Botanical Science Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

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LAUKOA is seeking four On-call Field Biologists to join our conservation and planning team.
Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly pay - $25.00 - $40.00/hour, depending on experience.
• Locations - Multiple depending on the work
• This position is nearly 100% travel. Work is expected to vary, but can be 40+ hours a week, and as much as 2-3 weeks per month in the growing season, reduced to approximately 1-2 weeks outside the growing season.
• Government per diem for meals and lodging, airfare, mileage, rental trucks, and incidentals are paid for by LAUKOA
• Best-in-class benefits program including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; paid vacation and sick leave; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; an Employee Assistance Program; and a flexible work environment. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including critical illness coverage; accident insurance; identity theft coverage; pet insurance, and more.

Introduction
These are part-time position working on multiple field projects throughout the U.S, with a focus in the southwestern border region. The ideal candidate will be motivated and a self-starter, be safety oriented, and hold over five years of previous experience working in the field as an ecologist/biologist/botanist. Candidates should be familiar with common field survey methods, conducting wetland delineations, vegetation inventories and avian surveys, particularly in the desert southwest. Candidates should also hold habitat restoration experience.
Responsibilities
Candidates should have experience surveying for wildlife, rare plants, and conducting wetland and stream delineations. Candidates may be asked to survey for rare plants, conduct nest surveys, cover for environmental monitoring, conduct raptor or MBTA surveys, conduct vegetation inventories, be familiar with growing plants, collecting seed, and restoring sites from non-native to native habitats.
Candidates should be comfortable working around heavy equipment, be able to work independently, have a clean driving record, be able to pass a background check, be familiar using GPS, Survey 1-2-3, tablets to document detailed field data, be able to prepare findings sections of reports, figures, and photologs.

• Field Surveys: Conduct botanical, wildlife, pre-construction surveys for nesting birds, and/or wetland delineations with at least one other biologist across a variety of diverse terrains and weather conditions.
• Endangered Species and Habitat Surveys: Perform presence/absence and protocol-level surveys for specialized species, requiring Recovery permits as needed.
• Data Collection and Management: Utilize ESRI software and other tools for data collection, quality control (QC), and report writing.
• Compliance Support: Provide biological desktop reviews, create permitting packages, assist with GIS mapping, and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Project Oversight: Assist with proposal submissions and various project planning
• Team Collaboration: Maintain open and concise communication with the project team, contractors, and clients.
• Reporting: Assist with the preparation of technical studies, daily monitoring reports, and compliance documentation.

• Collect project-related data, which may include supporting surveys for listed species; surveying out in front of construction, document potential environmental best management practices non-compliance and working with Government Point of Contact on certain projects.
• Effectively communicate with a variety of personnel working on the project, including clients, engineers, stakeholders, government personnel, land owners, construction personnel, and colleagues.

Requirements

• Minimum of five years of full-time biological/ecological experience supporting a variety of field projects.
• Minimum of BS in ecology, biological sciences or related field.
• Ability to document important field findings accurately.
• Be willing to work in inclement weather conditions (extreme heat, rain, or cold) and possibly traverse steep terrain in some locations. Candidates must be able to work independently. The position requires the successful candidate to be in the field for several, typically non-consecutive weeks during the growing season (travel estimated to be 50% during the growing season), and less frequently outside of the growing season.
• Effective written/verbal communication and organization/analytical skills; experience recording/writing detailed technical data and reports a must.
• Experience conducting protocol surveys for special status species, particularly avian and endangered plants.
• Experience with ArcGIS, using GPS in the field, Survey 1-2-3 or Wildnote or similar.
• Familiarity understanding taxonomy and be proficient with local (desert southwest or Texas) plant and animal identification.
• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently as well as with supervision.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have a clean driving record.
• Able to pass a federal background check.
• Able to pass a drug test.

LAUKOA is an Equal Opportunity/VEVRAA federal contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
LAUKOA offers a best-in-class benefits program including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; paid vacation and sick leave; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; an Employee Assistance Program; and a flexible work environment. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including critical illness coverage; accident insurance; identity theft coverage; pet insurance, and more.
LAUKOA gives preference to internal candidates. If no internal candidate meets our qualifications, external candidates will be given consideration.