On Call Lead Marine Biologist

Description

• Serve as a lead technical reviewer for marine biology deliverables, ensuring high standards of accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
• Author and review detailed environmental documents, including biological assessments, environmental impact statements, and permit applications.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and technical curiosity within the marine biology team.
• Lead the design, planning, and execution of multi-faceted marine biology investigations for regulatory, restoration, and conservation projects.
• Lead stakeholder engagement efforts related to marine ecology, including presentations to community groups, agencies, and clients
• Ensure projects are executed in alignment with WSP’s quality management and ethical conduct expectations.
• Coordinate with federal and state agencies on protected species consultations and marine habitat assessments.
• Translate complex ecological data into scientifically defensible findings that inform environmental decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Provide advanced scientific insight on species and habitat impacts to inform project siting, design, and mitigation strategies.
• Develop innovative tools and methods for biological data acquisition and interpretation, such as eDNA analysis or advanced survey platforms.
• Lead field teams and oversee complex mobilizations, ensuring health and safety compliance, logistical efficiency, and data integrity.
• Collaborate with engineering, planning, climate science, and water resource teams to integrate marine biology into cross-functional projects.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of marine biological data, including benthic surveys, fish and invertebrate sampling, and marine mammal monitoring.
• Support the expansion of WSP’s marine science practice by identifying new business opportunities and assisting with client strategy.
• Participate in post-project evaluations to inform continuous improvement in marine biology practices and team performance.
• Develop customized technical approaches to address novel project requirements, ensuring alignment with best practices and regulatory standards.
• Stay current on scientific literature, regulatory changes, and emerging marine research relevant to WSP’s portfolio.
• Apply spatial and temporal analyses to identify trends in marine ecosystems, using GIS and remote sensing platforms.
• Support environmental permitting processes under NEPA, ESA, MMPA, EFH, and CWA.
• Mentor junior and mid-level staff in marine biology techniques, data analysis, regulatory context, and technical writing.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of proposals, scopes of work, and budgets by defining methodologies and estimating technical effort.

Requirements

• Excellent scientific writing skills, including experience in reviewing and editing complex documents for publication or submission.
• Familiarity with climate change impacts on marine systems and integration into technical evaluations.
• Extensive experience designing and executing marine field studies in estuarine, coastal, and offshore environments.
• Technical leadership skills in mentoring, quality control, and fostering staff development.
• Proven expertise in marine ecological principles, habitat function, species distribution, and environmental impact pathways.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology, Biology, or a closely related discipline, or demonstrated proven equivalent experience.
• Experience applying adaptive management approaches to ecological monitoring and mitigation.
• 7-10 years of relevant post-education experience in marine biology or related areas.
• Ability to travel and lead extended field deployments, often in remote or offshore conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead field teams, oversee complex field logistics, and ensure quality and safety.
• American Academy of Underwater Sciences Certification
• Strong knowledge of permitting processes under NEPA, ESA, MMPA, EFH, and CWA.
• Familiarity with species-specific survey protocols and decision support tools used in regulatory contexts.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS, QGIS, and other geospatial tools for analyzing and presenting marine data.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative methods for assessing marine ecological impacts and restoration potential.
• Skilled at synthesizing interdisciplinary input from environmental, engineering, and planning perspectives.
• Strong organizational skills to manage project schedules, staff assignments, and deliverable tracking.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities under tight deadlines.
• Experience with agency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and client communication.
• Experience preparing and reviewing high-level environmental documents in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Advanced proficiency in ecological data analysis and interpretation using statistical, spatial, and temporal tools.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance