Plant and Wetland Ecologist (Full-Time)

HT HARVEY & ASSOCIATE•Los Gatos, CA

1d•$98,500 - $116,000•Hybrid

About The Position

H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm with four offices in Northern California and one in Hawaii, is looking for an experienced senior botanist and/or wetlands ecologist with a background in wetland delineation and experience in regulatory permitting for a full-time managerial position in the botany group in our San Francisco Bay Area office (Los Gatos, Santa Clara County). This position offers significant opportunities for growth and potential leadership within the botany team and the Bay Area office. The anticipated pay range for this position is $98,500—$116,000 annually. Actual compensation within the range will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. What it’s like to work with us H. T. Harvey & Associates has a strong reputation for deep scientific expertise and a high caliber of work. When joining the company, new employees become part of a well-respected team of ecologists with unparalleled expertise with the region’s species, habitats, regulatory environment, and habitat plans. As a member of the botany group, you’ll work closely with Dr. Kelly Hardwicke, principal of the group and have opportunities to lead projects and be part of multidisciplinary project teams with wildlife and restoration ecologists as well as landscape architects. Our scientists spend time both in the field and in the office (Los Gatos office and home offices). When in the field, you might work on plant community mapping, conduct focused or protocol rare plant surveys and wetland assessments and delineations, assess impacted ecosystems, and identify opportunities for restoration. You may also implement monitoring plans for mitigation sites and preserves, including riparian and wetland mitigation, monitoring, and long term management plans. When not doing field work, you will contribute to and write biological resource reports; prepare or assist in the preparation of mitigation, monitoring, and management plans; prepare or assist in the preparation of habitat restoration plans; and develop regulatory agency permit application packages. In addition to the tasks above, project managers and senior staff will coordinate with clients and regulatory agencies, steward acquisition of regulatory permits, and manage project staff and budgets. What are some of the important projects and habitats the botany group works on? Providing botany expertise to large scale conservation projects, including in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Coyote Valley. Performing rare plant work in serpentine habitats, oak woodlands, riparian corridors, and the marshlands of the San Francisco Bay. Assisting with complex ecological restoration projects along the San Francisco Bay shoreline and throughout the region Contributing to open space, park, trail, and campus habitat planning Minimizing ecological impact of redevelopment projects and creating new habitats to support native species Developing native habitat and pollinator guidelines Supporting renewable energy projects

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree combined with sufficient directly relevant experience (advanced degree preferred)
Strong scientific background with emphasis in botany and/or plant ecology
Exceptional and demonstrated technical writing ability
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Experience in some or most of the following areas: California flora and plant identification, quantitative field surveys, plant community/association mapping, wetland delineation, environmental impact analysis, regulatory permit preparation, GPS usage, and general GIS, Google Earth, and/or ArcMap familiarity
Completion of, or interest in taking, a 40-hour wetland delineation course or equivalent experience
Understanding of CEQA/NEPA and regulatory agency permitting
Experience and/or ability to conduct formal USACE wetland delineations and regulated habitats mapping for Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and California Coastal Commission
Follow best practices for field safety
Hold a valid driver’s license with no major traffic violations or multiple minor violations
Walk over varied terrain for surveys and work in inclement weather

Nice To Haves

For management positions, prior project management or junior project management experience
Prior consulting experience with NEPA/CEQA analysis and regulatory permitting

Responsibilities

Coordinate with clients and regulatory agencies
Steward acquisition of regulatory permits
Manage project staff and budgets
Work on plant community mapping
Conduct focused or protocol rare plant surveys and wetland assessments and delineations
Assess impacted ecosystems
Identify opportunities for restoration
Implement monitoring plans for mitigation sites and preserves, including riparian and wetland mitigation, monitoring, and long term management plans
Contribute to and write biological resource reports
Prepare or assist in the preparation of mitigation, monitoring, and management plans
Prepare or assist in the preparation of habitat restoration plans
Develop regulatory agency permit application packages

Benefits

Competitive salary
Generous benefits package
Robust managerial bonus program
Health insurance (Cigna PPO and Kaiser Permanente HMO plans)
Health Savings Account (HSA) options
Flexible Savings Account (FSA) options
100% premium coverage for employee health insurance
50% premium coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and children for health insurance
Dental coverage at no cost to the employee
Vision coverage at no cost to the employee
401(k) plan
Roth 401(k) plan
33% employer match for 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
401(k) and Roth 401(k) catch up plan with employer match
9 company holidays
Accrued paid vacation / personal and sick leave time
Support for participation in external training and certification programs
Support for attendance at conferences and workshops
Support for membership in and engagement with scientific and professional associations
Presentation, poster, and publication bonuses
Flexible schedule options