Senior Botanist

Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) is looking for a full-time Senior Botanist (western US-focus).

WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in basic and applied ecological studies and the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped the foundation of what we do, and what we believe in through our core values and key principles. Our work matters to our clients, communities, and the environment. Join WEST and discover a company of passionate, committed, and highly motivated individuals.

Please click here to see what benefits WEST offers!

Key Details:

• Salary: $100,000 , plus an annual bonus. Salary may vary based on education, knowledge, and experience.
• Location: Office location is flexible and can be at any of WEST’s office across the western US, or a remote location in the western US will also be considered. Location preference: Pacific Northwest, Southwest, or Intermountain West. Remote positions considered, as are in-office options.

Job Description:

The Botanist will be responsible for coordinating and/or managing environmental and botanical studies across the Western US. This includes identifying the appropriate vegetation surveys for a project, developing scopes of work/proposals and large budgets, supporting agency communications (e.g. BLM, USFWS, and state agency resource specialists), training crews on botanical field survey techniques, mentoring junior botanists, and providing botanical expertise to the company. The incumbent will be responsible for analyzing floristic and vegetative data, preparing and reviewing botanical survey reports, and engaging in agency meetings to achieve regulatory compliance for our clients.  

Responsibilities include:

• Plan and conduct/lead botany-related field work, including rare plant surveys, restoration and mitigation monitoring, natural vegetation community mapping and characterizations, and wetland surveys.
• Being a technical botanical expert for guidance across the company
• Supervise and work with other field personnel, including mentoring junior staff.
• Travel will be required for this position especially during the field season and may be up to 50% of the incumbent’s time, however this can be negotiated.
• Coordinate with agency resource specialists, including leading meetings, supporting the client in navigating regulatory issues.
• Prepare rare plant and other botany-related survey reports and technical memorandums.
• Conduct impact analyses for rare plants and sensitive natural vegetation communities. 
• Conduct other survey work as needed that may include noxious weed surveys and wetland delineations.
• Managing complex scopes of work and budgets for large-scale botanical projects.
• Developing competitive proposals to acquire botanical work.

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties which may be associated with this position.

Requirements:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in botany, natural resources or equivalent.  A master’s degree in a botany or a related field is preferred.
• 10 years of job-related experience conducting botany-related surveys including rare plant surveys and assessments, quantitative vegetation sampling and/or monitoring, and plant community/association mapping in the western US. Consulting experience is preferred.
• Expert proficiency with plant identification and working familiarity with relevant floras of the western US and keying out species.
• Experience in budgeting and proposal writing.
• Exceptional and demonstrated technical writing ability.
• Experience with restoration ecology and developing seed mixes is desired, but not required.
• Good organizational and data management skills.
• Experience with MS Excel and spreadsheets.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills.
• GIS experience preferred, but not required.
• Experience with ESRI Field Maps and Survey 123.
• Completion of a Basic Wetland Delineation course or willingness to complete one and ability to prepare reports suitable for submittal to USACE desired, but not required.

After an offer of employment is made, the candidate must successfully pass a pre- employment background check, drug screening, and a DMV records check that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company.  A valid driver’s license will be required. 

 WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, genetics, and any protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  Further, WEST takes affirmative action to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly, and without discrimination, for recruitment, selection, advancement and every other term and privilege associated with employment.