ESA seeks a highly motivated Wetland Biologist with wetland delineation experience to join our Pacific Northwest Biology Team. Our ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience, but candidates with 2+ years of experience who meet the qualifications will also be considered at a lower level.

We are interested in proactive candidates who have the technical writing skills and field knowledge needed for wetland delineations. Preference given to candidates able to work hybrid from our Seattle or Portland ESA offices.

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.

Who You Are

A Biologist with at least 2 years of experience supporting wetland delineations, environmental planning, permitting, document writing, and review for small to complex projects in the Pacific Northwest. You have served as the primary author on a variety of environmental documents such as wetland delineation reports and functional assessments, biological resources assessments and evaluations, technical reports, and permit applications utilizing your excellent writing and communication skills. You are known for preparing documents that are clear, concise, well-written and supported and for your ability to present information understandably and speak persuasively about complex topics to clients, regulatory agency staff, teaming partners, other important parties and the public.

You hold a bachelor's and/or master's degree in biology or a related environmental or ecological field. Your skillset includes expertise in some or all the following: wetlands, fisheries, wildlife, botany, restoration ecology, regulatory permitting, compliance monitoring and reporting, mitigation planning, and ecological monitoring. You perform occasional field survey work, safely operate, load and transport equipment and gear, and cross fences, creeks, and other obstacles. Experience with digital field data collection tools such as GPS, ArcGIS Collector/Field Maps, Fulcrum, Survey 123 is desired, but not required. You have experience delineating wetlands using the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manuel and Regional Supplements.

You work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver your projects on time and within budget and have aided in or solely managed scope, schedules, and budgets. You are an effective team member and communicator who contributes constructively and cooperatively to solve project and team challenges. You provide mentoring to foster teamwork and elevate others.

You are able to work hybrid in either our ESA Seattle or Portland office.

What You Will Do for ESA

Use judgment and critical thinking to select, apply and adapt standard techniques, methods and procedures for a wide range of biological studies.

Perform and occasionally lead biological field studies such as native flora and fauna surveys including rare plant surveys, vegetation classification and habitat mapping, nesting bird surveys, wetland delineations, and endangered species occurrence documentation.

Serve as a contributing or primary author of environmental documents including technical memoranda, biological assessments/habitat evaluations, scientific discipline reports, and impact evaluations to support resource-related permit applications, including in support of Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Serve as a Task Lead or Deputy Project Manager. Oversee the completion of specific project tasks including coordinating the project delivery schedule, handling project logistics, disseminating and maintaining project related information, serve as the point person for team members and client questions and deliver project assignments on time and within budget.

Thrive in a fast-paced, exciting, and challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines, while working on a team or independently.

You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some night and/or weekend work may be required.

Driving needs: You may participate in compliance monitoring and/or reporting activities for on-going construction projects; you will work near heavy equipment. You possess a valid driver's license and have experience driving 4WD vehicles off-road.

ESA has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position with 2-7 years of experience, the range is $69,764 - $101,158 annually based on our anticipated hiring location as noted in the above job details. For this position with 5+ years of experience, the range is $81,042 - $121,563 annually based on our anticipated hiring location as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by many factors including an individual's related experience, education, skills, and the city where the applicant lives.

What ESA Will Do for You

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company shares through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

What's Special About Our Northwest Bio Team

Our team includes Wetland Biologists, Fisheries Biologists, Environmental Scientists, and Conservation/Climate Planning Specialists that provide expertise for many agencies in Washington, Oregon and across the Northwest. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross disciplinary engagement and integration