Entry level marine biologist Jobs in USA

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Staff-Level Biologist – Wetland Delineator to join our Natural Resources team in Pennsylvania. In this role, you will support projects throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and surrounding areas. Engaging in both field and office work, you'll conduct wetland delineations, vegetation surveys, and wildlife assessments. Additional activities will include technical report writing and assisting with permit applications and project management for a variety of clients.

This is an hourly, full-time and regular (with benefits) position offering flexibility to work from either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia (West Chester) office locations. The position offers flexibility to work onsite at either office, hybrid, or distributed (remote) from anywhere in PA, DE, NJ, or MD.

Under this job requisition, we may hire for any of the following positions:

• Staff Biologist: Typically, with up to two (2) years of relevant industry experience and expertise
• Assistant Staff Biologist: Typically, with one (1) year of relevant industry experience and expertise

Depending on project needs, this position may require 50% travel within SWCA’s Midwest/Northeast region to support fieldwork and client projects. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to support project delivery and contribute to high-quality environmental outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to build foundational technical skills, gain hands-on experience, and grow your career in environmental consulting.

Field Supervisory Responsibilities: Depending upon project assignments, this role may serve as the lead for field survey crews, independently directing daily work activities, promoting safe and productive work practices, communicating project and personnel issues to management, and providing performance-related feedback in support of successful project delivery.

Application Deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish

• Assists with tasks to collect, manage, analyze, and/or summarize data in the field, lab, or office. Expected to work efficiently to complete assigned tasks in a manner that ensures the data and findings are accurate, complete, and verifiable. Assigned tasks have clear objectives that may be accomplished through implementation of standardized or routine actions and analysis, and reporting tasks involve mostly descriptive summaries of findings.
• Drafts written summaries of task activities for technical reports and planning documents, including tables, text, and graphics as appropriate to the task.
• Supports coordination with stakeholders, including landowners, clients, and agency staff.
• Communicates frequently and openly with team members and supervisors to ensure that task objectives and methods are clearly understood, task progress is shared, and questions or needs are promptly addressed. This includes initiating and/or responding to communication requests before, during, and after task implementation as part of a real-time, collaborative work effort.
• Follows directions, safety and quality protocols, and other established procedures to complete tasks successfully and with accountability.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.
• Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree, with demonstrated awareness and interest in one or more technical area.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, closely related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Two to four (2-4) years of relevant industry experience, including a minimum of one year of relevant experience conducting wetland delineations and aquatic resource assessments in a professional setting.
• Candidates that are unable to demonstrate delineation experience will not be considered for this position.
• Experience leading wetland delineation field surveys and research for desktop wetland evaluations and compiling field data into aquatic resource delineation reports.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
• Proficiency in GPS devices and digital data collection.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles.
• Strong client service orientation and exceptional communication skills.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Pennsylvania-based position can expect an hourly rate of:

• Staff Biologist: $23.92/hr. - $32.76/hr.
• Assistant Staff Biologist - $21.32/hr. - $28.94/hr.

Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits Package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

• Assists with tasks to collect, manage, analyze, and/or summarize data in the field, lab, or office. Expected to work efficiently to complete assigned tasks in a manner that ensures the data and findings are accurate, complete, and verifiable. Assigned tasks have clear objectives that may be accomplished through implementation of standardized or routine actions and analysis, and reporting tasks involve mostly descriptive summaries of findings.
• Drafts written summaries of task activities for technical reports and planning documents, including tables, text, and graphics as appropriate to the task.
• Supports coordination with stakeholders, including landowners, clients, and agency staff.
• Communicates frequently and openly with team members and supervisors to ensure that task objectives and methods are clearly understood, task progress is shared, and questions or needs are promptly addressed. This includes initiating and/or responding to communication requests before, during, and after task implementation as part of a real-time, collaborative work effort.
• Follows directions, safety and quality protocols, and other established procedures to complete tasks successfully and with accountability.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.
• Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree, with demonstrated awareness and interest in one or more technical area.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, closely related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Two to four (2-4) years of relevant industry experience, including a minimum of one year of relevant experience conducting wetland delineations and aquatic resource assessments in a professional setting.
• Candidates that are unable to demonstrate delineation experience will not be considered for this position.
• Experience leading wetland delineation field surveys and research for desktop wetland evaluations and compiling field data into aquatic resource delineation reports.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
• Proficiency in GPS devices and digital data collection.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles.
• Strong client service orientation and exceptional communication skills.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Pennsylvania-based position can expect an hourly rate of:

• Staff Biologist: $23.92/hr. - $32.76/hr.
• Assistant Staff Biologist - $21.32/hr. - $28.94/hr.

Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits Package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.