Staff Biologist/Botanist - Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, or Flagstaff)

About the opportunity:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Staff Biologist/Botanist (HR Title = Staff Biologist) with a strong b otany background to support projects throughout Arizona , reporting to either the Flagstaff, Phoenix , or Tucson office . This role offers a unique hybrid work environment supporting field and reporting tasks for projects related to land development, transmission, mining, Federal and State regulatory work, renewable energy, and oil and gas clients . A key element of this job will be to work independently and, in some cases, serve as a field lead for environmental surveys . While the position will be based in one of the Arizona offices , projects may require periodic travel out of Arizona within the greater S outhwest .

This is a full-time, hourly , non-exempt position, with benefits and is eligible for remote work from locations allowing reasonable access to projects in Arizona , with up to 80% of work being in the field . Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Applicants must be willing to participate in a drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish:

• Conduct natural resource field surveys, with an emphasis on identifying and survey ing flora (including native and nonnative species) within the Southwest region, including but not limited to Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Fieldwork will often require long field days and multi-day field hitches in remote areas, and may occasionally involve weekends working remotely.
• Serve as a field lead for natural resource surveys , including supervising biological survey crew s , overseeing quality data collection , and troubleshooting routine problems in the field .
• Use GIS applications, including ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Online to complete data collection in the field .
• Organize and assist with QA/QC and analysis of field data.
• Prepare technical reports with oversight by Senior staff.
• Work in a multi-discipline team, collaborating with biologists, water resource specialists, cultural resource experts, environmental scientists , and planners to conduct natural resource assessments.
• Provide support to ecological restoration projects including participating in feasibility assessments, planning , restoration construction oversight, maintenance and performance monitoring, reporting, visual presentations, and overall project management with support from Senior staff.
• Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards. 
• Be an active member in the ongoing development of SWCA's Restoration Practice Group.
• For staff biologist positions, depending upon the project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise a biological survey crew in the field. 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 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.
  • Monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when correction action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback .

Experience and qualifications for success:

Minimum Qualifications

• At least one (1) year of experience in environmental consulting or related field with a focus on botany and/or habitat restoration .

• Bachelor of Science in biology, botany, restoration ecology, landscape architecture, environmental science, or related field.

• Experience conducting botanical surveys and/or special-status plant surveys

• Experience using a combination of dichotomous keys and other identification manuals to identify plants to the species level.

• Experience in identify ing and monitor ing non-native plant species.

• Knowledge and/or experience identifying Arizona flora and fauna, including from the Colorado Plateau and desert regions.

• Experience in collecting, organizing, and conducting quality control checks on field data that meets the highest standards using the latest protocols and tools.

• Experience in or interest in learning about supporting ecological restoration project monitoring

• Demonstrate d passion for natural resources, the capacity to learn, the desire to challenge yourself by trying new things, and the ability to communicate with team members and clients (verbal and writing).
• Ability to safely operate 4-wheel drive vehicles to access remote locations.
• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours (sometimes in inclement weather and/or rugged terrain, often at high altitudes), and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions, effectively execute tasks, and conform to shifting priorities and demands.
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• T hree (3) or more years of experience in environmental consulting or related field with a focus on botany and/or habitat restoration.

• Masters of Science degree in biological, landscape architectural, environmental sciences or other related fields.

• Experience conducting wildlife surveys .

• Experience providing guidance on weed adaptive management, treatment techniques, and treatment timing.

• Direct experience with standard restoration and re-vegetation techniques and experience overseeing implementation including hydroseeding, seeding, container planting, and staking.

• Wetland plant identification, hydric soil classification, and/or wetland delineation experience.

• Experience with biostatistics, experimental design, and survey techniques.

• Experience in report writing – including wildlife, botanical, and/or biotechnical reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, analytical , and time management skills.

• Strong writing skills and analytical skills in Microsoft Office applications , e.g., Word and Excel .

• Knowledge of desert , Colorado Plateau, and other Southwest ecosystems .

• Proven ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. 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.

We are 100% employee-owned , and we build our success together. 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 offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require a confidential conversation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact us at  [email protected] or call 1-480-581-5378. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; 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 Arizona based position can expect an hourly rate of $ 23.92 - $31.20. 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.

Applicants must be willing to participate in a drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings. Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

SWCA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success. 

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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