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, ...