Job Description

Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist

Southern California

We are the Environment & Planning Division of ICF. We are enthusiastic about doing what is right for our clients, our people, the communities where we live and work, and the environment. We are planners, scientists, program managers, communicators, economists, technologists, and strategists. We are collaborative, curious, and committed to excellence—these are qualities we value that make us who we are and inspire us to grow.

ICF is seeking a Senior Level Botanist/Wetland Ecologist (Botanist) to support projects located throughout Southern California, and occasionally in Northern California and Nevada.

The fulltime Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist (Botanist) will support the preparation of environmental documents including Natural Environment Study reports, Biological Assessments, biological sections of CEQA/NEPA documents, and mitigation and monitoring reports.

The position involves planning, leading, and conducting small to large-scale field surveys, including vegetation mapping, invasive species mapping, aquatic resources delineations, and rare plant surveys. Responsibilities will include collecting, managing, and synthesizing data in the field, preparing technical deliverables, and ensuring consistency with applicable regulatory requirements. The Botanist will work independently or in small groups, maintain close communication with project managers and multidisciplinary teams. and may direct and oversee the work of field staff during survey and monitoring efforts.

The Botanist must have demonstrated experience conducting aquatic resources delineations consistent with the 1987 Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetland Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Arid West Regional Supplement to the USACE Manual. The Botanist will be responsible for planning and managing delineation efforts including, compiling and reviewing necessary background information prior to fieldwork, coordinate with ICF’s GIS team to obtain and deploy ESRI FieldMaps or comparable software applications for sub-meter accuracy field data collection, and securing and overseeing the field team during data collection activities. This position requires the technical expertise to prepare and/or provide senior-level review of aquatic resources delineation reports, as well as other biological and technical reports in support of permitting. The full-time position requires routine overnight travel to field sites, particularly during the spring and summer field seasons. The fieldwork may be scheduled within the constraints of the Botanist’s availability for most project work.

The Botanist will join an existing team of natural resources professionals that include botanists, wetland ecologists, restoration ecologists, wildlife biologists, and regulatory specialists and will work closely with ICF project managers to support project delivery. The successful candidate may also be required to provide additional environmental services consistent with their qualifications and project needs.

|What You Will Do

• Author and/or provide peer review biological and botanical technical reports, aquatic resources delineations, Biological Assessments, Natural Environment Study reports, and biological sections of CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Plan, lead, and conduct small to large-scale field surveys for vegetation community and invasive species mapping, aquatic resources delineations, and rare plants.
• Prepare revegetation/restoration plans and conduct annual monitoring for restoration projects.
• Travel to field sites throughout Southern California, and occasionally, to Northern California and Nevada.
• Maintain flexibility to travel one to three nights per week, fairly routinely during the spring and summer months.
• Respond in a timely manner to deployment and deliverable requests, which may occasionally be last-minute.
• Work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Use GPS units, GPS-enable tablets, and other mapping technologies proficiently to collect and synthesize data in the field.
• Manage botanical or aquatic resources-related task orders with support from contract managers.
• Prepare botanical inventory reports, aquatic resources delineation reports, and other technical documents in accordance with current federal, state, and local regulations.
• Prepare botanical and aquatic resources sections of CEQA documents and Caltrans NES reports

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Botany, Biology, or Ecology, or related field
• 10 or more years of wetland and related biological experience
• 5 or more years of experience with California flora
• 5 or more years of experience with aquatic resources delineations

• Must have valid driver’s license and successfully pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check.

Additional Skills

• Knowledge of and practical experience with soil science
• Knowledge of and applied experience with federal and state regulations related to wetlands and waterways (e.g., Clean Water Act Sections 404, 401, and Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et. seq.)
• Familiarity with the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) for monitoring the conditions of a variety of aquatic resources throughout California.
• Ability to train and mentor less-experienced botanists and ecologists on field-related data collection and document preparation.
• Proficiency with Geographic Information System (GIS) software skills.
• Experience preparing proposal scope and budgets.
• Working knowledge of wildlife resources, integrated with botanical and aquatic resources.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work with talented and enthusiastic individuals and to grow with a firm that believes in nurturing talent and developing long-term career success. Ask your recruiter for more details!

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Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is

$98,187.00 - $166,919.00California Remote Office (CA99)