You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Senior Plant Ecologist / Permitting Expert / Project Manager

Senior Plant Ecologist / Permitting Expert / Project Manager (Full time) 
H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for a senior botanist and permitting expert for a full time project management position in the plant ecology group in our San Francisco Bay Area office (Los Gatos, Santa Clara County).
What you’ll do
As a senior ecologist in our botany group, you will have the opportunity manage projects and supervise staff and will also spend time in the field. The position will include managing all aspects of the biological components of CEQA/NEPA assessments, rare plant surveys, wetland delineations and habitat mapping projects, Clean Water Act Section 404/401 and similar resource agency permitting projects, and resource management plans. Internally, you will manage staff and budgets, train and mentor junior staff, and have the opportunity to work with other H. T. Harvey & Associates ecologists (restoration, wildlife, fish ecology) as well as landscape architects. Externally you will be a liaison with clients and agency contacts and work on proposals and business development efforts. 
What are some of the important projects that the botany group works on?
Our mission is to help clients address their complex ecological challenges. This is not to say every project is glamorous and exciting, but because of our 50 year history in the region and our recognized local expertise, we get to do some pretty interesting things! For example, we:
·      Are uniquely positioned to work on some of the Bay Area’s large scale conservation projects, including in the Santa Cruz Mountains and in the Coyote Valley. 
·      Perform a fair bit of rare plant work in serpentine habitats, oak woodlands and the marshlands of the San Francisco Bay.
·      Frequently work on “one of a kind” projects with unique challenges.
Our botany team leaders have been researching and working in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than two decades and have unparalleled expertise with the region’s species, habitats, regulatory environment, and habitat plans. A position working for H. T. Harvey & Associates is not for everyone–it is for those who strive for excellence in their everyday work, their science, and their long term careers and for those who are interested in continually improving their scientific knowledge, learning from others, and collaborating with experts in other fields of ecology. 
If that sounds like you and you meet the requirements below, we look forward to learning more about your ecological expertise and project management skills during the application process!
Required expertise and skillset 
  • Academic background in plant biology, plant ecology, plant sciences, or biological sciences with emphasis in botany and ecology, solid field and/or research experience, and broad ecological knowledge
  • Experience in some or most of the following areas: California flora and habitats, plant identification, quantitative field surveys, plant community/association mapping, wetland delineation, and environmental impact analysis
  • Track record of regulatory permit preparation for both California and federal resource agencies and recent experience coordinating with state and federal regulatory agency staff
  • A minimum of 6 years of applicable professional experience in biological/ecological consulting or relevant experience with a regulatory agency 
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills within and organization and with external stakeholders and clients
  • A meticulous organizer of people (staff and subcontractors), schedules, project details, and budgets
  • Exceptional and demonstrated technical writing and editing ability
Candidates with an M.S. or a Ph.D. are preferred, but applicants having a B.S. or B.A. combined with directly relevant experience including multiple years of project management experience in biological consulting, will be considered.
This position requires the future employee to:
·      Hold a valid driver’s license with no major traffic violations or multiple minor violations
·      Work occasionally on nights, weekends, and early morning hours
·      Walk over varied terrain for surveys
·      Work in inclement weather
·      Follow best practices for field safety