Senior Bat Biologist - Bat Program Lead

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Senior Bat Biologist with with demonstrated experience in the renewable energy industry to join our team. We are looking for an individual with enthusiasm for their work, and with a strong commitment to client service and technical excellence. This position will serve a leadership role in the environmental services group and will closely collaborate with the Wildlife Manager to grow Westwood’s bat practice from within the Wildlife Team. 

• Strengthen and diversify the bat and PCMM services provided by the Wildlife Team by creating and improving SOPs and reporting structures, building a team, mentoring staff, and utilizing rock-solid science and statistics
• Design and conduct bat acoustic and mist net surveys
• Design and oversee post construction mortality monitoring studies
• Contribute to the development of bat-specific habitat conservation plans and incidental take permit applications
• Draft proposals and work plans
• Contribute to innovation initiatives and primary scientific research associated with the renewable energy industry and/or bat biology
• Participate in regulatory meetings to support the planning, design, and approval of renewable energy and transmission projects
• Navigate and advise on Endangered Species Act compliance
• Track and participate in developing wildlife guidance initiatives
• Prepare wildlife assessment work plans
• The position will be primarily office-based but will involve periodic travel, typically 4-5 days per trip

• Master’s Degree in biology, GIS, or other data science related field
• 10-20 years of wildlife assessment experience
• USFWS Permitted Bat Biologist
• Technical proficiency in bat studies
• Strong analytic and statistical abilities
• Strong GIS abilities
• Working knowledge of state and federal regulations
• Familiarity with US Fish and Wildlife Land Based Wind Energy Guidelines
• Experience with wind energy pre- and post-construction monitoring protocols is desired
• Experience with NEPA process for various federal agencies is desired

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2023, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #12 and #30, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood two national 2nd place awards for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #79 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2023. The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.