Ecologist I

Responsible for: An Ecologist I is acquiring the knowledge and skills of an ecologist and an environmental consultant. They will grow by working with their team and leadership to understand the vision, mission, and guiding core values of HHNT. They work with their team on multiple tasks and may often manage those tasks to completion. Other key responsibilities are coordinating with other team members, understanding assignments and how to complete them, managing their time, completing a task within budget, coordinating with other divisions within HHNT on projects, and learning the building blocks of consulting. They work with other ecologists, technicians, and administrative staff in a team-based setting. Ecologist I’s are expected to learn the flora and fauna of the southeastern United States and become expert delineators. An Ecologist I should be able to conduct a preliminary assessment of a property, conduct a delineation with moderate assistance, and prepare a determination application. They will also be learning Section 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act and the steps to complete a Nationwide Permit and an Individual Permit Application. They will work with their supervisor/manager on individual goals and how to accomplish them. 

Range of Experience: 1 -5 years

Responsibilities: 

           Leadership / Team Building

• Voluntarily reviews and learns regulations and ecological principles. 
• Understands their strengths and weaknesses as an ecologist and works towards improvement.
• Seeks mentorship on his/her tasks and projects.
• Effectively communicates with managers and co-workers in a meaningful, respectful, and sustainable way.
• Exercises mature judgement about proprietary and confidential matters.
• Works towards performing safe job duties, even in harsh conditions.

• Encourages employees to be aware of, identify, and address workplace hazards.

  Management

• Manage field work.
• Manage administrative tasks to ensure project tasks are completed. 
• Oversees a specific task for a project (coordination of any required travel and project logistics)
• Participates in communication among teams to ensure all project tasks, goals, and schedules are met.
• Ensures that tasks are completed in a timely manner and within budget.

• Supports Ecology teams and other HHNT divisions and their work.

  Business Development

• Assists Ecology manager with developing HHNT core client targets. 
• Seeks scientific and regulatory knowledge through mentorship, individual learning, classes, or seminars to improve their technical capabilities.
• Regularly participate in a minimum of one professional association.

• Assists in client relationships by completing tasks in time and on budget. 

  Technical/Essential Job Duties

• Continue learning the technical knowledge required for the Ecologist I position.
• With minimal supervision, conduct wetland delineations in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USASCE) 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual and its supporting Regional Supplements 
• Learn the NC DWR Methodology for Identification of Intermittent and Perennial Streams and Their Origins.
• Learn how to prepare desktop preliminary assessment maps in GIS and interpret them for the presence/absence of wetlands and streams.
• Learn how to prepare a jurisdictional determination request. 
• Learn how to prepare State and Federal 401 and 404 Clean Water Act permitting applications.
• Learn how to prepare nationwide permit applications.
• Learn how to prepare an Individual Permit application.
• Have a basic understanding on how to complete an Alternative Analysis 
• Learn how to prepare a due diligence report.
• Increase plant and wildlife identification skills within the states you work in.
• Learn how to review state and federal rules regarding Threatened and Endangered (T/E) Species to determine what species are regulated.
• Learn how to identify T/E habitat on a project site.
• Learn surveying protocols. 
• Learn about environmental laws and regulations for federal districts, states, and municipalities they do not have experience working in
• Experience operating GPS units under ArcGIS, Terrasync, or Juniper based software programs.
• Preparation of GIS maps in support of office duties and support of work performed for others.
• Permit application support and writing for various types of environmental sites in the southeast.
• Assists ecology managers with business development activities. 
• Working towards increasing organizational skills
• Learn Word, Excel, Microsoft outlook, and scheduling programs. 
• Understanding of GIS/CADD drawings and aerial maps

• Careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  Fiscal

• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner and on budget.
• Regularly meet with Senior Ecologist to evaluate the team/division fiscal functions and operational performance 
• Minimum requirement of 2,080 hours worked for the company per year