Restoration Ecologist - (987)
Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) is a dynamic medium size consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada. We are looking for a full-time Consulting-Restoration Ecologist. Since 1990, WEST has grown to be one of the premier environmental and statistical consulting firms in the United States. WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in basic and applied ecological studies and the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data.
Please click here to see what benefits WEST offers!
The minimum base salary for this position is $61,000 and the maximum is $75,000, plus additional annual profit sharing bonus potential. Salary may vary based on education, knowledge and experience.
Location is flexible but with preference for joining an existing branch or field office location in the Great Plains or Western U.S. (Albuquerque, New Mexico; Fort Collins, Colorado; or Las Vegas, Nevada).
Job Summary:
The successful candidate will have experience and expertise in: restoration and revegetation planning, restoration site evaluation, botanical skills for inspecting restorations in progress, interacting on construction and operations work sites, seeding and vegetation adaptive management methods, educational workshops on vegetation restoration, and will be responsible for supporting our restoration and vegetation management services. This role has an emphasis on solar energy in the Great Plains and North American Deserts ecoregions.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Project Management: Plan and conduct/lead ecological restoration-related fieldwork, including: natural vegetation community and noxious weed mapping and characterizations, restoration and mitigation monitoring, wetland and waterbody surveys, and rare plant surveys;
- Work with clients in the energy industry (primarily solar) to develop ecologically-minded site restoration specifications, seed sources, warranty language, monitoring protocols, and vegetation management plans for use during planning, construction and operations;
- Conduct plot-based long-term management data collection for analysis, and reporting;
- Conduct field evaluations and report recommendations for noxious weed management;
- Provide independent audits/inspections, troubleshooting, and reports of site preparation and seeding during construction and post-construction;
- Conduct training for environmental, engineering, and operations teams for facility development and operations;
- Assisting in wildlife inventories and/or wetland delineations;
- Help maintain WEST’s position as thought leaders in the energy-environmental consulting market.
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, restoration planning, natural resources, environmental science, biological science, ecology, or related field with training and experience equivalent to a certified ecological restoration practitioner in training.
- Minimum 10 years of professional ecological restoration experience conducting botany-related surveys including vegetation sampling and/or monitoring, plant community association/mapping, wetland delineations and rare plant surveys.
- Experience working in the solar industry with an emphasis on solar vegetation management planning is preferred but not required.
- Strong writing skills with the ability to pay close attention to detail and accurately report scientific methods and results of field studies.
- GIS experience is preferred but not required.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Good time management, project management and organizational skills with the ability to work well under time constraints and meet deliverable targets and deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively as a team, follow instructions from managers and accept guidance and constructive criticism.
- Ability to effectively supervise others.
- Occasional travel and overnight stays will be required.
WEST is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for everyone and highly recommends all prospective hires be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to their start date. While WEST does not currently require vaccinations, please be aware that WEST has a mandatory vaccination policy in place should local, state or federal law require vaccinations. Additionally, WEST has certain clients that require all personnel to be vaccinated prior to working on their projects, so individuals will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination prior to working on those projects. As an exception, employees may also request a Medical or Religious exemption from the vaccine requirement and the request must be supported by a doctor for a medical exemption or by a statement from the employee outlining a sincerely held belief to qualify for a religious exemption. Please contact us if you have any questions.
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.