Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist

Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist

Sacramento, San Francisco & Northern CA 

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 Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern CA.

Job Description

The fulltime Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist (Botanist) will lead, conduct, and/or oversee botanical inventories and aquatic resources delineations mostly throughout Northern California. Priority of projects will be based on the location of the Botanist.

The Botanist position includes planning and conducting small to large-scale field surveys for vegetation mapping, aquatic resources delineations, and rare plants and collecting and synthesizing data in the field. The Botanist would work independently or in small groups, maintain close communication with project managers and co-workers. and may direct the work of individuals in the field.

The Botanist must have the experience to lead and conduct the aquatic resources delineations consistent with the 1987 Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetland Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Arid West and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Regional Supplements to the USACE Manuals. The Botanist must have the experience to plan, compile necessary background information prior to fieldwork, coordinate with ICF’s GIS team to obtain ESRI FieldMaps or other software applications for sub-meter field data collection, and secure and oversee the field team. The Botanist must have the expertise to prepare and/or provide senior review of aquatic resources delineation reports and other technical reports. The full-time position requires routine overnight to occasional weeklong travel to field sites in the spring and summer. 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 wildlife biologists, botanists, wetland ecologists, restoration ecologists, and regulatory specialists and will work closely with ICF project managers. The successful candidate may be required to provide other environmental services

What You Will Do

• Conduct small to large-scale field surveys for vegetation mapping, wetland delineation, and rare plants.

• Travel to field sites throughout Northern California, and occasionally, Southern California.

• Have the flexibility to travel one-three nights per week, fairly routinely during the spring and summer months.

• Respond timely to deployment and deliverable requests, which may be last-minute.

• Work collaboratively in a team environment. Use GPS and other mapping technologies proficiently to collect and synthesize data in the field.

• Manage botanical and delineation tasks and coordinate with ICF regulatory specialists to support regulatory guidance.

• Prepare botanical inventory reports, aquatic resources delineation reports, and other technical documents according to current 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+ years of wetland and related biological experience

• 5+ years of experience with of California flora

• 5+ years of experience with aquatic resources delineations

Additional Skills

• Knowledge and applied experience with soil science

• Knowledge and applied experience with federal and state regulations surrounding wetlands and waterways (e.g., Clean Water Act Sections 404, 401, and Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et. seq.)

• Ability to train less-experienced botanists and ecologists on field-related data collection and document preparation.

• Geographic Information System (GIS) software skills.

• Manage botanical or aquatic resources-related task orders.

• Experience preparing proposal scope and budgets.

• Knowledge of wildlife resources.

• Knowledge and/or experience with restoration practices.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work with talented and passionate individuals and to grow with a firm that believes in nu