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Form of workJob Description
Description
Lynker is hiring an ESA Section 7 Consultation Biologist to support the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) California Central Valley Office (CCVO). The CCVO responsibilities focus on the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The office works to protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by evaluating the impact of proposed federal actions, developing recovery plans, seeking conservation partnerships with local governments and landowners, and ensuring safe fish passage past federal and some private dams. The Consultation Biologist shall assist the NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) Central Valley Office in performing Section 7(a)(2) consultations by carrying out activities associated with the review of various projects submitted to NMFS by other federal agencies pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA. Prior to permitting, funding, or conducting activities that may affect species listed under the ESA, federal agencies must perform a Section 7(a)(2) consultation with NMFS to ensure their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species.
The Consultation Biologist shall assist with tracking all FEMA project review requests under the Memorandum of Understanding regarding National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 Act, and Clean Water Act Section 404 Permits for Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency (FEMA) Projects in California, Nevada and Arizona with U.S. Department of Homeland Securities FEMA and U.S Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Consultation Biologist shall also track all FEMA programmatic consultations with NMFS pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act for covered activities related to FEMA emergency response and impacts to federally listed species throughout the state of California including, threatened California Central Valley steelhead, federally threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, federally endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, and federally threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of the North American green sturgeon, threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon, Central California Coast steelhead, Southern California Coast steelhead, Central California coast coho salmon, black abalone, and eulachon.
Duties
The Consultation Biologist shall provide services such as assisting federal action agency staff with preparation of biological assessments, reviewing project descriptions and identifying potential environmental impacts, participating in site visits, participating in meetings with applicants, state, and federal agency representatives and writing technically and legally-sound concurrence letters and biological opinions consistent with NOAA/NMFS policies and procedures.
Assigned tasks shall include:
Required Qualifications
Selected individual(s) must have the following minimum qualifications:
Lynker is hiring an ESA Section 7 Consultation Biologist to support the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) California Central Valley Office (CCVO). The CCVO responsibilities focus on the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The office works to protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by evaluating the impact of proposed federal actions, developing recovery plans, seeking conservation partnerships with local governments and landowners, and ensuring safe fish passage past federal and some private dams. The Consultation Biologist shall assist the NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) Central Valley Office in performing Section 7(a)(2) consultations by carrying out activities associated with the review of various projects submitted to NMFS by other federal agencies pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA. Prior to permitting, funding, or conducting activities that may affect species listed under the ESA, federal agencies must perform a Section 7(a)(2) consultation with NMFS to ensure their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species.
The Consultation Biologist shall assist with tracking all FEMA project review requests under the Memorandum of Understanding regarding National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 Act, and Clean Water Act Section 404 Permits for Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency (FEMA) Projects in California, Nevada and Arizona with U.S. Department of Homeland Securities FEMA and U.S Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Consultation Biologist shall also track all FEMA programmatic consultations with NMFS pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act for covered activities related to FEMA emergency response and impacts to federally listed species throughout the state of California including, threatened California Central Valley steelhead, federally threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, federally endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, and federally threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of the North American green sturgeon, threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon, Central California Coast steelhead, Southern California Coast steelhead, Central California coast coho salmon, black abalone, and eulachon.
Duties
The Consultation Biologist shall provide services such as assisting federal action agency staff with preparation of biological assessments, reviewing project descriptions and identifying potential environmental impacts, participating in site visits, participating in meetings with applicants, state, and federal agency representatives and writing technically and legally-sound concurrence letters and biological opinions consistent with NOAA/NMFS policies and procedures.
Assigned tasks shall include:
- Provide technical assistance and consultation services for projects proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This may include review of data sets, reports, or other documents produced by non-governmental organizations, or state or federal entities including but not limited to the California Office of Environmental Services, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and the California Department of Water Resources. Technical assistance is defined as pre-consultation assistance, which includes meetings, emails, phone calls and other correspondence with the action agency in order to determine impacts of federal actions on Endangered Species managed by the NMFS in California (green sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, abalone and eulachon). These actions include the issuance of a federal permit or funding for land and water repair projects, infrastructure repair projects (levees and bridges), or habitat restoration projects, or the completion of such projects by a local or state agency funded by FEMA.
- Review and evaluate FEMA-related proposed projects and applications pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA. This may include review of data sets, reports, or other documents produced by non-governmental organizations, or state or federal entities including but not limited to the California Office of Environmental Services, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and the California Department of Water Resources.
- Evaluate and analyze effects of proposed actions, conservation measures, and mitigation activities on ESA-listed salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon, black abalone, eulachon and their habitat.
- Develop recommendations on ways to minimize adverse effects to ESA listed fish and their habitat associated with proposed activities for FEMA emergency response. This may include working with local governmental agencies such as counties, cities, water districts, reclamation districts throughout the state of California.
- Develop written environmental and procedural documents including drafting Section 7(a)(2) consultation letters and biological opinions, transmittal memos, programmatic biological opinions, and other written documents as needed to provide support for FEMA emergency response activities.
- Compile complete administrative records necessary to support the projects worked on. Participate in meetings and/or site visits concerning projects assigned with nongovernmental organizations, or state or federal entities including but not limited to the California Office of Environmental Services, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, FEMA, and the California Department of Water Resources.
Required Qualifications
Selected individual(s) must have the following minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of experience or Master's degree from an accredited college or university in biology or field of study relating and two (2) years of experience relating to the specific task order.
- Excellent, demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
- A working knowledge of Salmonid and Sturgeon life history with the California Central Valley.
- A general understanding of the Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) consultation process.
About Lynker
Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.
We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.
Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:
- Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
- Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
- Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
- Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
- 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Life and accident insurance
- Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
- Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
- Employee Referral Program
- Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
- Personalized career growth plans for every employee
Lynker is an E-Verify employer.
Lynker is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.
