Senior Biologist - Project Manager

Senior Biologist / Project Manager I

Position Title: Senior Biologist / Project Manager I
Posting Title(s): Senior Biologist / Project Manager I
Location: Ontario, Temecula, or Palm Desert, California

What We’re Looking For:

Michael Baker International is seeking a highly motivated Senior Biologist / Project Manager I to serve as a strategic member of our Natural Resources Department. This position will manage and support biological resources projects throughout Southern California, with a particular focus on Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with biological resources, survey and reporting standards, CEQA compliance, land use planning, regulatory permitting, and Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans (MSHCPs). This individual will provide senior-level technical review and project management while working closely with public agencies, private-sector clients, consultants, and resource agencies.

The position will also support Michael Baker’s ongoing project and staff augmentation assignments with the County of Riverside, County of San Bernardino, and other local jurisdictions. The successful candidate will function as an extension of agency staff, helping process applicant submittals and project approvals, reviewing biological technical studies and environmental documents, coordinating with stakeholders, and preparing clear, defensible review comments and recommendations.

This role also includes a strong seller-doer component, with responsibility for strengthening client relationships, identifying new opportunities, supporting pursuits and proposals, and helping grow Michael Baker’s Natural Resources presence in Riverside County and the Inland Empire.

A Hybrid working arrangement is available. This position will combine client-site, Michael Baker office, remote, and field work. In-person support at the County of Riverside Planning Department office is anticipated at approximately two days per week during onboarding and as needed thereafter.

What You’ll Do:

- Serve as Project Manager for biological resources, staff augmentation, peer review, and regulatory compliance assignments.
- Manage priorities, schedules, budgets, task orders, staffing assignments, deliverables, quality control, and client expectations across multiple concurrent projects.
- Review biological technical studies and environmental documents for consistency with CEQA and applicable MSHCP requirements.
- Review documentation for compliance with and clearance of biological conditions of approval.
- Coordinate with County staff, applicants, consultants, resource agencies, and other project stakeholders.
- Prepare peer review memoranda, comment matrices, scopes of work, level-of-effort estimates, schedules, and other client-ready deliverables.
- Lead the preparation and review of biological technical reports, impact analyses, mitigation measures, focused survey reports, and MSHCP consistency documentation.
- Lead or support field visits, site validations, biological surveys, vegetation mapping, focused species surveys, aquatic resources assessments, and construction compliance activities as needed.
- Manage regulatory permitting and compliance assignments involving the Clean Water Act, California Fish and Game Code, federal and state endangered species requirements, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Provide technical leadership, QA/QC, training, and mentoring to staff performing biological studies and MSHCP reviews.
- Manage project financial performance, including scope, schedule, budget, change management, invoicing support, and contract compliance.
- Maintain proactive communication with Natural Resources leadership regarding workload, risks, client needs, staffing, and upcoming opportunities.
- Serve in a seller-doer role focused on Riverside County and the Inland Empire, developing and strengthening relationships with public agencies, developers, engineering firms, environmental partners, subcontractors, and teaming partners.
- Identify upcoming pursuits, on-call opportunities, staff augmentation needs, and cross-selling opportunities for biological resources, regulatory permitting, restoration, GIS, and environmental planning services.
- Support capture planning, go/no-go decisions, proposal strategy, scope and fee development, interviews, and client presentations.
- Represent Michael Baker at client meetings, professional organizations, industry events, and agency or community forums.
- Collaborate with environmental planners, regulatory specialists, restoration ecologists, engineers, hydrologists, landscape architects, GIS professionals, and other multidisciplinary teams.

What You Need to Succeed:

- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or a related field.
- 10 or more years of progressively responsible biological resources experience , including project management and senior technical review.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of the Western Riverside County MSHCP , including consistency analysis and implementation requirements.
- Working knowledge of the Coachella Valley MSHCP .
- Strong working knowledge of CEQA biological resources analysis and applicable federal and state regulations, including NEPA, CWA, MBTA, California Fish and Game Code, FESA, and CESA.
- Experience preparing or reviewing biological technical reports, focused survey reports, DBESP/HANS documentation, avoidance and mitigation measures, and environmental document sections.
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments, budgets, schedules, technical staff, and client expectations in a fast-paced consulting or agency environment.
- Excellent technical writing, verbal communication, facilitation, project management, and client-service skills.
- Ability and willingness to work regularly in Riverside County, including recurring in-person support at County offices and occasional field visits throughout Southern California.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and working knowledge of ArcGIS tools, web mapping, and biological database research.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
- Preferred: Established professional relationships and project experience with Riverside County TLMA, the Regional Conservation Authority, Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, and other Inland Empire agencies and clients.
- Preferred: Experience working as embedded or extension-of-staff support for a public agency.
- Preferred: Demonstrated success developing new work, leading proposals and interviews, and building client relationships in Riverside County.
- Preferred: Strong Southern California botany, wildlife, aquatic resources, or regulatory permitting expertise.
- Preferred: Advanced degree, relevant professional certification, or current federal or state scientific permits/MOUs for plant voucher collection or wildlife species surveys.
- Preferred: Experience recruiting, supervising, training, and mentoring biological staff.

Compensation:

The approximate compensation range for this position is $111,652 - $146,567 per year . This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

Why Choose Us:

- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
- Professional and personal development
- Generous paid time off
- Commuter and wellness benefits