Hybrid Project Botanist - Field Ecology & Permitting

SWCA, Incorporated; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Botanist to join our Natural Resources Program in Half Moon Bay, California. The role focuses on botanical resources, permitting, and regulatory support across the SF Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and Northern California.

You will conduct botanical assessments, prepare technical documentation, and assist with environmental compliance. The position is full-time, with benefits and hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related life sciences field.
• Four (4) years of professional experience conducting botanical surveys and related natural resource fieldwork.
• Experience conducting rare plant surveys and field identification using botanical keys and standard taxonomic methods.
• Coursework in Plant Taxonomy or equivalent academic training in plant identification and classification.
• Understanding of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting requirements affecting natural resource projects.
• Experience supporting environmental permitting, compliance, restoration, or resource management projects in aquatic, wetland, riparian, coastal, or other waters-related environments.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Directs and participates in the collection, management, and summarization of field data and other best available information. Expected to ensure that information collected and applied to projects is accurate, complete, and verifiable.
• Directs and performs simple descriptive data analysis and collaborates with GIS and Statistical teams on more complex tasks to analyze significance, identify trends, and make predictions applicable to project questions.
• Directs and prepares certain technical resource reports and sections of others, including setting, objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions.
• Collaborates with Technical Editors to ensure quality of written deliverables.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff on resource science, methods and practices, regulatory requirements, and project or client insights.
• Develops strategies for avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating project impacts and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
• Prepares planning and compliance documents for regulatory reviews and approval.
• Leads conversations with teaming partners, experts, clients, landowners, and agency staff to present or solicit technical information.
• Memorializes communications for project records and shares important insights, action items, or issues with project teams and supervisors.
• Prepares and provides resource or regulatory updates to clients.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Partner with project managers and clients to plan, coordinate, and execute natural resource projects through successful completion.
• Support project requirements associated with NEPA, ESA, CWA, and related environmental permitting and planning processes.
• Review environmental documents prepared by other environmental specialists to ensure technical quality and consistency.
• Assist with proposal development, project budgeting, client outreach, and business development activities.
• Identify process improvements, proactively resolve project challenges, and implement solutions that support client objectives.

Skills

Botany

Field surveys

Environmental science

Regulatory understanding

Technical writing

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Botany or related life sciences

Tools

GIS

Job description

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Botanist to join our Natural Resources Program in Half Moon Bay, California. The role focuses on botanical resources, permitting, and regulatory support across the SF Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and Northern California.

You will conduct botanical assessments, prepare technical documentation, and assist with environmental compliance. The position is full-time, with benefits and hybrid work options.