Plant Ecologist (full time)
H. T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm based in Northern California, is looking for an exceptional senior botanist / wetlands ecologist with a background in wetland delineation and experience or interest in regulatory permitting for a full time project manager position in the plant ecology group in our San Francisco Bay Area office (Los Gatos, Santa Clara County). This position has room for significant growth and leadership development within the company.

What you’ll do
Our scientists spend time both in the field and in the office with the firm’s team of highly trained professionals. Field work may include plant community mapping, rare plant surveys, and wetland assessments and delineations, and managing crews conducting such fieldwork. H. T. Harvey & Associates’ plant ecology and wetlands group contribute to and write biological resource reports and natural resource management plans. Project managers in the group also engage resource agencies and clients to seek regulatory permits for impacts to sensitive and protected habitats. Project managers in the group, with guidance from senior management, lead projects with a focus on wetland, riparian, or plant issues, often in collaboration with our other groups (wildlife, restoration, fish and aquatic ecology, landscape architecture, and more).

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.
• Procure regulatory permits for large restoration projects as well as projects with detrimental impacts to regulated habitats.
• Assist project teams in project design to minimize and avoid impacts to sensitive resources.
• Frequently work on “one of a kind” projects with unique challenges.

Who works at H. T. Harvey & Associates?
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 interests and skills during the application process!

Required experience
• Strong academic background with emphasis in botany and/or plant ecology, or wetlands ecology and delineation
• Consulting experience with CEQA analysis and regulatory permitting
• Project management experience greatly preferred, must have at least enough relevant consulting experience to be ready to “make the jump” from staff-level consulting to project management
• Exceptional and demonstrated technical writing ability
• Good organizational and data handling skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Most successful candidates for this staff level have a relevant M.S. or higher graduate degree plus directly applicable consulting experience.

Desired qualifications
• California flora identification skills
• Prior work at an ecological consulting firm
• Familiarity with the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan
• Completion of a 40-hour wetland delineation course or equivalent experience
• Some background in rangeland management

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
• Lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Follow best practices for field safety

How to apply
First and foremost we will evaluate your technical skills and experience, and your communications and management skills are a close second. We ask for your academic transcripts, your resume, a cover letter, references, and a technical writing sample. In your cover letter we’d appreciate it if you share some thoughts about what you love about botany, wetlands, or regulatory permitting, and what you are looking to get out of your next position. We really do read your cover letters–it’s an opportunity to share with us some of the things that might not come through in a traditional resume.

About H. T. Harvey & Associates
Since 1970, the highly trained ecologists and professionals at H. T. Harvey & Associates have delivered exceptional consulting services to public agencies, private entities, and nonprofit organizations. The expertise of our staff encompasses a wide range of biological and design disciplines required to perform high-quality work on ecological projects. Our senior scientists average 25 years of experience in their respective disciplines, many recognized leaders in their fields. Collectively, we have published more than 500 peer-reviewed scientific research papers on a wide variety of subjects. We hire people who strive to be the best in their fields, and we provide training, support, and work opportunities to grow their expertise.

Our employment package includes a competitive salary as well as medical, dental, and life insurance coverage and a 401(k) with a generous employer match. Project managers and other senior staff are part of a robust managerial bonus program.

H. T. Harvey & Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to apply.

We are celebrating more than 50 years of cultivating excellence in our staff and work in pursuit of our mission to create ecologically sound solutions to our clients’ complex natural resource challenges.