CNPS is looking to hire an Associate Vegetation Ecologist / Field Coordinator as a full-time, non-exempt position that will be supervised by the Vegetation Field Data Specialist. There is potential to hire up to two individuals. The position(s) includes at least 9 months of work, beginning in February 2024, and the position(s) will likely be extended. The Associate Ecologist is responsible for supporting regional vegetation inventory, classification, mapping, and monitoring efforts in northwestern California, central California, and other areas through the coordination of field missions and the promotion of the Manual of California Vegetation and Sensitive Natural Communities Initiative. Areas of focus for field work include Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and other counties in Central California. This is a remote position that requires the final applicants to be centrally located within California.
The position requires a detail-oriented individual to coordinate fieldwork and crews in vegetation inventory and mapping efforts, assist in vegetation fieldwork in key ecological regions, organize and integrate vegetation data in regional efforts, map and describe vegetation, and increase training, outreach, and communication on California’s vegetation. The position will typically work independently and may direct 4+ staff, partners or volunteers, in the office or in the field. Other opportunities include training staff, students, or volunteers on data collection, data entry, and Geographic Information System (GIS) tasks using CNPS vegetation methods and related work (e.g., plant identification & specimen collection). Required travel and time in the field will account for 30% - 70% of annualized responsibilities. Field work is seasonal with the concentration of required travel occurring during Spring, Summer, and Fall.
The CNPS Vegetation Program supports vegetation sampling, classification, mapping, and monitoring across California. Our statewide system has been developed over the past 25 years by CNPS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and is used by both governmental and non-governmental institutions to map, categorize, describe, and rank rarity of vegetation. We also collaborate with a variety of other local, state and national entities on fine-scale mapping, long-term monitoring, and data analysis including with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring program. At the heart of our efforts is A Manual of California Vegetation; originally a hard-copy reference, this resource is now available and regularly updated online. What You'll DoOffice work
- Coordinate logistics and track progress on regional sampling and mapping projects in northwestern or central California
- Compile, organize, quality control, and synthesize vegetation data in databases and spreadsheets
- Manage, query, analyze and display spatial information using ESRI ArcPro, ArcMap, and other software
- Photo-interpret imagery for vegetation patterns; and perform enhanced lifeform or fine-scale vegetation mapping
- Use literature to research and describe vegetation and environmental factors
- Assist in vegetation ranking and webinars on classifying, mapping, and evaluating sensitive vegetation
- Summarize natural communities in A Manual of California Vegetation and in written reports
Field work
- Support ongoing fieldwork of field staff and partners on vegetation classification and mapping efforts. Coordination effort may be either:
- coordinating 3 field crews who will be conducting BLM AIM riparian & wetland samples across California (with emphasis in northern and eastern California, or
- coordinating 1-3 field crews who will be conducting CNPS-CDFW vegetation samples in central and southern California
- Conduct vegetation sampling and training in regional projects across California
- Recognize patterns and stands of vegetation and identify them through the use of diagnostic keys
- Identify plants using taxonomic keys, hand lens, and dissecting microscope