Staff Restoration Ecologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Paradise, NV

6d•$24 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

Are you interested in environmental consulting services? Do you enjoy working outside and thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellent data collection, team collaboration, and services provided to clients? Are you looking for an opportunity to start and grow your environmental consulting career? SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a dynamic and passionate individual to join our Las Vegas, Nevada as a Staff Restoration Ecologist. This is an On-Demand/On-Call role. The Staff Restoration Ecologist will be a primarily field-based role, working on project site locations predominately throughout Nevada, focused primarily in southern Nevada. We are looking for someone who is following their passion, gaining valuable field experience, and dedicated to delivering the highest-quality project work. This position requires an educational and experienced background in botany, biology, ecology, or a related field. This primarily field-based position takes place in an outdoor environment, often remote, where the climate, weather, and terrain that can be demanding. This position will be an On-Demand/On Call role, meaning that the individual in this role typically average under nineteen (19) hours/week over time. This is a largely field-based position conducting botanical and other biological surveys, in rural areas and on construction sites. The position may involve an irregular schedule and extended hours. It is anticipated that travel, including overnight and weekend stays, will be required. Hotel rooms, a field truck, per diem, and other supplies will be provided during field work deployments. The selected candidate will be required to pass client-specific drug and alcohol screening, potentially including pre-fieldwork drug testing and monthly drug testing. Application deadline: This application will close on April 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Requirements

A.A. or B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field preferred but not required. Coursework in botany and/or field ecology strongly preferred
Up to 1 year of ecological restoration experience
Typically, up to 2 years of field-based survey experience preferred
Ability to identify or key plant species of Nevada
Ability to record detailed field notes
Ability to use digital tablet for GPS navigation and recording of field data required
Ability to conduct fieldwork for long hours in inclement weather conditions, walk up to 10 miles per day, often in rugged terrain, and carry equipment and/or supplies, weighing up to 40 pounds required
Valid driver’s license and the ability to drive or learn to drive a 4WD vehicle on backcountry roads required
Ability to travel to often remote project sites

Responsibilities

Conduct botanical and other biological surveys
Oversee and implement restoration activities (such as small-scale plant salvage and plant maintenance [in the field and greenhouse])
Conduct surveys for various botanical resources including botanical resource surveys, noxious and invasive weed surveys, succulent surveys, vegetation community/habitat verification surveys, pollinator host-plant surveys
Conduct other biological field studies as needed
Observe and oversee effective treatment of soil and botanical resources on construction sites through site preparation, active construction, and post-construction restoration
Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, and associated landforms
Photograph and record appropriate habitat, species, and landforms.
Enter and proof data collected during field work.
Project work may include renewable generation projects (wind, solar, geothermal), electrical transmission, oil and gas development, transmission/pipelines, transportation, mining, and Federal clients and partners
Coordinate and communicate with project managers, environmental inspectors, construction staff and other SWCA staff as necessary
Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards
Operate SWCA vehicles
Drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle, all-terrain vehicle/utility task vehicle (ATV/UTV)on rugged, backcountry roads
Work both independently and as a member of a team
Take initiative, resolve problems, and communicate with team members to ensure tasks are completed in the most effective manner
Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
For assistant staff restoration ecologists: Supervise a small crew while conducting cultural fieldwork. This includes:
Independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
Ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and are being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
Serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
Receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and
Monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline.