The Southern California Natural Resources Director is a principal-level role that partners closely with the Executive Committee to provide leadership across staff, clients, and projects throughout the region, consistent with WRA's Strategic Plan. The role's primary responsibility is growing the Southern California business through proactive, competitive business development and high-level project delivery. This requires close coordination with the Conservation Strategies team and other Southern California staff including restoration engineers and compliance managers, as well as with the Vice President of Operations and Strategic Growth to help implement WRA's regional growth plan. Beyond these collaborative efforts, the Director will build their own book of business across project types such as restoration, mitigation, and permitting.
This role is focused on three main areas of impact (proportion of time spent in parentheses):
1. Expanding the Southern California Market (35%)
Expand our business in Southern California through new and existing client relationships, focusing on our core service lines including mitigation planning, restoration design and implementation, biological resource surveys, regulatory permitting, and compliance monitoring.
Work with marketing support staff to establish and execute new client relationship strategies.
Guide business development efforts from other WRA staff in the Southern California market, capitalizing on entrepreneurial spirit.
2. Principal oversight of project delivery (50%)
Provide senior technical oversight on restoration, mitigation, and permitting projects with a focus on Southern California projects.
Work with the Director of Project Delivery to ensure timely and quality delivery of complex, cross-functional projects.
Oversee environmental service deliverables such as biological assessments, wetland delineations, regulatory permitting packages
Support project managers with senior level strategy and client relationship development as needed on projects.
Staff Management (15%)
Manage technical staff, with a focus on those in Southern California region.
Provide leadership to all Southern California staff including mentoring and coaching to foster best practices and increase staff engagement and collaboration.
Address staffing issues that emerge in the Southern California region proactively and support professional development.
Minimum Qualifications:
A Bachelor’s degree with major course work in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related interdisciplinary field.
15+ years of experience leading client relationships and project teams in environmental consulting.
Senior technical oversight experience on restoration, mitigation, and/or wetlands or species permitting projects.
Demonstrated ability to win new work and expand client base in an environmental consulting firm, including working with marketing support staff to establish and execute new client relationship strategies.
Experience with business planning, business development planning, and strategic plan execution
Experience with complex project management, business development, staff development, and environmental consulting industry best practices.
Effective team leader and communicator with a commitment to mentoring and coaching.
Experience in creating a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (while WRA has fleet vehicles that can be reserved for field use, during busy field seasons a truck may not be available).
Desirable Qualifications:
Advanced degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related interdisciplinary field.
Experience building strong teams through thoughtful hiring, ongoing performance coaching, and sound judgment on personnel issues.
Strong financial literacy and experienced in management of project profitability.
This is a Hybrid/Remote position based in the Southern California region, spanning San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. Regional day-travel within this region may occur as part of client relations and project management, as well as some travel throughout California. Presence in the San Diego office is expected 1-2 times per month.
WRA has an established internal leveling system for our staff that maps to salary bands that have been informed by market data. Our leveling system is dependent on years of relevant industry experience, education, and the level of responsibility and autonomy at which you’re expected to operate.
The salary range for this position is $155,000 - $208,000. In your first conversation with our recruiter, we will discuss leveling and compensation with you to make sure that expectations are aligned.
Company Overview
WRA, Inc. is an employee-owned environmental consulting firm with California offices in San Rafael, Emeryville, Petaluma, and San Diego. For over 45 years, WRA has provided outstanding ecological and design expertise to develop successful solutions for our clients where both people and the environment thrive. We employ experts in the fields of botany, wildlife, and wetland ecology, GIS, environmental and master planning, engineering, and landscape architecture
As an organization, we believe that independence and interdependence are not mutually exclusive. We invest in systems, processes, and employee programs to support our staff’s collective engagement and success. At the same time, we encourage our employees to operate with an ownership mindset, taking responsibility for outcomes and being true to our commitments.
WRA is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse environment. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree with major coursework in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related interdisciplinary field
- 15 or more years of experience leading client relationships and project teams in environmental consulting
- Senior technical oversight experience on restoration, mitigation, wetlands, or species permitting projects
- Demonstrated ability to win new work and expand a client base in an environmental consulting firm
- Experience developing and executing business plans, business development plans, and strategic plans
- Experience with complex project management, business development, staff development, and environmental consulting best practices
- Effective team leadership and communication skills, with a commitment to mentoring and coaching
- Experience creating a collaborative and inclusive team environment
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
- Advanced degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related interdisciplinary field
- Experience building strong teams through hiring, performance coaching, and personnel judgment
- Strong financial literacy and experience managing project profitability
What We Do
WRA, Inc. is an employee-owned environmental consultancy firm composed of planners, engineers, and scientists. They specialize in navigating complex projects involving wildlands, parks, community spaces, and infrastructure. Their mission is to cultivate a sustainable future where people and the environment thrive, aiming to leave lands better than they found them through responsible project management and long-standing community relationships.
