Gopher Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

The Senior Scientist position is a senior level position supporting a variety of environmental services for private and public sector clients. Senior Scientists must communicate effectively with a team of professionals across the environmental and engineering sectors during project planning and construction phases. Senior Scientists serve as lead project scientists and are responsible for project design, budget, logistical planning, and project implementation and work closely with clients, field crews, regulatory agencies, and the public.

Senior Scientists are expected to have excellent field data collection and data entry skills (i.e., attention to detail), be self-motivated and conscientious with a strong work ethic, and have the ability to meet deliverable deadlines within the expected timeframes. This position includes preparing Environmental Assessment (EA) reports for work in utility corridors, leading a variety of permitting and compliance projects associated with utility work, and leading complex and/or large-scale environmental projects for public and private sector clients. Depending on the project location, field work could include surveys for: gopher tortoises, burrowing owls, nesting birds, wetlands, protected trees, or seagrass and oysters. Other tasks are assigned as needed to support new clients/projects and individual professional development. Senior Scientist must be able to identify project needs, client expectations, budgets, and timelines and manage junior staff supporting their projects through clear, effective communication and QAQC oversight.

The ideal candidate possesses the following knowledge, skills, and qualifications:

• Strong familiarity with Floridas ecosystems and plants (upland, wetland, and scrub habitats).
• Comfortable and experienced in conducting wildlife surveys (gopher tortoises, avian species, and other state/federal protected wildlife), sometimes under adverse field conditions (e.g., heat, inclement weather, biting insects, etc).
• Comfortable and experienced in conducting wetland delineations in accordance with state and federal methodologies and performing wetland mitigation assessments.

• Experience overseeing field sampling and managing water quality monitoring projects.

• Experience using GPS units and ESRI GIS Products (ArcPro, FieldMaps, Survey123)
• Comfortable and experienced with operating 4X4 off-road vehicles and ATVs.
• (Plus) FWC Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent, Certified Wildlife Biologist, or Professional Wetland Scientist certification.

• Excellent technical writing skills
• Experience with environmental resource permitting (local, state, and/or federal level)
• Experience with preparing cost proposals and business development support.
• Ability to work well in a team setting as well as independently with limited direct oversight.
• Excellent organizational and record-keeping skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to meet deliverable deadlines within the expected timeframes.
• Excellent communication and creative problem-solving skills.
• Experience supervising junior-level staff.
• Ability to work remotely on occasion (typically 1-2 weeks max with sufficient notice).
• Must possess clean driving records.

General position duties and responsibilities may include (but are not limited to) the following activities:

• Conduct environmental assessments and wildlife surveys in the field.
• Accurately perform data collection, entry, verification, and management in accordance with Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs).
• Prepare technical reports and other project-specific deliverables within predefined due dates and client expectations.
• Manage several EAs, permitting, and compliance projects concurrently each with varying timelines, including complex and large-scale projects, and their associated budgets.
• Prepare cost proposals for new clients/projects.
• Participates in business development.
• Perform QAQC support to a variety of deliverables.
• Supervising junior-level staff.
• Other tasks are assigned as needed to support new projects and individual professional development.

• Participates in mentorship program.
• May serve on ad-hoc committees at EAI (Ecological Associates, Inc).
• May serve as coordinator of specialized tasks at EAI.

Position requirements include a B.S. degree in the environmental/biological sciences with at least seven (7) years of related professional experience.

The Senior Scientist position is a full-time, salaried, exempt, benefit eligible position. Starting pay range for this position is anticipated to be between $64,000 and $70,000 annually dependent upon experience and qualifications. This position reports daily from our Jensen Beach office. Hybrid options can be approved after successful completion of three-month probationary period.

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Open Paid Time Off (PTO), flexible scheduling, paid parental leave, medical insurance (75% employer-paid employee coverage), retirement plan with company match, bonus opportunities, professional development support, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Drug Free Workplace

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Interviews for this position will start the week of August 10. You will be contacted directly if we decide to move forward with your application.