Rare Plant Technician 2

Job Description

About the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s mission is to conserve California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet. Since the 1930s, staff members of the Garden have developed and maintained an intimate knowledge of the California flora, with an emphasis on the plants and vegetation communities of California’s Central Coast and the offshore islands. Today, we take a comprehensive approach to its conservation from genes to ecosystems, with plant systematics, rare plant conservation, community ecology and habitat restoration functions. This allows us to more thoroughly tackle the conservation challenges of our day, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, and climate change.

Overview:

The Rare Plant Technician Level 2 assists with a wide range of field, lab, and office work supporting the conservation of California’s rare flora. Roles and responsibilities for this position will emphasize field work, GIS development and management, data analysis and reporting. Level 2 Technicians have multiple years of experience in the field, giving them the ability to work independently as well as to help train and mentor interns and volunteers. This full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt position reports to the Rare Plant Conservation Scientist and works primarily with the Rare Plant Conservation Team. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter detailing their interest and qualifications, along with a curriculum vitae (or resume).

Field, Office and Laboratory Duties:

Plan and conduct fieldwork excursions, including rare plant surveys, seed collection, seeding and outplanting on single and multi-day field trips

Create maps and manage data using ArcGIS Pro

Collect data using a handheld GPS and Field Maps for ArcGIS

Contribute to data analysis, make maps and write reports for project reports and peer-reviewed publications

Collect, clean and curate seeds for conservation, research and restoration

Take a leading role in scheduling and conducting viability tests and managing associated data for conservation seed collections

Collect and curate herbarium specimens

Contribute to education/outreach/communications by creating social media posts and newsletter articles, working with interns, and presenting research to public and scientific audiences

Knowledge and Abilities:

Experience with and knowledge of taxonomic principles, botany, and ecology

Knowledge of and experience with the California flora, including ability to use taxonomic keys to identify plants

Demonstrated skills and experience building maps and managing data using ArcGIS Pro

Experience with data analysis (e.g., ANOVA, multivariate analyses, etc.) and the use of statistical software (e.g., R, JMP, etc.)

Ability to follow instructions, work successfully with others, and work independently with minimal supervision

Ability to conduct field work in a remote setting with rugged terrain under a variety of environmental conditions, sometimes independently

Ability and willingness to travel for multi-day, overnight fieldwork to remote locations with camping accommodations (some basic camping equipment can be provided, if necessary)

Experience with technical 4-wheel driving preferred

Experience using both paper and digital maps; experience with, ArcGIS, Collector, or Field Maps preferred

Visual acuity, manual dexterity and attention to detail sufficient to clean seeds proficiently

Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Computer proficiency including ability to use Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and ability to learn new computer programs as necessary

Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills

Ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing

Willingness and ability to work cooperatively with peers at the Garden and other institutions

Support for the Garden’s mission and goals

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Technician Level 2

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in botany (preferred), biology, ecology, conservation biology, or closely related area and 5 years of related work experience

OR Master’s degree in horticulture, biology, ecology, botany, conservation biology or a closely related area and at least 2 years of related work experience,

OR 10 or more years of relevant full-time work experience

Demonstrated experience working with seeds and/or plants in a nursery or research greenhouse setting

Reliable transportation to/from the Garden, and to offsite field locations

Certificates and Licenses:

Must hold a valid driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record

Physical Requirements:

Must be capable of occasional strenuous physical work including:

Working outdoors on long field days in excess of 10-12 hours per day, including multi-day overnight camping trips

Sitting for up to 2 hours at a time and using a computer or microscope for lengthy periods

Standing/walking for extended periods of time

Bending, squatting, walking stairs, and hiking on rugged trails (often off-trail) with uneven footing

Safely lifting and carrying up to 40 lbs.

Tolerance of an outdoor work environment. Exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, including temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, wild animals, and sun exposure

Expected Timeline

An ideal candidate for this position will be available to begin work in June 2024.