Consulting Senior Associate, Biologist (Entry Level)

Job Description

Consulting Senior Associate, Biologist (Entry Level) | ERM

The Tone:
This is an early career role at ERM, located in Northern California, though the specific location is negotiable. ERM is the largest global pure-play sustainability consultancy, partnering with leading organizations to create innovative solutions for sustainability challenges. This position will join ERM’s planning, biological and environmental compliance team, contributing crucial desk-based biological expertise for large-scale utility projects in Northern California. You will support vegetation management operations and maintenance, helping clients minimize sustainability risks and achieve project success from planning through operation.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Northern California (negotiable)
• Pay: $68640–$70725 yearly
• Team: Planning, biological and environmental compliance team
• Mission: Provide biological expertise and environmental compliance support for utility vegetation management projects in Northern California.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Prepare Biological Resource Assessments for various project needs.
• Support the development of comprehensive environmental compliance documents, including CEQA and NEPA documents, ESA Biological Assessments, and CDFW 1602 permits.
• Contribute to proposal preparation, including developing scopes and cost estimates, and assist with business development for existing clients.
• Provide technical QA/QC assistance on project deliverables and offer mentorship to early career scientists.
• Collaborate with project managers and clients to ensure strict adherence to environmental regulations and permitting requirements.
• Manage adherence to project scope, budget, and schedule expectations, ensuring quality standards are met for timely report delivery.

The Must-Haves
• Background: BS in Biological Sciences or a related field. This early career position supports environmental compliance and planning with a focus on Northern California biota.
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years in environmental consulting or direct experience with Northern California biota. Requires familiarity with federal and state environmental regulations and policies, including the California Coastal Act, CESA, ESA, and CEQA.
• Skills: Demonstrated technical writing and analysis skills; technical competency in environmental permitting; strong attention to detail and organizational capabilities; excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Bonus: A Master’s degree is desirable. Prior experience within the power sector is considered a valuable asset.