Ecologist/Wetlands Scientist

Versar is seeking a full-time Ecologist / Wetlands Scientist with strong technical skills to assist the team with a variety of tasks associated with natural resources projects.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in an environmental science field (e.g., ecology, wetland science, stream ecology), and will have a clear understanding of stream, wetland and shoreline restoration design principles and construction.

Projects involve stream and wetland identification and permitting, natural resources planning, climate change assessments and planning, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, and ecological restoration construction largely in support of the Department of Defense (DoD).

The position is organized under Versar’s Environmental Management (EM) group.

Responsibilities :

• Researching, acquiring, and synthesizing scientific literature and data.
• Writing, research, and field work in support of the preparation of wetland delineation reports, Section permit applications, natural resources management plans, and other environmental studies.
• Performing wetland delineations and leading a field team.
• Supporting development of vulnerability assessments and implementation of climate adaptation efforts (e.g., coastal resilience) including integrating nature based and green infrastructure solutions.
• Collecting field data using accepted standardized collection methods.
• Assisting in the preparation, review, and QA / QC of technical reports and plans.
• Communicating with government, academic, and industry researchers and scientists.
• Understanding of stream and wetland restoration design principles and construction.
• Organizing and leading project team meetings and meetings with third parties / clients.
• Updating financial project management software, completing project invoicing, providing routine project updates, and maintaining regular communication with clients.
• Managing workflow, financial performance, schedule, and client satisfaction for complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

Required Qualifications :

• Certifications such as Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or Professional Wetland Delineator (PWD)
• BS degree in an environmental science field such as ecology, wetland science, aquatic biology, botany, wildlife biology, fisheries, soils, hydrology, or related field, and 5-7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience working with federal and state resource and regulatory agency personnel and various permitting processes
• Experience documenting wetland and stream investigations in accordance with Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (USACE ) and other relevant guidance (e.

g., Regional Supplements to the Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual).

• Performing and / or managing wetland delineations, stream / wetland mitigation monitoring, feasibility assessments of potential restoration projects, endangered species and habitat surveys, and other environmental site assessments
• Experience with Trimble GPS units, ArcGIS, and / or other ESRI data collection software.
• Superior writing, communication, and computer skills (MS Word, Excel, etc.) as well as strong problem solving and research abilities.
• Ability to support projects that occasionally require travel with overnight stays.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Experience conducting resilience and climate adaptation services
• Experience working on local and community scale projects
30+ days ago