Environmental Project Manager/Biologist/ - Metro Denver

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is seeking a Biologist/Environmental Project Manager in Metro Denver. This role involves providing biological services throughout project phases, conducting assessments, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The position requires collaboration with other CDOT personnel and serves as a NEPA project manager. Applicants must be Colorado residents, and the job emphasizes a supportive workplace for diverse identities.
Department Information This position is only open to Colorado state residents. New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.

About CDOT Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans' lives. Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe. At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you will have the opportunity to do just that.

The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Please visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future. Also, check out our excellent benefits package.

CDOT for All CDOT's strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive. Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for a period of up to 6 months

#LI-POST Description of Job About the Position The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has a vacancy for a Biologist/Environmental Project Manager in our Metro Denver location. This position will provide biological services to the Region 1 Environmental team in all project phases from planning, design, delivery, construction, and post-construction. This position will provide specialized guidance in the areas of threatened and endangered species, wildlife, and wetlands.

This position will perform in-house assessments, surveys, wetland determinations and delineations, and mitigation and monitoring development plans. This position will prepare and review Wetland Finding Reports, Biological Assessments, Migratory Bird Treaty Act compliance, and wildlife crossing determinations and post-construction monitoring. This position will work with with direction and guidance under the Region 1 Senior Biologist and Environmental Program Manager.

This position will serve as a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project manager on various projects. This position ensures all applicable clearances, permits, and ordinances are incorporated into project plans in coordination with other CDOT personnel. This position will provide support for projects including categorical exclusions (CatEx), Planning and Environmental Linkages (PELs), and Environmental Assessments (EAs), including participating in scope development, implementing environmental program initiatives, understanding changes to policies, and implementing procedures to deliver the best projects possible within the environmental mission statement.

This position will also serve as a technical resource to other CDOT staff on environmental issues and will support Region 1 project delivery demands and environmental mission in various environmental resource areas. Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following: Conduct habitat assessments, impact analysis, surveys, and implement mitigation practices appropriate to the resource. Provide recommendations to project personnel to avoid and minimize impact on habitat, wildlife, wetlands, and other natural resources.

Conduct wetland surveys, including on-site delineations and functional assessments; develop mitigation plans; provide construction oversight. Conduct post construction monitoring for wildlife crossings and other wildlife mitigation features and prepare technical reports to summarize the data. Organize and analyze data from motion triggered wildlife monitoring cameras utilizing appropriate software so the results can be compiled in technical memorandums or reports.

Identify sensitive wetland or other aquatic sites and acquire relevant permits. Monitor mitigation sites and coordinate any remedial action. Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, and associated landforms.

Conduct noxious weed surveys and recommend appropriate control measures. Under the guidance, manage a variety of Categorical Exclusion (CatEx) projects from pre-construction/planning/scoping phases, through project design, and on to mitigation and monitoring requirements post-construction. Determine which clearances and permits are needed to comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Provide advice to project personnel on how best to keep the project on-time and on-budget given environmental concerns. Use mobile GIS mapping applications to collect field data relevant to biological resources. Prepare technically sound data reports.

Review, create, and analyze digital mapping information using GIS in support of the biological resources program. Serve on committees; attend and present training. Other job duties as assigned.

Work Environment: Your schedule will primarily be 8:00 am - 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday Opportunity to work a hybrid schedule after training is completed Approximately 25% spent in the field, 75% spent in the office Travel required during work hours throughout Metro Denver and the Front Range Occasional overnight travel 1-3 times a year throughout Colorado Required to work in proximity to heavy traffic Required to perform field visits to collect data, oversee onsite mitigation, install and maintain remote-triggered cameras, and attend meetings at project sites, which requires work in a variety of weather conditions and terrain, as well as in active construction sites Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Experience Only: Five years of professional environmental experience with a primary focus on completing biological surveys, fieldwork, habitat assessments, vegetation and plant identification, wildlife surveys and wetland delineations as they relate to supporting NEPA projects. OR Experience & Education: A combination of at least five years of experience and education that includes: Coursework from a U.S. accredited college or university in biology, botany, civil or environmental engineering, ecology, environmental science/studies, geology, hydrologic science, natural resources management, natural sciences, water resources or watershed science, wildlife biology, zoology, or another field of study related to the duties of this position will be considered

Professional environmental experience with a primary focus on completing biological surveys, fieldwork, habitat assessments, vegetation and plant identification, wildlife surveys and wetland delineations as they relate to supporting NEPA project will be considered. Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted.

Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated. College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application.

Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service

Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position. Conditions of Employment Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.

A current valid driver license is required for all Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) positions which require operating a state or personal motor vehicle to perform one or more essential functions of the position. Preferred Qualifications The exceptional applicant will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following: Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section. Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position.

Highest work/personal ethics and integrity. Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and laws pertaining to NEPA. Experience with threatened & endangered species and wetlands requirements and regulations.

NEPA project experience/project management. Experience with the identification of flora in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Region. Minimum of two years' experience conducting wetland delineations per the Corps of Engineers Manual.

Demonstrated experience in reviewing and analyzing biological resources data and using that data to draft technical documents. Familiarity with CDOT and FHWA procedures related to overall NEPA compliance and documentation. Familiarity with the CDOT PEL Handbook, CDOT NEPA Manual, CDOT Environmental Stewardship Manual, FHWA regulations, etc.

Ability to read and interpret engineering project plans. Prior experience with GIS software and Trimble GPS units and ability to use technology for data collection and data analysis. Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment.

Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments. Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner. Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments.

Ability to negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and build consensus through give and take. Effective interpersonal and relationship building skills. Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability.

Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability. Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral. Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy.

Passion for safety. Ability to work effectively in both independent and team situations. Fluency in MS Word, MS Excel, Gmail, Google Suite, ArcGIS, Google Earth, SAP, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Supplemental Information Applicant Checklist Complete Applications must include the following documents: A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement) A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.) A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application

Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.

If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214.

Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date.

Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.

Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email.

Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website. The Hiring Process: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part, or all, of the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications. Be sure your application materials specifically address your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the Major Duties, Minimum Qualifications, and Preferred Qualifications sections as listed above.

Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the deadline for application may result in your application not being accepted for this position and may affect your inclusion as a qualified candidate in any step of the selection process and placement on the eligible list. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interv...