Environmental Scientist

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that is critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.

Our Environmental Services group is dedicated to managing environmental issues professionally and proactively. Our staff of professionals includes specialists in marine biology, wetland science, wildlife biology, soil science, fisheries biology, botany, hydrogeology, hydrology, forestry, habitat and ecosystem restoration, permitting, GIS, and Information Management. We help our clients identify and respond to opportunities and threats within constantly changing regulatory and corporate environments, through active engagement with the public, stakeholder groups, and governmental regulators. Our team members have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects that may include endangered species assessments, environmental impact assessment, habitat restoration, wetland characterizations, and water resources management.

Your Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptionally talented and enthusiastic individual with a keen interest in the natural sciences to join our Midwest team and advance their career. We have an opportunity for you that focuses on protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats throughout Iowa. The Environmental Scientist position will primarily be responsible for assessing impacts of transportation projects under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, consultation and coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, implementation of avoidance and mitigation measures to preserve and mitigate unavoidable impacts, and other related work as required.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Review proposed transportation project concepts and plans to assess potential impacts on protected species, critical habitats, and other protected areas (e.g., Loess Hills, forested land) as provided for in state, federal, and local environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
• Serve as Federal Highway Administration designee for consultation with regulatory agencies.
• Attend meetings and work closely with internal transportation engineers, planners, wetland biologists, cultural resources managers, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff to review/minimize/mitigate projects cohesively.
• Coordinate the minimization and mitigation of unavoidable project impacts to protected species, critical habitats, and other sensitive areas.
• Occasional overnight travel required.
• Other duties may include, but are not limited to, participating in multi-disciplinary environmental assessments; recording, entering, organizing, managing, and analyzing data; writing technical reports for client and regulatory agency review; and attending client and regulatory agency meetings and providing recommendations and input.