Botanist/Ecologist

Company: Colorado State University – Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, or remote

Full job description: https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/153760 

Apply by date: 11/29/2024

Salary Range: $52,268 – $75,245

Position Summary:         

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is Colorado’s primary biological conservation information center housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. CNHP is a key player in Colorado’s conservation of open lands and maintains the only centralized conservation database in Colorado that includes plants, animals, and natural communities. The staff consists of approximately 30 highly experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory, research, and monitoring of Colorado’s flora, fauna, plant communities, and conservation issues. CNHP serves a wide variety of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants, environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and the public. CNHP’s annual revenue is approximately 4 million dollars and is generated from contracts and agreements through CNHP’s partners and clients. CNHP generally works on over 40 conservation projects per year.

The Botanist/Ecologist will be a member of the Botany/Vegetation Ecology Team and will work closely with CNHP staff Botanists and Ecologists to plan, coordinate, conduct and report on inventories for Colorado’s plant and upland plant community biodiversity. The work will involve indoor office work and outdoor field work conducted in Colorado and could include work in surrounding western states. The position requires extensive and frequent travel throughout the state of Colorado during the growing season.

Indoor tasks will include working with biodiversity and geospatial data including compiling and organizing botanical and vegetation data and information, creating maps, preparing presentations and/or training materials, writing reports, processing voucher plant specimens and seeds, identifying plants in the lab, and performing administrative tasks. The position will also lead pre-field season logistics and planning, which may include identifying element target lists, identifying survey sites, securing permission to access survey sites on public and private land, preparing maps, electronic survey forms, and organizing field supplies. The Botanist/Ecologist may assist with proposal writing, hiring field technicians, training technicians or student employees in data entry and field methodology, and supporting other project tasks as needed.

Outdoor field work will include collecting botanical and ecological data in the field in Colorado and potentially surrounding states. Field work may include mapping and taking data on the condition of rare plant populations and natural plant communities, describing natural communities and classifying vegetation using the USNVC standards, identifying plants in the field, collecting quantitative vegetation plot/transect data, surveying for and monitoring rare plant populations, collecting seeds and voucher plant specimens and photographs, and mapping weeds and/or applying weed control methods or eradicating weeds.

The Botanists/Ecologist may train technicians in methods of natural heritage core methodology, outdoor field data collection and safety. This work will require proficiency in using tablets to collect GPS data and electronic field data, using topographic maps and/or navigation apps to locate survey sites, driving to and from field sites and navigating to field sites via paved roads, dirt roads, hiking trails, and off-trail travel through dense vegetation and across long distances in a variety of weather conditions. This position requires extensive travel and long days in the field.

The position will interact with federal and state agencies and other partners as well as private landowners. This position may oversee student hourly technicians, work studies, interns, volunteers or others in the implementation of Botany/Vegetation Team projects.

Seasonal field work typically involves week-long to 8-day field hitches, camping in remote settings and full 8-12hr. field days, driving and hiking to field sites, collection of data using tablets, and detailed completion of field forms. Work is subject to funding availability and Program needs. Hours are variable, up to 40 hrs./wk.

This position is listed as being in Fort Collins, however, this position would consider partial remote work or a remote duty station in Western CO (closer to field work).

Minimum Requirements

• Completed B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited university and three years of relevant professional experience OR a master’s degree completed in the field of natural resources, ecology, botany or a related field.
• Strong experience using dichotomous botanical keys and field guides to identify plant species and familiarity with the major angiosperm plant families in the Rocky Mountain region.
• Experience describing vegetation patterns found on the landscape including recording and describing dominant and diagnostic species by strata.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Ability to work both independently and with a team of diverse individuals, ability to maintain effective working relationships, and be self-motivated.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules, travel extensively during the field season, car camp, and hike long distances (up to 6+ miles/day) while carrying a heavy pack (up to 40 pounds) with a positive attitude in field conditions that include exposure to inclement weather, rugged terrain, hot or cold weather, mosquitos, and poisonous plants, all while maintaining a strong commitment to team safety.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.

Employee Benefits:

Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/.

Colorado State University conducts background checks on all final candidates.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer.