Project Botanist

SWCA, Incorporated; Half Moon Bay (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants in Half Moon Bay, CA, is seeking a Project Botanist to support the Natural Resources Program. You will conduct botanical assessments, assist with permitting, and help ensure regulatory compliance across infrastructure, restoration, and development projects.

The role emphasizes collaboration with project managers, botanists, and regulators, providing technical reporting, data analysis, and mentorship to junior staff, while offering hybrid work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field.
• Four (4) years of professional botanical surveys and fieldwork.
• Experience with rare plant surveys and taxonomy using botanical keys.
• Understanding of environmental regulations and permitting for natural resource projects.
• Experience supporting environmental permitting, compliance, restoration, or resource management in aquatic or wetland environments.
• Strong written and oral communication, and ability manage multiple projects.
• Willingness to participate in pre-employment drug screening.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and hike during field investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead field data collection and management to ensure accurate, complete project records.
• Perform descriptive data analysis and collaborate with GIS and statistics teams.
• Prepare technical resource reports and coordinate with editors for quality outputs.
• Mentor junior staff on data methods, regulatory needs, and project insights.
• Develop strategies to minimize impacts and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Lead discussions with partners, clients, and agencies and memorialize actions.
• Support NEPA, ESA, CWA processes and related permitting activities.
• Assist with proposals, budgeting, and client outreach to grow business.
• Identify process improvements and implement solutions to project challenges.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Botany or related life sciences

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Botanist to join our Natural Resources Program in Half Moon Bay, California. In this role, you will support a variety of natural resources projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, with a focus on botanical resources, waters permitting, environmental compliance, and regulatory support.

You will contribute to project delivery across infrastructure, restoration, utility, transportation, renewable energy, and land development projects by conducting botanical assessments, supporting permitting efforts, preparing technical documentation, and assisting with environmental compliance requirements. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will help clients navigate regulatory processes while supporting successful project outcomes

The successful candidate will have experience conducting botanical field studies, preparing technical reports, supporting permitting and environmental documentation, and collaborating with project managers and technical specialists. This position offers the opportunity to further develop botanical and permitting expertise while contributing to complex and impactful projects throughout the region.

This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried/exempt position based out of our Half Moon Bay, California office, with hybrid work arrangements available. You will work closely with project managers, botanists, biological resources specialists, permitting professionals, and Natural Resources leadership to support project execution and client success throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and broader Northern California region.

What you will accomplish

• 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 performs monitoring or management actions in the field to implement project requirements or regulatory terms and conditions. Creates and maintains records of completed activities and conditions for the project record.
• 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.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Partner with project managers and clients to plan, coordinate, and execute natural resource projects through successful completion.
• Support project requirements associated with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (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.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a 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.
• Demonstrated commitment to health and safety, including identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate safety procedures during field activities.
• Ability to carry field equipment weighing up to 40 pounds and conduct extended walking or hiking during field investigations.
• Ability to operate company vehicles safely and maintain a valid driver’s license meeting company driving requirements.
• Willingness to participate in pre-employment drug and alcohol screening when required by specific project.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of related botanical, ecological, or natural resource consulting experience.
• Experience supporting environmental permitting and compliance projects involving waters, wetlands, streams, riparian habitats, habitat restoration, or aquatic resources.
• Experience preparing technical documentation to support federal, state, or local permitting and environmental review processes.
• Prior project planning, budgeting, scheduling, or task management experience.
• Experience working with federal, state, or local resource agencies involved in environmental permitting and natural resource management.
• Demonstrated ability to take on increasing project management and leadership responsibilities.
• Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, clients, regulators, and stakeholders on environmental projects