Senior Wildlife Biologist

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Senior Wildlife Biologist with demonstrated experience in renewable energy projects, including biological assessments, avian and bat studies, eagle conservation plans, habitat assessments and regulatory permitting to join our renewables team. The successful candidate will be seeking opportunity for growth working on a variety of development projects across the country. We are looking for an individual with enthusiasm about their work, and with a strong commitment to client service and technical excellence. Westwood is a multi-disciplined firm that provides services across the country for the development of land and energy projects. This position will serve a leadership role in the environmental services group, interact with project design professionals and mentor junior staff.

The qualified individual will a provide mix of project management, technical direction of staff, and leading regulatory negotiations. Key tasks include:
• drafting proposals and work plans
• leading document preparation in a team environment
• participating in regulatory meetings to support the planning, design, and approval of renewable energy and transmission projects
• navigating and advising on Endangered Species Act compliance
• tracking and participating in developing wildlife guidance initiatives
• preparing wildlife assessment work plans
• coordinating with regulatory personnel
• site research
• performing site assessment work in person and with project staff
• client meetings
• report preparation
• wildlife permitting
• environmental assessment, plan of development preparation for NEPA compliance
• The position will involve periodic travel, typically 1-3 days per trip on a periodic

• Master's Degree in biology or related natural sciences field
• 10-15 years of wildlife assessment experience
• Technical proficiency in avian and bat studies
• Working knowledge of state and federal regulation
• Experience with GPS equipment
• Familiarity with US Fish and Wildlife Land Based Wind Energy Guidelines
• Familiarity with eagle conservation planning documents

For Preferred Consideration (Not Required):

• Experience with wind energy pre- and post-construction monitoring protocols is desired
• Experience with NEPA process for various federal agencies is desired

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2023, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #12 and #30, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood two national 2nd place awards for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #79 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2023. The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.