Staff Restoration Ecologist

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is actively seeking a Staff Restoration Ecologist with experience and interest in ecological restoration, reclamation, vegetation, and soil ecology to join our team. Projects will be located primarily throughout the Rockies and Intermountain West with geographical expansion throughout the Great Plains. The ideal candidate will possess experience and interest in vegetation inventories, integrated vegetation management strategies including weed management, soil surveys, and restoration/reclamation planning, preferably with specific regulatory knowledge relative to renewable development, energy extraction, and transmission projects. This person should have excellent organizational and analytical skills, strong writing proficiency, and a demonstrated aptitude with relating biological data to broader ecological, restoration, or management issues. The position may require travel in order to complete vegetation and soil sampling and to conduct site visits. The position would be based out of any of our offices in the Rocky Mountains/Plains region (e.g., Broomfield or Fort Collins, Colorado;  Bismarck, ND; Sheridan, WY). This is a regular (with benefits), full-time position.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 1,500 staff, employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership.  We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.  Come join our team!

To be considered for this position, please also submit a cover letter in addition to other requested application materials (e.g., resume, contact information, etc).

What you will accomplish

• Work in a team setting to plan and complete baseline vegetation inventories, weed surveys and mapping, vegetation monitoring, soil sample collection, and topsoil delineations.
• Follow sampling protocols, field data management best practices, and coordinate with other applicable SWCA staff.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and scientific tools and equipment under sometimes arduous field conditions.
• Implement and complete tasks and responsibilities delegated by Project Managers.
• Take positive action and accountability for assigned work.
• Preparation of key aspects of upland restoration and reclamation planning documents and preparing technical reports.
• Serve as a task lead on projects of varying size and complexity.
• Communicate effectively and proactively with diverse project stakeholders, including field crews and landowners.
• Use strong organizational and communication skills in writing and verbally.
• Performs data management, quality assurance, quality control (QA/QC) checks, tracking, synthesis, and analysis.
• Conducts research to support novel problem-solving.

Experience and qualifications for success

Required:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Botany, Environmental Science/Studies, Natural Resource Management, Agronomy, or a related life science.
• Must hold a valid driver's license.
• A strong interest and passion for ecological restoration and reclamation including planning, implementation, and monitoring. A desire to grow and learn within this area of concentration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of plant identification, plant and soil ecology, weed ecology, statistical analysis, and/or environmental issues and policies in the Rockies and Intermountain West.
• Experience completing fieldwork, data analysis, technical reports, and data management.
• Experience contributing to high-quality deliverables.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree (e.g. restoration ecology, ecology, soil science, range science).
• Working knowledge of natural resource regulatory laws including Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.
• Experience with GIS software and ESRI products and ability to use technology for data collection.
• Experience with ecological or habitat restoration planning, environmental mitigation and best management practices, reclamation and decommissioning procedures, and/or agronomy.
• Experience with common reclamation and restoration implementation procedures and best practices including required equipment, seed mix development, erosion control and site stabilization, and weed management and control.

Additional Information:

• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, high heat and humidity.
• Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required.
• Ability to operate and maintain off-road vehicles (ATV/UTV) and equipment (e.g., trailers) with previous experience doing so preferred.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We will encourage you to grow and develop your career with us through our technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. We believe in leadership at all levels. No matter where you sit in the organization you can make a lasting impact on the projects you work on, the teams and committees you join and our business.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.  In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Denver, CO - based position can expect a salary of $24.68/hour to $31.50/hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

#LI-EF1

#LI-Remote

#SWCA-IND

Not ready to apply? Connect with us for general consideration.