Ecologist

About Great River Greening
Great River Greening (GRG) is Minnesota’s leading environmental restoration nonprofit with a mission to inspire, engage, and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the land and water that enrich our lives. Our services extend throughout Minnesota in partnership with local communities, governmental agencies, conservation and agricultural organizations, individuals, and businesses. We offer flexibility, a friendly work culture, supportive Board of Directors, hybrid work options, and opportunities to grow. 

Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Great River Greening values Science, Community, Partnership, Education, and Environmental Justice. Great River Greening is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates of all backgrounds, including women, candidates of color, LGBTQ+, or candidates with non‐traditional work or experience backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Position Description

The Ecologist joins a diverse team of conservation staff, each of whom executes and manages individual projects, as well as collaborates on larger projects and events. Guided by our mission, projects may include natural area restoration, management plans, native plantings, working lands, pollinator monitoring, survey analysis, climate adaptation, and carbon storage/sequestration. The Ecologist will conduct independent field and site reviews and must have access to a car. This position will report directly to our Senior Program Manager of the Central MN region; however, project work will span all three of Great River Greening’s geographic regions: Southern MN, Twin City Metro, and Central MN. 

This is an exempt, full-time position with a salary range of $48,000-53,000, depending upon experience. We offer a generous benefits plan that includes health, dental, 401k, LTD, Dependent Care and Health Care FSA, life insurance, 14 paid holidays, and a PTO plan. Great River Greening offers a flexible workplace and staff are currently working hybrid-remotely. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Implementation and Management (80%)

• Conduct ecological inventories and analysis utilizing GIS mapping software.
• Perform Project Management tasks including project development, bid development, and project management with assistance from other staff as needed.
• Conduct oversight of contractors and Great River Greening’s crew in the implementation of natural resource management tasks.
• Provide ecological training and education to volunteers, clients, and partner organizations when necessary.
• Assist the organization in its climate and carbon sequestration/storage objectives.
• Represent Great River Greening at volunteer events, public meetings, and in interaction with public and private landowners.
• Write and review ecological restoration, stewardship and management plans and oversee those produced by Greening staff, contractors, and partners, where applicable.

Mission Specific Work (20%)

• Attend and participate in conservation and volunteer planning meetings.
• Participate in fundraising functions under the direction of Development and Operations.
• Perform other related tasks as required.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong familiarity with native plant community types of the Upper Midwest and excellent plant identification skills.
• Experience managing and conducting field surveys; preference toward pollinators.
• Possess an understanding of current climate adaptation techniques and/or carbon storage/sequestration practices and approaches.
• Understanding of ecological management and systems.
• Experience with a variety of land and data management software (ArcPRO & Microsoft Suites).
• Proficient in ArcPRO (preferable) or ArcMap. Aerial photo interpretation a plus.
• Pollinator identification skills a plus.
• Conscientious, collaborative, and reliable.
• Ability to work towards managing complex and collaborative projects, tracking, and developing budgets and bid proposals, and writing grants.

Qualifications

• Degree in ecology, conservation biology, or related field (natural resources management, environmental science, botany, or related field)
• 4 years of related work experience. Extensive field knowledge and experience can be substituted for formal education.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to transportation to conduct site visits and meetings with partners.