Desert Tortoise Biologists; Mojave & Eastern Sierras Regions

About Us

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 550+ professionals and more than 30 years of diverse experience serving clients in transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems.

As a people-centric organization, we value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and are committed to fostering a workplace that supports both personal and professional growth while offering robust career opportunities. We are especially proud of our recent Great Place to Work certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our team member experiences.

We are seeking As-Needed/On-Call Desert Tortoise Designated Biologists to provide field-based compliance monitoring and survey support for projects across the California desert and Eastern Sierra regions, as well as Southern Nevada and Northwestern Arizona.

Primary consideration will be given to candidates currently approved by the USFWS and/or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as Desert Tortoise Designated Biologists.

Candidates with prior desert tortoise monitoring experience who are not yet approved may be considered on a limited basis, but designated biologist status is strongly preferred and will determine project assignment priority and compensation.

Responsibilities will vary based on experience level, regulatory approvals, and project needs.

• Serve as a Desert Tortoise Designated Biologist or desert tortoise biological monitor on active construction projects, providing compliance oversight in accordance with USFWS and CDFW permit conditions.
• Conduct pre-construction clearance surveys, worker environmental awareness briefings, construction monitoring, and compliance inspections for desert tortoise and other covered species.
• Perform site assessments, biological surveys, and habitat evaluations for common and special-status wildlife and plant species in desert and Eastern Sierra environments.
• Track and document compliance with avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures; maintain accurate field notes, monitoring logs, and daily reports.
• Prepare pre-construction survey reports, compliance monitoring reports, and other technical documentation required by permits and approvals.
• Coordinate closely with construction crews, environmental compliance teams, and project managers to resolve biological constraints and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Provide field-based guidance to contractors and project teams to ensure adherence to permit requirements and biological protection measures.
• Lead or support surveys and monitoring for desert tortoise, including work in occupied habitat, exclusion fencing oversight, and compliance documentation.
• Conduct surveys and monitoring for other special-status wildlife species as project needs require, which may include flat-tailed horned lizard, burrowing owl, Bi-State sage-grouse, Mohave ground squirrel, desert kit fox, and bighorn sheep.
• Senior-Level Responsibilities — oversee biological compliance on complex or large-scale projects.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior staff and biological monitors.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for desert tortoise compliance, supporting permitting, agency coordination, and project planning efforts.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in biology, botany, ecology, environmental science, or a related field.
• Current or prior approval through the USFWS and/or CDFW as a Desert Tortoise Designated Biologist is strongly preferred and will be prioritized.
• 3–5+ years of biological fieldwork experience.
• Expertise in Mojave and Eastern Sierra ecosystems, including experience with desert tortoise compliance monitoring, habitat assessments, vegetation monitoring, and species-specific surveys.
• Familiarity with federal and state environmental laws, including Endangered Species Acts (ESA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements, overseeing regulatory…