CAREERS

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Join the Catalyst Team!

Our dynamic and energetic team of scientists and planners at Catalyst are passionate about making a positive impact on our shared environment. We work closely together across disciplines to serve as trusted strategic advisors to a diverse client base including private industry, and local, state, and federal government agencies. Everyone has the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and project types, with numerous opportunities for career growth. We encourage our staff to pursue clients and markets within the environmental space that excite them and for which we can provide added value. We provide annual opportunities for professional development and growth via training courses or conferences. Catalyst has offices in Portland, OR; Santa Barbara, CA, Oxnard, CA; Oakland, CA; and Santa Monica, CA and provide a flexible working environment, including options for remote work.
Catalyst team photo at the Catalyst anniversary partyCatalyst team photo at the Catalyst anniversary party

Why Work At Catalyst?

Be part of a team dedicated to making a positive impact through innovative environmental solutions. As leaders in energy, land development, remediation, and water resources, we value creativity, ethics, and collaboration. Our award-winning company offers a supportive work environment and comprehensive benefits* to help you grow personally and professionally.
Insurance (medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life)
HMO, PPO, HDHP, Health Savings Account options
401(k) Retirement Plan with Match
Vacation Time
10 days paid Sick Leave per year
10 paid Holidays per year
Lifemart Discount program
Catalyst Anniversary Party
Bi-weekly All Staff meetings and brown bag presentations

Open Positions

Wildlife Biologist/Ecologist

We are seeking a Wildlife Biologist with experience in southern California biological or ecological resources. This position will be based in southern California with options to work either in-office or remotely.
Preferred Attributes
We are looking for a motivated and energetic individual who wants to join a fast-growing team and contribute to a wide variety of projects across the western United States, with a focus on California. Key attributes:
  • Self-starter, motivated, and enthusiastic.
  • People-person – able to lead field crews, assign and oversee tasks, work with an interdisciplinary team, mentor junior staff, and develop and maintain relationships with clients and regulators.
  • Creative problem solver - ability to think critically and develop potential solutions to complex issues.
  • Leader – ability to lead field surveys and direct field teams.
  • Structured - organized, efficient, detail-oriented, with great time management and verbal and written communication skills.
  • Willingness to travel to field sites for multi-day fieldwork.
Minimum Qualifications and Education Requirements
  • 5-8 years of professional experience in environmental consulting, government, or regulatory affairs sectors.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science, or Ecology.
  • Knowledge of ecosystems and wildlife of southern California.
  • Experience conducting surveys, monitoring, or pre-construction clearance for special status species (e.g., burrowing owl, desert tortoise, Mojave ground squirrel, small mammals, flat-tailed horned lizard, botanical species, etc.)
  • Experience conducting surveys such as avian point counts, vegetation mapping, habitat assessments, and nesting bird surveys.
  • Experienced writer with biological resources reports, survey workplans, and mitigation measures/plans.
  • Expert knowledge of MS Office Programs – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint, and Teams.
Additional Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced working knowledge of federal and California state environmental regulations, such as CEQA, NEPA, CWA, and ESA.
  • Recovery or scientific collecting permits.
  • Experience in the management and preparation of documents in compliance with CEQA and NEPA.
  • Certification to perform wetlands and waters delineations or willingness to complete training and certification.
  • Experience performing botanical surveys, and knowledgeable in plant identification.
Role and Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities include:
  • Serve as survey lead for wildlife and habitat surveys throughout California, with an emphasis on southern California. Coordinate with agencies (e.g., CDFW, BLM, USFWS) to determine survey requirements and develop field workplans accordingly.
  • Coordinate field efforts with project managers overseeing NEPA and CEQA processes.
  • Perform wetland and waters delineations throughout California.
  • Assist in developing workplans and scopes of work for biological resource surveys, reports, and agency consultations.
  • Perform a range of defined technical tasks, field work, collecting and analyzing data, and writing and editing reports, including Initial Studies, Environmental Impact Reports, and Environmental Impact Statements (ideally with substantial experience in conducting analyses for the physical and/or social science resource categories).
  • Preparing wildlife permit applications and working with regulators throughout the environmental permitting process.
  • This position will require some travel to project sites across the western US, primarily in California, to perform either biological resources surveys or wetland and waters delineations. Air travel may be required.
  • Developing and maintaining client relationships, and supporting Principals with business development efforts, through the preparation of proposals, scopes of works and budgets.
Salary and Benefits:
  • Staff level and salary will be commensurate with experience, $80,000 to $95,000.
  • Catalyst offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, and 401K retirement plan with match, in addition to 80 hours per year paid sick leave, 10 paid holidays per year, and accrued vacation days.
Interested in one of these postions?
Fill out the form below to apply!
*All programs subject to review and change and are provided for regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30+ hours per week