What are the responsibilities and job description for the Biologist (Public Works) position at Snohomish County?
Do you have a passion to protect the environment while ensuring responsible construction of infrastructure? If you want to make a difference in the growth of our communities, apply for our Biologist position. Snohomish County Public Works is hiring a Biologist in the Environmental Services (ENVS) section of the Transportation and Environmental Services (TES) Division.
The Biologist’s responsibilities are broad and diverse, to include:
- conducting field reconnaissance, wetland, and stream delineations
- preparing documentation, reports and studies related to field work
- assisting with permit application documents to be submitted to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies
- addressing impacts of public projects on wetlands, streams, and fish & wildlife habitat conservation areas, and
- working in our wetland mitigation monitoring program.
Qualified candidates:
Join our team if you have working knowledge of stream and wetland restoration ecology, and experience identifying and analyzing project impacts, working with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, and permitting. Experience with restoration site maintenance, identification of Pacific Northwest native plants, data collection and analysis, and technical report writing is desired.
The Selection Process:
Please attach a resume and cover letter to your application. The cover letter must include a narrative of:
- how your education/training and experience have prepared you for this position;
- your knowledge and experience working with federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permits, and specifically Snohomish County’s or another jurisdiction’s critical area regulations directly related to wetlands, streams, and fish & wildlife habitat conservation areas; and
- Your knowledge and experience of compensatory wetland mitigation, mitigation monitoring and maintenance of wetland mitigation sites.
Join Snohomish County Public Works and enjoy these perks:
- Make a contribution in shaping one of Washington’s fastest growing counties
- Join an award-winning organization well known for excellence and commitment to high-quality public service
- Advancement opportunities
- Employee development and training opportunities
- Excellent medical, dental, and other benefits
- Earn a Pension! Start vesting for a Washington Department of Retirement System (DRS) PERS pension
- Security, stability, and a lifelong career!
The Environmental Services (ENVS) work group is responsible for regulatory permitting and environmental regulations review, wetland mitigation design, construction oversight, wetland monitoring, and agency reporting. Other divisional responsibilities include traffic operations and maintenance, planning and prioritizing County Road activities and keeping the public informed of Public Works’ projects.
Visit the Transportation and Environmental Services webpage to learn more about our division.
About Snohomish County Public Works Department
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for more than 1,650 miles of county roads, 201 bridges and 202 traffic control signals, as well as processing nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201.
Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorksfor more information about Snohomish County Public Works.
When joining Public Works, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement is highly encouraged and supported. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career at Snohomish County.
Benefits
Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages; job flexibility and stability; pension opportunities; and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:
- Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
- Medicalbenefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
- Flexible work schedules for some positions.
- Career development training
- Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
- Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
- Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
- Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including, medical, and dental, vision, life insurance, LTD, deferred compensation and more.
- Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
- Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
- Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): Effective January 1, 2026, all five (5) step salary tables shall have a sixth (6th) step added to the top of each pay grade. Employees who have been at step 5 for a full year shall be placed at step 6 effective January 1, 2026.
Teleworking Options
The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
About Snohomish County
Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
Snohomish County – The Future We Choose – video
For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email: SPW-Recruitment.
BASIC FUNCTION
To perform analysis and management of natural resources related to land development proposals and other projects with potential impacts to the environment. To perform the collection of field data as assigned by the Lead Biologist.
- Provides the technical review of plans for land use development or other projects submitted by development groups and county agencies and advises on the projects' impact on natural resources.
- Makes presentations on environmental issues at land use hearings presided over by the County Hearing Examiner and County Council.
- Plans, directs and reviews the work of employees performing natural resource inventories; provides training in the use of inventory methods and equipment, biological data collection equipment, power and hand tools, safety procedures and basic computer data entry.
- Provides assistance to Lead Biologist during development of regulatory modifications.
- Represents the county at meetings with state and federal agencies regarding resource management, water quality and environmental regulations, data collection and permits.
- Maintains a database of stream and wetland information; document natural resources and compiles maps to locate county natural resources.
- Prepares and distributes project reports, summaries and special reports to disseminate natural resource information to county staff, other government agencies and the general public.
- Prepares and conducts environmental workshops for county personnel, community groups and private consultants on land development/natural resource issues.
- Develops procedures and performs or directs the collection and interpretation of scientific data related to fisheries, stream ecology, wetland and riparian habitats and general biology for use in land development and land use planning.
STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES
- Performs related duties as required.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Washington State Driver's License may be required for employment.
Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
Knowledge of:
- combined federal wetland delineation methods
- principles, practices and techniques of natural resource management and planning
- research and data collection techniques
- wetland and freshwater ecology, wildlife biology, and fisheries biology
- regulations and guidelines regarding natural resource management and mitigation for impacts
- field inventory procedures
- mapping techniques and orienteering
- citizen involvement principles and techniques
- statistical methods and computerized data manipulation
- habitat evaluation procedures
- collect and analyze biological and physical data
- read, understand, and interpret technical data, environmental documents and related materials
- plan, direct and review the work of subordinates
- prepare and analyze scientific data in order to develop recommendations for policy guidelines
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with county staff, government agencies and the general public
- read, interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing management of natural resources
- prepare and deliver oral presentations
- use personal computers and computerized databases
- communicate effectively with people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds
- work with a minimum of supervision
- work under stress and meet deadlines as required
- testify at hearings on behalf of the county
SUPERVISION
Employees report to and receive direction from an administrative superior. Assignments are generally broad in scope with opportunity for the use of experience, initiative, and independent judgment in solving most problems. Assistance from the supervisor is available when especially difficult problems are encountered. work is reviewed in progress or upon completion for accuracy and adherence to requirements. Employees working on special or unique projects may be responsible for the supervision of one or more subordinates such as a Planning Technicians. The supervision may involve the actual hiring, direction and evaluation of the employees.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in the office or in the field in varying weather conditions. Physical effort is required to lift equipment and materials in excess of fifty (50) pounds and to perform manual labor. Physical hazards are present from traffic, power equipment and performance of duties out of doors. The employee is required to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.
EEO policy and ADA notice
Salary : $82,282 - $100,105
