Job Description

Environmental Scientist/Ecologist

Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) is currently seeking to add an Environmental Scientist/Ecologist to our Houston, TX office. Candidates will have the opportunity to work on projects for federal, state, and local government clients as well as private sector clients throughout Texas, and other locations along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The selected candidate will serve as one of several Environmental Project Manager within FNI. The selected candidate would also serve as Project Manager/Lead Scientist on environmental projects that would collaborate with other professionals on projects that address water provision, water quality, flood risk reduction and stormwater planning, ecological restoration, coastal resiliency, and various infrastructure improvements to successfully deliver projects to FNI clients in our Western Gulf Coast Division.

Candidates should have 6+ years of direct experience helping clients navigate Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other similar environmental regulations. Preferred candidates should have direct knowledge and the technical skills necessary to address requirements of federal and state regulatory programs. In addition to technical skills and staff mentorship, the preferred candidate would also assist with business development (i.e., doer-seller) and growing our ecology program and client base in Houston. This role requires knowledge and experience with the following:

• Providing technical leadership and project management on a variety of planning and permitting projects for our federal, state, local, and private sector clients.
• Development and delivery of written reports and technical memorandums and overseeing Quality Assurance/Quality Control of team member's work.
• Serving as a technical resource and coordinating workload throughout project development to complete deliverables on schedule.
• Supporting and leading field work, including waters of the US (WOTUS) delineations, habitat assessments, and vegetation mapping.
• Interacting with federal, state, and local government agencies to understand regulatory requirements on projects.
• Ability to travel, with overnight travel common. Occasional travel may be required up to 25% of the time.
• Presenting at technical conferences.
• Familiarity with federally listed species and Endangered Species Act requirements.
• Coordinating with internal and external design engineers and stakeholder groups.
• Preparing NEPA documentation (CEs, EAs, and EISs) and knowledge of the NEPA process.
• Preparing CEs, EDFs, EIDs, and other similar documentation for compliance with state-funded programs (i.e., TWDB, TxDOT, etc.).
• Establishing and maintaining client relations, and engaging in client interactions and events/societies.
• Developing and delivering oral presentations at public and client meetings.
• Ability to understand and communicate concepts of GIS applications.
• Developing Statements of Qualifications or Proposals, participation in short-list presentations to win projects, and preparation of scopes and fees for awarded projects.
• Team management and staff mentorship.
• Ability to perform in strenuous work conditions. Periodic work in inclement weather is possible.
• Off-road driving experience, as well as experience towing trailers is preferred.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Rangeland Ecology, or similar ecological field required.

6+ years of experience.

Ability to utilize software including Microsoft Office products.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred:

• M.S. degree in similar ecological field is preferred.
• Familiarity with federally listed species in Texas
• Familiarity with coastal resources and issues in Texas and other U.S. Gulf States
• Experience leading a team of scientists

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package, we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado.

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