Senior Aquatic Ecologist

Sealaska Technical Services (STS), LLC is seeking a part-time Senior Aquatic Ecologist to support our growing federal and commercial business operations.  STS is a growing, progressive business that provides environmental consulting, technology integration and deployment, systems engineering, environmental monitoring, and construction management services to a variety of governmental and commercial clients at job sites located around the world.

The successful candidate will have strong project management skills to support projects in coastal, inland and near shore environments. We are looking for a candidate with applied technical skills, project management, field team-leadership, and technical execution on these types of diverse projects. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to the principle investigator role on ecologically related water based projects to ensure scientific rigor and regulatory sufficiency as part of a larger project team, or in managing your own projects, as assigned.

• Serve as project task manager and/or technical lead on a variety of environmental studies for public and private projects, including but not limited to stream surveys, wetland delineations, wildlife and habitat assessments, and mitigation plans.
• Coordinate acquisition of local, state, and federal environmental permit approvals for projects including Washington State Hydraulic Project Approvals, Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permits, CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certifications, shoreline permits, Tribal approvals, and local government critical areas.
• Lead analysis and documentation for projects subject to NEPA and Washington’s SEPA requirements involving analysis of existing conditions and potential impacts of project alternatives on a variety of aquatic and upland species and their habitats.
• Lead biological assessments and evaluations in support of Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance for a variety of fish and wildlife species, which address project impacts, assess environmental baselines, and define best management practices and minimization measures.
• Perform environmental site investigations conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); and various other Washington State regulations, including the Washington State’s Model Toxics Control Act Cleanup Act (MTCA).
• Lead the development of technical reports, deliverables and other project documentation.
• Assist project managers with planning for projects, including development of the project task scope and organization, estimates of effort and other required resources, and schedules necessary to complete the project. Assist in creation of estimate of cost and budget for the project.
• Help establish, plan, and assist with major milestone/deliverable reviews and decision gates to complete the project life cycle.  Ensure all project deliverables are accurately produced in accordance with project/contract requirements.  Provide the technical leadership of requirements management, design, implementation, system integration, verification, test, quality assurance, delivery, operations, and sustainment of the technical solution.
• Assist with development of technical proposals.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Master’s in a relevant technical discipline, such as fisheries biology, ecology, environmental science or another environmental discipline.
• 20-25 years of experience working on and leading environmental projects. 
• Proficient in MS Office, ESRI ARC GIS, and a variety of other programs.
• The individual should also have a relevant technical background in physical sciences, oceanography or ecological studies in a marine/coastal and aquatic systems and experience in planning and managing projects.
• The successful candidate will possess demonstrated leadership qualities to work with Program Managers, clients and teaming partners and a successful track record in developing and completing projects.
• History working with State and Federal Clients including but not limited to the US Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Defense and/or the Environmental Protection Agency.  
• Due to the nature of this work, U.S. citizenship is required

Additional Requirements:

Position is subject to satisfactory completion of a background check, reference check, physical exam and urine analysis. A valid driver’s license is also required for this position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Travel Requirements: Moderate travel will be required (10-15%) domestic. 
• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. The employee must be able to lift/carry and/or move up to 25 pounds safely. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions and other elements prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.