Natural Resource Specialist Senior

The Environmental Division is seeking a Natural Resource Specialist Senior to function as a Biological Resources Senior Specialist by providing support to the Threatened and Endangered Species Workgroup.

Specific responsibilities include:

Provide outreach and technical assistance to District staff. Serve as a liaison between Biological Resources Program and other programs including NEPA Studies and Water Resources. Perform review and prepare comments on consultant biological technical reports and NEPA documentation for Location Studies, Public Private Partnership and Design Build Projects. Review and comment on proposed legislation. Coordinate with state and federal resource agencies on regulatory interpretations and process review procedures. Develop and maintain positive relationships with natural resource agency staff and explore additional efficiencies. Support the immediate need to address recent state legislation on Wildlife Corridors that will require VDOT to consider wildlife corridors during project development. Provide technical review and support to the Biological Resources Program Manager. Organize and facilitate Biological Resource training and workshops for Environmental, Maintenance and Constructions staff. Identify opportunities for programmatic process streamlining to more efficiently deliver construction, maintenance, and local assistance projects. Assist with USFWS liaison workload management and communication of workload priorities. As the Threatened and Endangered Species (T and E) subject matter expert, the candidate will remain informed of developments in federal and state T and E species regulation changes. Provide advice and technical support to District environmental staff and environmental program managers as related to project delivery and regulatory compliance requirements. Ensure T and E species project commitments are appropriately identified, tracked, and implemented during project construction.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate will have knowledge of and experience with interpreting and implementing the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (including Section 7 consultation), Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Virginia Endangered Species Act (or state regionally similar to Virginia), Virginia Endangered Plant and Insect Species Act, and other regulations related to plants and wildlife. Knowledge of environmental laws and regulations; environmental sciences, wetland sciences, aquatic ecology, fisheries, habitat assessment, hydrology, and soil sciences; engineering and construction practices; and project planning, construction alternative analysis in sensitive areas, and coordination procedures and practices. Experience reading highway engineering plans. Skill in assessing construction/maintenance activity impacts to aquatic resources and other natural resources to include threatened and endangered species. Must possess the ability to interpret and utilize federal and state water quality and other natural resource regulations. Develop and analyze alternative alignments or roadway designs for the avoidance and minimization of environmental impacts while working both as a team member and independently; and complete tasks timely with the pressure of deadlines. Must have ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing, skill in the use of computers and software applications and the ability to develop detailed technical reports.

Additionally, the candidate should have experience coordinating and/or performing T and E species habitat assessments and surveys for various species including plants, insects, fish, mussels, bats. Experience managing projects, leading environmental resource investigations, field-related techniques, data collection and evaluation, reviewing and analyzing environmental technical studies, developing environmental resource avoidance and minimization recommendations, and successfully resolving environmental issues through balanced consideration of environmental, engineering, and economic factors. Valid driver’s license required.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelors degree in environmental or natural sciences, forestry, wildlife resources, biology or related field. Progressively responsible experience managing complex projects related to wildlife management or environmental services in the transportation engineering and construction industry. Knowledge of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 1987 COE Wetland Delineation Manual, wetland ecology and management.