Project Botanist

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Half Moon Bay, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Botanist to join its Natural Resources Program in Half Moon Bay, California. The role supports natural resources projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, with a focus on botanical resources, waters permitting, environmental compliance, and regulatory support. Work spans infrastructure, restoration, utility, transportation, renewable energy, and land development projects. The Project Botanist conducts botanical assessments, supports permitting and environmental documentation, and helps meet environmental compliance requirements as part of a multidisciplinary team. The position is full-time, regular, salaried/exempt, and based in the Half Moon Bay office, with hybrid work arrangements available. It works closely with project managers, botanists, biological resources specialists, permitting professionals, and Natural Resources leadership. The role directs and participates in field data collection, management, and summarization; performs descriptive data analysis; conducts field monitoring and management actions; prepares technical reports and regulatory planning and compliance documents; and maintains project records. It provides technical guidance to junior staff, develops strategies to avoid or mitigate project impacts, and communicates technical and regulatory information to clients, agencies, landowners, experts, and project partners. The Project Botanist also partners with project managers and clients to plan and deliver projects, supports NEPA, ESA, and CWA requirements, reviews environmental documents, and assists with proposals, budgeting, client outreach, and business development. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant life sciences field and at least four years of professional botanical survey and natural resource fieldwork experience. Preferred qualifications include seven years of related experience and experience with waters, wetlands, permitting, environmental compliance, project planning, and agency coordination. Work regularly takes place outdoors and may involve domestic travel, hiking over uneven terrain, carrying equipment, and exposure to varying weather and environmental conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.
Four years of professional experience conducting botanical surveys and related natural resource fieldwork.
Experience conducting rare plant surveys and identifying plants in the field using botanical keys and standard taxonomic methods.
Coursework in Plant Taxonomy or equivalent academic training in plant identification and classification.
Understanding of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting requirements affecting natural resource projects.
Experience supporting environmental permitting, compliance, restoration, or resource management projects in aquatic, wetland, riparian, coastal, or other waters-related environments.
Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated commitment to health and safety, including identifying hazards and implementing appropriate safety procedures during field activities.
Ability to carry field equipment weighing up to 40 pounds and conduct extended walking or hiking during field investigations.
Ability to safely operate company vehicles and maintain a valid driver’s license meeting company driving requirements.
Willingness to participate in pre-employment drug and alcohol screening when required by a specific project.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain valid travel documents and identification for work-related travel.
Ability to travel domestically, including by commercial airline, as required.

Nice To Haves

Seven years of related botanical, ecological, or natural resource consulting experience.
Experience supporting environmental permitting and compliance projects involving waters, wetlands, streams, riparian habitats, habitat restoration, or aquatic resources.
Experience preparing technical documentation for federal, state, or local permitting and environmental review processes.
Prior project planning, budgeting, scheduling, or task management experience.
Experience working with federal, state, or local resource agencies involved in environmental permitting and natural resource management.
Demonstrated ability to take on increasing project management and leadership responsibilities.
Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, clients, regulators, and stakeholders on environmental projects.

Responsibilities

Direct and participate in the collection, management, and summarization of field data and other best available information, ensuring it is accurate, complete, and verifiable.
Perform simple descriptive data analysis and collaborate with GIS and Statistical teams on more complex analysis.
Conduct field monitoring or management actions to implement project requirements and regulatory terms and conditions.
Create and maintain project records documenting completed activities and conditions.
Prepare technical resource reports and report sections, including settings, objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions; coordinate with Technical Editors to ensure quality.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff on resource science, methods, practices, regulatory requirements, and project or client insights.
Develop strategies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate project impacts and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Prepare planning and compliance documents for regulatory review and approval.
Lead technical conversations with teaming partners, experts, clients, landowners, and agency staff; document communications and share relevant insights, action items, and issues with project teams and supervisors.
Prepare and provide resource or regulatory updates to clients.
Follow applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
Partner with project managers and clients to plan, coordinate, and execute natural resource projects through completion.
Support project requirements under NEPA, ESA, CWA, and related environmental permitting and planning processes.
Review environmental documents prepared by other environmental specialists for technical quality and consistency.
Assist with proposal development, project budgeting, client outreach, and business development.
Identify process improvements, resolve project challenges, and implement solutions that support client objectives.
Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans when applicable, and anticipate potential safety hazards.
Perform related work as assigned.