Botanist / Conservation Associate-Fixed

Working/Functional Title

Botanist

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive organization, which requires all staff to contribute towards a vision for success. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our work, regardless of title or position within the organization. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups.
• We embrace that it is everyone’s job to create a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and inclusive culture.
• We foster inclusion by recognizing and valuing diverse perspectives, skills, experiences, and work to create equal access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning for diversity, equity, and cultural competency, in order to achieve inclusive excellence.
• We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements to our work and are vital to the organizational culture and programmatic success of MSU Extension.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching and feedback towards achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.  

 

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE), the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), this position will be filled to collect, analyze, and communicate information about Michigan's rare plant species and natural communities, help maintain Michigan’s Natural Heritage Database, and work cooperatively with other MNFI personnel, Tribal organizations, public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to inform and guide decisions that impact biodiversity conservation.

The mission of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory is to guide the conservation of Michigan’s biodiversity by providing the highest quality scientific expertise and information. MNFI’s vision is to be the authoritative source of information on biodiversity that is widely used to conserve Michigan’s unique natural heritage for current and future generations. MNFI maintains the statewide Natural Heritage Database documenting the occurrences and status of exemplary natural communities and rare species. This core function is an essential component of many MNFI projects. The database is required by partner agencies who perform legally mandated regulatory functions, allowing them to complete tasks, perform regulatory reviews, produce products, and meet deadlines. This ongoing research is used by federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations to guide land management, development, and conservation decisions. The database forms the foundation for providing information to decision makers.

In this position, you will assist with an array of projects requiring expertise in plant and natural community identification, ecosystem valuation, and interpretation of ecological relationships in plant communities. Applying for external funding and serving as principal investigator on MNFI projects will be a regular part of this position. The proportion of time devoted to primary tasks will vary annually according to project requirements and individual interests but will generally consist of substantial field data collection during the growing season (40-60% of year), data management and analysis (15-25% of year), scientific writing (15-25% of year), and outreach/education activities (5-15% of year).

Although negotiable, this position will have statewide responsibilities and will be housed at the MNFI Office in Lansing, Michigan, or an alternate location in the State to be determined.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from the MNFI office in Lansing. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work- location flexibility.

This position is a full-time, fixed term end-dated appointment, renewable annually based upon successful performance and continued funding.

 

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct field surveys, monitoring, and research of rare and declining plant species and natural communities.
• Collect, evaluate, analyze, and disseminate rare plant and ecological in