Restoration Designer / Ecologist

Collaborative Earth; Prairie View (TX); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Collaborative Earth is seeking a Restoration Designer / Ecologist for a part-time, flexible role based in Prairie View, TX. The position will lead preliminary site assessments, species identifications, and site-specific restoration design for an early-stage Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program along Brazos River tributaries.

The role is primarily field-based with some remote desk work, and will involve working with land stewards to translate site conditions into practical restoration

Qualifications

• Experience conducting field inventories for wetlands or riparian systems.
• Ability to translate field observations into site plans and planting designs.
• Familiarity with hydrology, soils, topography, and vegetation assessments.

Responsibilities

• Develop site-specific restoration and reforestation plans for landowners.
• Conduct baseline ecological measurements to support planning.
• Support PVAMU partnership with planning and monitoring activities.
• Collaborate with legal and carbon teams to support project planning.
• Establish ecological protocols for site assessment and planting design.

Skills

Field inventory

Ecological data collection

Geospatial analysis

ArcGIS / QGIS

Independent work

Site planning

Vegetation surveys

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Remote sensing tools

Job description

Restoration Designer / Ecologist (Part Time, Flexible)

About the Role

Collaborative Earth is hiring an experienced Restoration Designer / Ecologist to lead preliminary site assessments, species identification, and site-specific restoration design and planning for an early-stage Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program focused on tributaries of the Brazos River in Waller County, Texas. This is a great opportunity to help shape the ecological foundations of a growing program supporting landowners in Texas.

The Waterways Program’s Brazos Basin project will focus on planting native vegetation (with particular focus on bottomland hardwood forests) along waterways in the Brazos River watershed, and will be primarily based in Prairie View, near Houston. This project is being developed alongside partners at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and in collaboration with local landowners.

As a Restoration Designer / Ecologist, you'll work closely with our team to assess prospective sites and develop tailored site plans with participating land stewards that align with project goals and ecological best practices. Plans will translate site conditions—including hydrology, soils, topography, existing vegetation, land-use history, and site constraints—into practical recommendations for where and how restoration should occur. This is a primarily field-based position with some remote desk work. During site visits you will conduct baseline ecological measurements and field assessments to understand site conditions and inform project planning. In the office, you'll translate field observations into practical site plans and recommendations, while helping to develop the ecological guidance, technical standards, and planning approaches that will shape the program, including processes for plant species selection, site plan design, planting strategies, and monitoring timelines.

This is a long-term project; given our use of PES financing, planting activities are not expected to begin until 2027 at the earliest.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing site-specific restoration and reforestation plans for individual landowners that draw on historical research and ecological considerations and incorporate spatial layouts, planting guidelines, and monitoring and maintenance plans.
• Conducting baseline ecological measurements to support project planning and possible future PES development. This may include vegetation surveys, soil and erosion observations, photo documentation, tree measurements, and assessment of site hydrology and topography.
• Supporting our on-the-ground partners in developing a physical project at PVAMU. This may include assisting with planning, site preparation, planting, and monitoring activities.
• Collaborating with the broader team (including legal and carbon specialists) and community partners to support overall project planning & coordination.
• Helping establish ecological protocols for site assessment, planting design, species selection, monitoring, and management.

An ideal candidate will be someone who is:

• Experienced performing field inventories and creating actionable restoration and reforestation designs for forested wetlands, bottomland hardwood systems, and Texas river tributaries.
• Knowledgeable about Texas ecosystems, with particular familiarity with riparian and bottomland hardwood systems.
• Proficient in ecological data collection and management, including systematic field observation, plant species identification, vegetation surveys, and, ideally, wetland delineation or related understanding of hydrology and wetland systems.
• Experienced using geospatial software such as ArcGis Suite or QGIS and geospatial analysis, and/or remote sensing data collection tools to support ecological assessments, site design and mapping.
• Comfortable working independently and developing new processes to fit community, ecological, and program needs.
• Detail-oriented and able to synthesize information obtained from field visits and other sources into actionable site plans and recommendations.
• Comfortable working outdoors in hot and dry conditions for extended periods, able to lift 50 lbs, and able to navigate uneven or loose terrain.

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following experience would be helpful

• Skilled in community collaboration, outreach and relationship-building.
• A strong communicator who can effectively collaborate with scientists, land stewards, and interdisciplinary project teams and is able to represent the Waterways Program Project at public events.

Position Details

• Role is based in Prairie View, TX, with some potential for travel to other nearby locations. Our strong preference is for a local hire located within 1 hour of Prairie View.
• Landowner engagement and field visits are required components of the position.
• Must have access to a vehicle. Mileage reimbursement is provided.

We are hiring for a part-time contractor position, likely 1-3 days per week, with the potential for additional hours as needed. We're flexible regarding the duration of the role and will shape it based on both project needs and the applicant’s circumstances. Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is a strong fit for both the project and our organization. Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Collaborative Earth Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We bring together diverse expertise and deep local knowledge to discover and co-create pathways to places where both nature and humanity can thrive.