations or multiple minor violations
• Walk over varied terrain for surveys and work in inclement weather
• Flexibility to work up to 5 days/week in a project area
• Work early morning hours, and occasional nights and weekends, as needed

How to apply

To start the application process, please submit your resume and a cover letter through our applicant portal. In your cover letter please:

• tell us about your strengths, including specialized area(s) of biological expertise
• convey the total number of months or years of experience conducting monitoring and / or surveys
• include some observations about your favorite species

Ultimately, we’ll ask candidates who move forward in the process for references and a work sample and potentially academic transcripts, but if you don’t have them handy now, they can be submitted later.

Please combine your cover letter and resume into one file and apply here.