Job Opportunity: Miami-Dade County Botanist

[Jennifer Possley]

The Conservation Team at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is seeking an experienced botanist to join our dynamic and busy team whose mission is to reduce the extinction risk of rare plants in South Florida. S/he will carry out or delegate a wide array of monitoring, research, outreach, and other activities in and for Miami-Dade County natural areas. Primary responsibilities include (1) monitoring, mapping, and making management recommendations for rare plants in County preserves, (2) sustainably collecting seeds for conservation and restoration, (3) resampling long-term monitoring transects, (4) contributing to management plans, and (5) communicating results to land managers annually with an oral presentation and written report. This full-time salaried position will require at least 50% of the botanist’s time to be spent outdoors.

Specific duties:

• Conduct frequent visits to Miami-Dade County (MDC) natural areas to monitor and map rare plants;
• Maintain written and geospatial (GIS) records of rare plant monitoring and mapping results;
• Communicate regularly with preserve managers about mapping and monitoring results as they relate to rare plant population trends and management needs;
• Assist MDC land managers on site or remotely when they need botanical expertise;
• Conduct onsite plant ID trainings for vegetation management contractors, with printed ID sheets or weed alerts when appropriate;
• Collect rare plant propagules according to Center for Plant Conservation guidelines and maintain detailed collection records;
• Re-sample vegetation data in long-term monitoring transects, and enter and analyze data for long-term trends;
• Conduct floristic inventories in a subset of preserves;
• Conduct lepidoptera inventories in a subset of preserves;
• Work with the Conservation Team and volunteers to plan rare plant translocations, water plants/seeds after installation, collect microhabitat data, and monitor health and survival;
• Coordinate with the County and other members of the Conservation Team to propagate plants for translocations and restorations;
• Assist with plant rescues in County preserves;
• Contribute to management planning documents such as Natural Areas Protection Plans;
• Recruit and supervise interns, volunteers, contractors, and temporary staff to assist with carrying out the above-listed duties.
• Write and/or contribute to quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports to granting agencies;
• Contribute to collaborative peer-reviewed publications as needed;
• Provide spatial and population size/trend information on MDC rare plant populations to MDC, USFWS, and FNAI upon request;
• Host an annual meeting for preserve managers, present important information about population trends, new finds, and management recommendations;
• Represent Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Conservation Program to lay, government, and scientific groups through oral and poster presentations, lay, and scientific publications, and social media;
• Assist with other duties as assigned by the Director of Regional Conservation or Director of the Garden.

Job requirements:

• Willingness to work alone and as part of a team
• College degree (BA, BS, PhD or MS) in science or a related field
• Familiarity with plants and ecosystems of South Florida, including basic plant ID – or a strong plant/botany background that will enable the candidate to get up to speed quickly
• Training in or familiarity with plant taxonomy
• Strong communication skills in speaking and writing English
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ESRI ArcGIS software
• Proficiency with GPS and smartphone mapping apps
• Ability to work outdoors for hours in hot, humid, buggy conditions
• Valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle
• Friendliness, patience, curiosity, maturity, and positivity

Other desired skills and qualifications:

(Not required, but the ideal candidate will possess these skills)

• Fluent in Spanish
• Experience in managing staff, interns, volunteers, and/or subcontractors
• Proficiency in data analysis

To apply:  Applications should consist of a cover letter, your CV or resume, and the name and contact information for three references. Applicants who do not already live in South Florida should explain in their cover letter how they intend to relocate to South Florida. Send applications to Jennifer Possley, Director of Regional Conservation, jpossley@fairchildgarden.org. Application closing date is October 1st, 2024.

 

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