Plant Conservation & Restoration Program Specialist - California

Title: Plant Conservation and Restoration Program Specialist

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Conservation Training

Reports to: Manager, Conservation Training Programs         

Year-Round Full-time 

Salary: $2,560/bi-weekly

Position Overview: This Specialist role is a grant-funded position for at least 18 months, working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California State office in Sacramento, California. Extension is contingent upon award of remaining requested grant funding. Remote work is an option, but the employee will need to be available during Pacific time working hours. The position will involve managing and coordinating BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program (PCRP) data and preparing reports, as well as working with BLM staff to help plan and implement Seeds of Success (SOS) seed collections across the state. The person in this position will also respond to internal and external dataset and report requests, including geospatial information requests. Duties will also involve creating a geospatial layer for all seed collections and conducting a thorough analysis of the California Seeds of Success program, identifying priority targets in collection efforts.

This position can be remote, but being based near Sacramento, California, is preferred.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Manage and analyze BLM CA PCRP data to provide program with updated and accurate information regarding seed collection and seed production needs and priorities, allowing for effective program planning for collection and production efforts each growing season.
• Update CA SOS database and assess progress toward meeting collection gaps in species, seed zones, and/or field office, while incorporating restoration needs of field office staff.
• Provide SOS reports and seed availability data to BLM CA State Office and participating field offices.
• Coordinate with BLM internal and external partner organizations working with BLM CA SOS to provide support in SOS protocol training, BLM field office staff coordination, Geoplatform digital data collection and data management, and SOS reporting requirements.
• Assist program participants in data quality assurance and quality control. 
• Coordinate with all BLM CA native plant production partners, helping identify and provide starter seed for increase, communicating and sharing production techniques and research results for native species more novel to production, updating CA SOS and production databases, and communicating starter seed and produced seed availabilities to producers and BLM staff.
• Assist with data entry, researching and databasing SOS and rare plant data, respond to data requests, write technical reports, develop and present training and outreach materials, and communicate with BLM internally as well as with external partners as needed.
• Assist and support to projects of BLM CA PCRP as directed by BLM CA state botanist.

Chicago Botanic Garden Values & Behaviors: 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have some of the following:

• B.S. in botany, plant science, ecology, environmental science, or a related field
• Experience working with large data sets
• Experience using ArcGIS to create maps and perform geospatial analysis
• Experience with the national Seeds of Success protocol and associated data
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle several projects and deadlines at once
• Experience documenting workflows and processes, thorough note taking
• Experience writing concise narrative technical reports and summaries in a timely manner
• Self-starter, independent worker, able to learn quickly and adapt to challenges
• Experience developing scientific outreach/training materials

Physical Demands: 

Primarily office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds.

Some field work may be required in hot summer conditions. Vegetation monitoring activities can be physically demanding due to stooping and bending for long periods of time. 

To Apply: 

Your application should include a Chicago Botanic Garden application along with a cover letter, resume, and the names of three (3) professional references. Application materials should be addressed to Chris Woolridge, Manager, Conservation Training Programs, Chicago Botanic Garden. Questions about the position should be directed to Chris Woolridge at cwoolridge@chicagobotanic.org. 

In your cover letter, be sure to address your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications outlined in the position description. 

Why Apply? 

Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.