Floyd|Snider is seeking a highly experienced Senior Biologist / Permitting Specialist to join our collaborative Environmental Planning and Permitting team. This new role will lead a new line of business delivering comprehensive biological services and providing senior natural resources support to a range of existing in-water permitting projects. We’re looking for someone who exemplifies our commitment to technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and client support.

The key responsibilities will be to lead biological and ecological studies across marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments for a variety of public and private restoration, development, and maintenance projects. This work will include conducting biological evaluations, wetland and OHWM delineations, habitat assessments, species surveys, and critical areas reports. The Senior Biologist / Permitting Specialist will be instrumental in providing technical leadership, strategic guidance, and mentorship to junior and mid-level staff.  

Here’s our list of qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in biology, ecology, or related field
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in biological resources assessment, natural resources permitting, or ecological consulting, ideally in Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest ecosystems
• Proficiency in preparing Biological Assessments, habitat assessments, mitigation plans, and related technical documentation 
• Strong project management experience, and experience with traditional and alternative project delivery methods
• Ability to lead new business pursuits and maintain strong client relationships
• Established relationships with federal and state resource agencies, tribal members, and funding agencies
• Proven ability to conduct and lead field surveys for wildlife, fish, vegetation, wetlands, and/or sensitive habitats
• Experience with federal, state, and local permitting, including JARPA submittals and specific experience with CWA Section 404/401 and RHA Section 10, Section 7 Endangered Species Act consultations, and WDFW HPAs
• Experience contributing to SEPA and NEPA documentation
• Certification as WSDOT Biological Assessment Author or Professional Wetland Scientist is preferred but not required

Pay and Benefits

This is a full-time, permanent position. Those with 10 – 15 years of experience earn a salary range of $115,000 – $125,000, and those with 15 – 20 years of experience earn a salary range of $125,000 – $145,000. We offer quarterly merit-based bonus opportunities, equity and ownership options, 401K, medical insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance. We also offer 11 paid holidays and 25 days of paid time off per year.

Floyd|Snider provides employees with a flexible work schedule that includes core hours 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Most staff are expected to work onsite 2 – 3 days per week, depending on their distance from our office. Project work may require you to work more than your standard billable work week, but Floyd|Snider provides extra time-off to recognize this effort. Regional travel is a small part of this role. You won’t typically go more than 3 hours away, and we’ll cover your expenses.

The Details

Beyond relevant expertise, we’re looking for someone with the following skills:

• Verbal and written communication - you have an exceptional ability to communicate complex scientific and regulatory information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences. Your writing is persuasive and technically defensible.
• Critical thinking – you ask probing questions and synthesize complex information to understand the project and provide technical expertise and strategic recommendations.
• Detail-oriented – you have high attention to detail in all aspects of work, from field data collection and analysis to final production of technical documents and regulatory submissions. You take care to review the details, because you know that details make a successful application.

This role is situated within a small, highly collaborative team where collective decision-making is central to our success. The Senior Biologist / Permitting Specialist will be directly involved in strategic decisions regarding client pursuits, business development direction, and resource allocation. Due to the close-knit nature of our team, this role requires flexibility; you will occasionally be asked to lend your expertise and contribute to a variety of other permitting and environmental review-related activities that may extend beyond the core biological focus described above.

You can count on growing here, as the scope of your portfolio and external contact will be much broader than you might find at a larger firm. You’ll have the opportunity to mentor other Floyd|Snider environmental planners and scientists while interacting regularly with principals who invest in your growth.

Working with Us 

We’re an employee-owned environmental consulting firm offering strategy, science, and engineering solutions in the private and public sectors. Independently owned and operated since 1996, Floyd|Snider has consistently been recognized as one of the premier firms in the Northwest and a top place to work. We love it here because we don’t do cookie-cutter work; we work collaboratively on complex, fascinating projects.

We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and encourage those from traditionally underrepresented groups to apply. In furtherance of our culture, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristics protected by law.