Principle Paleontologist

Overview

Energy Environmental Group (EEG) is a full-service environmental consulting firm specializing in all aspects of environmental permitting, inspection, and compliance monitoring. From a project’s inception to its final release, EEG’s knowledgeable staff utilizes a multifaceted plan of action to meet project milestones, maintain compliance regulations, and ensure a successful path to construction completion.  

Energy Environmental Group is a purpose-driven company. Our core values guide our strategy, performance, and culture. We believe in maintaining an environment where team members can make an impact, grow, and thrive. A place where they find meaning and purpose in doing the important work of ensuring communities have the vital energy, light, and communications to prosper. Our culture is inclusive and welcoming. Our teams are empowered with abundant training, tools, and opportunities to follow their curiosity and ambitions. Everyone has an equal chance to advance. Everyone is supported, respected, and challenged to be their best. We’re always looking for talented and dedicated people to join us and love where they work.  

Energy Environmental Group is a proud subsidiary of MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), a Fortune 500 Company ranked by Energy News-Record as one of the leading contractors in the country. EEG is part of the MasTec Power Delivery segment. We are certified as a minority-controlled company by the National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC). Our rich diversity of people and ideas makes us a stronger, more innovative organization. 

 

The Principal Paleontologist (IV) serves as EEG's technical authority for paleontological compliance, providing advanced technical leadership across multiple energy infrastructure projects throughout the United States. This position supports project teams, clients, managers and executive leadership by resolving complex permitting challenges, developing regulatory strategies, establishing technical standards and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality environmental planning services.

Unlike positions primarily focused on project execution or personnel management, the Principal Paleontologist (IV) advances EEG's technical excellence through mentorship, quality assurance, innovation and strategic problem solving. This role serves as one of the company's most trusted advisors for environmental planning and permitting while helping shape the technical direction of the organization.

 

Responsibilities

What you will experience in this position

• Serve as one of EEG's leading experts in paleontological compliance, permitting and regulatory strategy.
• Lead planning efforts on some of the nation's largest electric transmission, renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
• Develop permitting strategies that reduce project risk while supporting engineering, construction and client objectives.
• Advise executive leadership, project managers and clients on complex environmental planning and regulatory issues.
• Lead high-profile agency coordination efforts involving federal, state, Tribal and local regulatory agencies.
• Mentor Paleontologist I, II and III personnel while helping develop the next generation of planning professionals.
• Establish company standards, technical guidance documents, quality assurance procedures and training programs.
• Support major proposals, client interviews, executive presentations and strategic business development initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging paleontological compliance regulations and recommend improvements that strengthen EEG's planning practice.
• Help establish EEG as the industry's most trusted environmental planning and permitting partner

Key Responsibilities

• Team Supervision & Workflow Management: directs and oversees the day-to-day work of office/program personnel, ensuring efficiency and compliance.

• Staffing & Recruitment: identifies and addresses key staffing needs, leading recruitment and retention efforts.

• Project Management: oversees project execution, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and regulatory standards.

• Performance Monitoring & Training: mentors team members, fosters skill development, and ensures compliance with company policies.

• Business Development & Client Relations maintains strong client relationships and supports efforts to secure new business.

• Quality Assurance & Reporting: reviews technical reports, ensures accuracy, and upholds industry standards.

• Lead paleontology studies firmwide and ensure clients receive high-quality, scientifically sound, and on-time deliverables

• Oversee and coordinate with local, regional, and/or nationwide paleontology team members conducting both field and desktop research

• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance/quality control while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations

• Train, lead, and mentor staff and actively engage in professional development

• Interface with clients, agencies, and external stakeholders

• Develop new business in conjunction with the sales team

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulations affecting paleontological resources and general industry trends and standards

• Demonstrate technical excellence in vertebrate paleontology and maintain knowledge of best management practices in mitigation paleontology

• Oversee field investigations of proposed project sites to assess or evaluate paleontological resources or the potential for resources

• Direct collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; formulate management recommendations and/or mitigation measures

• Oversee proposal and budget preparation

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in paleontology, geology, geobiology or a closely related field
• 7+ years of professional experience conducting paleontological investigations in one or more states in the western United States
• 3+ years of experience conducting paleontological resource surveys, identifying fossils in the field, fossil collection, and laboratory preparation
• 2+ years of experience with analysis and technical report writing
• 2+ years of experience supervising field crews during field studies
• Ability to be listed as Field Director or Principal Investigator on federal paleontological use permits
• Knowledge of federal regulations pertaining to paleontological resources, and state-specific knowledge/experience in one or more states in the western United States
• Willingness to travel and conduct fieldwork in often remote locations and in rough terrain and/or challenging weather
• Experience reviewing technical reports, permit applications, environmental documentation and regulatory deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor technical professionals while strengthening organizational knowledge.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.

Preferred qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience conducting paleontological investigations in one or more states in the western United States
• Working knowledge of the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Paleontological Resources Protection Act, and/or the California Environmental Quality Act
• Active member of the professional community
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders

 

Key skills

• Advanced paleontological compliance and permitting expertise.
• Regulatory strategy and agency coordination.
• Technical leadership and organizational influence.
• Quality assurance and quality control.
• Strategic project planning.
• Construction-minded problem solving.
• Client relationship management.
• Technical writing and document review.
• Mentoring and professional development.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Continuous improvement and innovation.
• Sound professional judgment and executive communication.

 

Physical requirements

• Ability to travel to project locations, client meetings, regulatory agencies, training events and company offices as required.
• Ability to occasionally perform field visits in varying terrain and weather conditions.
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to utilize standard office technology, GIS platforms and mobile communication tools.