[PCA] JOB: Rare Plant Botanist, CA Native Plant Society (Sacramento, CA)

[Olivia Kwong]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Subject:  Rare Plant Botanist Position (California Native Plant Society,
Sacramento, CA)

Body:
Job Announcement
Rare Plant Botanist

April 19, 2010

Background:
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide non-profit
conservation organization, founded in 1965, with more than 9,000 members in
33 chapters. The mission of CNPS is to conserve California native plants and
their natural habitats, and to increase the understanding, appreciation, and
horticultural use of native plants.

The Position
The Rare Plant Botanist is the lead staff person for the implementation of
the Rare Plant Program. The Program, a component of the Plant Sciences
Program of CNPS, is dedicated to developing and maintaining information
resources about statewide rare plants in California. The Program promotes
the optimal use of good science in the protection and conservation of
statewide rare plants. The Rare Plant Botanist is a full-time, exempt “at
will” position. The Rare Plant Botanist is supervised by the Executive
Director.

Education
Minimum education: Masters degree in botany or related field or
undergraduate degree with at least five years of professional experience.

Required Experience & Skills
1. Broad botanical knowledge, including plant identification, California
botany and floristics, conservation biology, and vegetation ecology. A
strong background in plant taxonomy is necessary.
2. Knowledge of plant conservation laws and regulations, both California and
Federal;
3. High degree of commitment and dedication to plant conservation goals;
4. Strong computer literacy (Microsoft Windows OS, Word, Excel, and email at
minimum), and strong database management skills and data entry proficiency
(Microsoft Access);
5. Strong writing and verbal communication skills;
6. Strong analytical and organizational skills, with an attention to detail;
familiarity with GIS mapping methods, including ArcGIS software is highly
desirable;
7. Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide variety of
people, including CNPS volunteers, agency personnel, academics, and other
professional and amateur botanists; and
8. Ability to work independently and as part of the CNPS team, willingness
to work within CNPS agenda and be open-minded as well as exercise
professional judgment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
• The primary duty of the Rare Plant Botanist is to co-coordinate the
ongoing effort to review and refine the status of the rare plants of the
state. Major changes include status changes, name changes, additions and
deletions to the extremely important state list of rare plants.
• Administer the Rare Plant Program and establish day-to-day planning
priorities for Rare Plant science activities including: developing and
maintaining annual budgets and program priorities, representing CNPS and the
Rare Plant Program at meetings (e.g. Interagency Botanist meetings, various
agency meetings, internal CNPS staff and chapter meetings) and conferences.
• Conduct research, data entry, and quality control of the CNPS rare plant
database, which is the foundation of the CNPS Online Inventory of Rare and
Endangered Plants of California (Inventory).
• Conduct research on the status, nomenclature, distribution and abundance,
and endangerment of rare plants by developing and working effectively with a
network of local and regional experts on California's rare flora.
• Generate and distribute rare plant data and information for public
agencies, conservationists, consultants, researchers, media (listing press
releases and species in the news), and others. Answer inquiries regarding
plants in the CNPS database. Coordinate, collaborate and consult with
chapter Rare Plant Coordinators in their efforts.
Assist efforts to create data links between agencies and other conservation
organizations and the CNPS Rare Plant Program.
• Promote the proper placement of rare plant species on state and Federal
lists of endangered species, via listing petition development and editing,
cooperative efforts with DFG and USFWS, and provide scientific information
for legal action where necessary.
• Conduct fieldwork and site visits, as necessary, to coordinate efforts to
identify, protect, and manage rare plants. Develop appropriate research
proposals.
• Assist in conservation and education / outreach activities, time
permitting and as necessary.

Pertaining to the above duties, the following work is required of the Rare
Plant Botanist: prolonged sitting, standing, and bending; prolonged use of a
computer and mouse; extended periods of data entry; use of library, online,
and other materials for research; use of phone and email for communication;
occasional photocopying and filing; occasional field work involving hiking
and camping; driving to meetings as necessary.

Salary and Benefits
$40,000-45,000 per year plus benefits.

For More Information
To view a complete job description for this position, please log on to the
CNPS web site at www.cnps.org (description available in PDF format).

Application Process
Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest, a résumé
including salary history, and the names, phone numbers and email addresses
of three professional references by May 7, 2010. Applications should be
mailed to the attention of:

ATTN: Rare Plant Botanist
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
thansen at cnps.org

No phone inquiries will be accepted. Applications may be faxed or emailed in
order to meet the deadline, but an original application must also be mailed.
The fax number is (916) 447-2727 and the email address is thansen at cnps.org.

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Thanks,

Nick




Nicholas Jensen
Rare Plant Program Director
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 324-3816
njensen at cnps.org