Ecologist

Preferred start date: 4/6/2026

Position Description

The Institute for Applied Ecology (www.appliedeco.org) is seeking to hire an Ecologist with a diverse skillset to lead several restoration projects and contribute to conservation research and plant material initiatives. Projects are primarily focused in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, but may also include the Coast Range and other Oregon ecoregions. Habitat restoration work supports the conservation and recovery of rare plants (e.g., Willamette daisy and Kincaid’s lupine), wildlife (e.g., Fender’s blue butterfly and northwestern pond turtle) and habitats (e.g., prairie, coastal grasslands and dunes) using a variety of restoration and research techniques. 

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead habitat restoration activities at public and private land conservation sites.
• Manage all aspects of restoration planning and implementation. Lead or assist with preparation of restoration, planting, and management plans. Provide contract and budget oversight and communication, and secure permits as needed.
• Ensure successful completion of restoration treatments including mowing, brush clearing, solarization, herbicide application, burning, planting, and seeding.
• Operate, supervise, and ensure safe use of equipment (e.g., weed-eaters, chainsaws, tractors, mowers, discs, and seeders).  Maintain restoration equipment, power tools and storage areas.
• Use ArcGIS platforms to map project activities, invasive species, and navigate to remote sites.
• Coordination and supervision:
• Help oversee/coordinate habitat restoration field technicians’ work.
• Prepare contracts, hire, schedule, and supervise contractors and work crews.
• Coordinate extensive seeding efforts as well as nursery production, acquisition, and outplanting of large quantities of plant materials.
• Organize and lead volunteer work parties.
• Outreach:
• Prepare reports for funding agencies, newsletter articles and publications.
• Build and maintain connections with partners and funders.
• Work closely with landowners.
• Conduct tours, workshops, and presentations for funders, partners, and the public.
• Prepare grant proposals and help to acquire funding to support restoration projects.
• Work with IAE staff and partners to develop project concepts and proposals.
• Draft project proposal budgets and write narratives.

• Monitor restoration sites:
• Conduct site assessments and vegetation inventories.
• Monitor restoration treatment results, including photo monitoring, plant establishment success, plant community composition, and overall site conditions.
• Collect data on native vegetation and invasive species. Maintain restoration and management records and track progress.
• Process, analyze and report data, and maintain restoration databases.
• Out-of-town travel required as needed to complete work program and to attend meetings and conferences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, wildlife, horticulture, ecology, or related work with five years of post-degree experience.
• Positive attitude with excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience developing and maintaining relationships with partners, private landowners, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience preparing planning documents, including restoration, planting, maintenance, and management plans.
• Experience with habitat monitoring, including data collection, management, analysis, and reporting.
• Plant identification skills (including common weeds).
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Suite, and ArcGIS.
• Navigational and mapping skills using tools such as aerial photos, compass, GPS, and mapping applications (e.g., ArcGIS Pro and AGOL).
• Ability to obtain (within three months of hire) an Oregon commercial pesticide applicator’s license (agriculture category).
• Good physical condition and ability to work long hours in adverse weather conditions, including potential exposure to poison oak.
• Willingness to operate an ATV and other restoration equipment as needed.
• Current U.S. driver’s license and clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree and/or additional education in one of the same areas
• Familiarity with Willamette Valley plant communities and habitat requirements for prairie wildlife, including pollinators and grassland birds.
• Experience with contract development and oversight, project planning and implementation, budgeting, and permitting.
• Holds an Oregon Pesticide Applicators license.
• Understanding of and ability to use basic univariate/nonparametric (t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, Simple Regression/Correlation) statistical analyses. In addition, experience/training in some/all of the following: Advanced Univariate/Intermediate Multivariate (Multiple comparisons, Multiple Regression, Multi-factor ANOVA, Kruskall-Wallace, Friedman Test, categorical data analysis); Experimental design (randomized block, factorial, repeated measures). Complex modeling (SDMs, matrix population models) and climate projections.
• Experience collecting native seed.
• Familiarity with nonprofit organizations and a demonstrated record of successful grant proposals.