Senior Terrestrial Ecologist

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Job Description

For more than 75 years, Parsons has been a leader in the planning, design, and delivery of transportation infrastructure around the world. We are seeking an experienced Senior Terrestrial Biologist with strong technical expertise and established client relationships to join our Infrastructure team in Ontario.

This position offers flexibility to work from our offices in Toronto, Markham, Oakville, or London, as well as hybrid remotely. Our team supports provincial, municipal, and transit clients in expanding and improving transportation systems through innovative and sustainable solutions.

As a senior member of the Environmental Services Group, you will play a key role in project delivery, client development, technical leadership, and mentoring. You will lead and support a wide variety of transportation, transit, municipal, and infrastructure projects across Ontario, including environmental studies, impact assessments, permitting, and ecological monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the growth and strategic development of Parsons' Environmental Services practice.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with public and private sector clients, regulatory agencies, Indigenous communities, and subconsultants.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and quality review of work completed by intermediate and junior staff.
• Lead and oversee biological and ecological investigations, including: Vegetation and Ecological Land Classification (ELC) surveys Wildlife and Species at Risk inventories Significant Wildlife Habitat assessments Breeding bird, amphibian, reptile, bat, and mammal surveys Wetland evaluations Fisheries and aquatic habitat assessments Arborist and tree inventory studies
• Conduct and oversee Species at Risk habitat assessments and species-specific surveys.
• Lead environmental impact assessments and develop mitigation, restoration, compensation, and monitoring strategies.
• Prepare and provide senior technical review of reports, memos, permit applications, and environmental documentation.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, invoicing, and resource allocation.
• Support proposal preparation, business development initiatives, and client account planning.
• Serve as Project Manager or Technical Lead for multidisciplinary projects where appropriate.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in environmental consulting, ecological assessments, and project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience delivering ecological services for transportation, transit, municipal, and infrastructure projects in Ontario.
• Strong understanding of Ontario and federal environmental legislation, policies, and permitting requirements, including: Endangered Species Act (ESA) Species at Risk Act (SARA) Fisheries Act Migratory Birds Convention Act Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
• Proven experience obtaining environmental permits and approvals.
• Extensive knowledge of Ontario flora, fauna, ecosystems, Species at Risk, and Significant Wildlife Habitat.
• Experience completing environmental and ecological impact assessments under municipal, provincial, and federal frameworks.
• Strong project management, organizational, and client relationship skills.
• Experience with Metrolinx and MTO assignments. RAQS certification in relevant categories, or the ability to obtain certification, is considered a strong asset.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS and related GIS applications.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Current or previous designation as an ISA Certified Arborist and/or Registered Professional Forester (RPF) is considered an asset.
• French language proficiency is considered an asset.

Preferred Attributes

• Established relationships within the Ontario transportation and infrastructure market.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and mentoring staff.
• Strong business development skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and secure new opportunities.
• Ability to balance technical excellence, project delivery, and client service.

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities