Individual Placement - Botany Crew Member with The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
About The Position
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is recruiting two members for a 52-week (12-month) position to assist with botany and pollinator habitat management and restoration in and around the USACE’s 13 reservoirs in the Willamette Valley Region of Oregon. The mission includes environmental stewardship, managing and restoring critical wetland and upland prairie systems that support designated critical habitat for the Fender’s blue butterfly, Kincaid’s lupine, and Willamette daisy. This position is primarily in a front country setting where emergency services are accessible, but may be delayed. Access to public transportation at the work site is limited or not possible, and cell phone reception may be limited, spotty, or not available.
Requirements
- Professional or volunteer experience equivalent to at least 6 months full-time work in field biology, forestry, horticulture, vegetation management, or other relevant field
- Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, environmental science, or closely related field. Up to three (3) years of additional relevant professional experience may be substituted for part or all of the education requirement.
- Willingness to get an herbicide applicator’s license
- Valid driver’s license and the ability to report on time to the USACE Fern Ridge Lake office
- Ability to track, inventory, and maintain USACE-provided field gear
- Must be able to complete or fulfill all partner driving requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Experience using ArcGIS and Field Maps applications
- Knowledge of Northwestern U.S. plants and/or coursework in biology and botany
- Competency in technical plant identification methods, including the use of dichotomous keys in regional floras of Washington, Oregon, or California
- Knowledge of manual techniques for managing non-native plants or trail crew experience
- Horticultural experience (working in plant nurseries, agriculture, or gardening)
Responsibilities
- Monitoring endangered plants and pollinators
- Creating botanical species lists
- Surveying for terrestrial and aquatic weeds and sensitive plants
- Mapping and removing invasive plants (including hand-pulling and herbicide)
- Assisting with nursery and hoop house operations
- Collecting and processing seed
- Working with youth groups
- Entering data
- Working with ArcGIS
- Processing plant collections
- General equipment upkeep — cleaning tools, organizing field gear, checking batteries, and preparing supplies for upcoming survey days.
- Basic visitor interaction — answering simple questions from park visitors or youth groups during field days, and directing them to staff for more detailed information.
- Light facility maintenance — tidying nursery workspaces, sweeping hoop house aisles, or assisting with simple organization tasks around storage areas.
- Routine data organization — renaming files, sorting photos, updating folder structures, or preparing digital packets for staff review.
Benefits
- $960 weekly living allowance
- $2,000 duty travel and equipment reimbursement (receipts required)
- One-time round-trip travel reimbursement up to $650 for non-local candidates who incur relocation expenses (not available for candidates who do not relocate)
- Optional Monthly Health Insurance (13 months)
- Members may attend trainings, local workshops, or complete other online classes.
- First Aid/CPR
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
