Lead Biologist

Insignia Environmental is seeking a Lead Biologist to manage biological fieldwork and support environmental projects in Southern California. The role involves conducting surveys, monitoring, technical writing, and ensuring regulatory compliance. This full-time hybrid position allows for a flexible work environment, with significant fieldwork and travel required. Insignia values employee development, offers generous benefits, and promotes a collaborative culture.
Insignia Environmental (Insignia) is a collaborative, fast-paced, growing environmental consulting firm full of bright, motivated employees. Our services are focused on the unique needs of energy projects, including renewables, electricity, and gas. We pride ourselves on being solution-oriented and go beyond traditional environmental review and permitting to leverage innovative concepts and technology to deliver results for our clients. Our reputation in the industry precedes us, and we are extremely proud of it!

Why Join Us?

We love our employees, listen to their input, and strive to take care of them. We are constantly investing in and providing opportunities for development and growth through internal training programs and our professional development program. We frequently gather for teambuilding events to strengthen our relationships and celebrate our employees’ milestones. We value giving back to our community and hold several volunteer events for our employees every year.

In support of our goal of being the best place to work, Insignia offers a casual, flexible work environment with generous benefits, including a 401(k)-equivalent program, medical insurance (including partial coverage for significant others and dependents), and an above-industry amount of paid time off that escalates with tenure. Our canine friends are invited to “work” in the office with us!

Position Details

Insignia is seeking an experienced and motivated Lead Biologist with emphasis in botany and extensive biological field experience to support a range of environmental projects across Southern California, particularly in San Diego County. This role offers a balanced mix of conducting surveys and monitoring, fielding leadership, biological technical writing, and regulatory/environmental compliance work, with a focus on rare plant surveys, vegetation mapping, and environmental permitting.

The Lead Biologist will be responsible for conducting and managing complex biological fieldwork, including plant and habitat surveys, biological monitoring, and impact assessments. The role also includes preparing technical documentation, supporting permitting efforts, and collaborating with internal teams to assess biological resources and regulatory requirements. Experience leading field crews and ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental regulations is essential.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in both field and office environments, has a proven ability to lead biological tasks, and is committed to delivering high-quality work on time and within budget. This is a full-time hybrid role that is based out of Insignia’s Encinitas office; however, travel and fieldwork may comprise 40 to 70 percent of the role.

Job Description
• Conduct rare plant surveys, vegetation mapping, wetland delineations, biological assessments, and special-status species surveys with a focus on flora and fauna native to Southern California, particularly San Diego County.
• Lead and conduct biological monitoring and environmental inspections during construction activities to ensure compliance with environmental permit conditions and applicable regulations.
• Prepare biological technical reports, special-status species survey reports, and biological resources sections for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents.
• Prepare and support permit applications for resource agencies, including Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permits, and federal Endangered Species Act Section 7 and Section 10 documents.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary project teams to identify biological constraints, support permitting strategies, and align biological deliverables with project timelines and milestones.
• Review and provide quality control for technical deliverables prepared by junior staff, ensuring accuracy, regulatory alignment, and consistency with project objectives.
• Oversee field teams, provide direction on data collection and documentation, and manage field and reporting activities to stay within schedule and budget constraints.
• Assist in the preparation of scopes and costs for project proposals.

Benefits and Compensation

The pay range for this position is $80,000 to $105,000 per year.

Insignia is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Insignia’s benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, employee assistance program, retirement savings plan, and bonuses.