The employee will conduct botanical surveys in the Monongahela National Forest. Proposed action areas will be surveyed using a timed meander method covering known or likely habitat for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) plant species, including Regional Foresters Sensitive Plant Species (RFSS) and West Virginia plant Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Surveys will also document Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS).  Known TES occurrences will be monitored using standardized methodology. 

Two positions are available: one for the North Zone and one for the South Zone of the Monongahela National Forest. Under the co-supervision of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Botanist and the Monongahela National Forest Ecologist, duties will primarily include conducting botanical field surveys, monitoring TES populations, and collecting tabular and spatial information on TES and NNIS occurrences in project areas. Other duties may include producing written survey reports, completing TES and NNIS spreadsheets, providing spatial information (GPS data) for plant populations, and planning for the next field season during winter months.  Field data will be entered into the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program’s database, Biotics, as well as Forest Service databases. The employee will participate in WVDNR and USFS activities related to plant conservation, such as collecting plants and seeds for native plant materials collections and propagation.

Additional duties may include:

• Conducting targeted surveys for plant SGCN on the Monongahela National Forest under the supervision of the DNR botanist
• NNIS treatment and monitoring
• Planting and seeding for restoration efforts
• Producing spatial products using GIS software
• Coordinating and monitoring restoration work with contractors and other partners. Restoration projects may include warm season grass restoration, fire-adapted ecosystem restoration, spruce ecosystem restoration, and watershed restoration.

Professional development opportunities will be available, including trainings in plant identification, use of Biotics software and “Natural Heritage Methodologies”, and herbarium curation/plant collecting.

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with federally listed plant species and their habitats in West Virginia.
• Familiarity with plants on the Monongahela National Forest’s Regional Foresters Sensitive Plant Species List and their habitats in West Virginia
• Demonstrated experience working with the vegetation and plant communities of West Virginia and the central Appalachian Mountains region.
• Documented experience conducting botanical surveys.
• Demonstrated ability to use a dichotomous key to identify plants
• Demonstrated experience and skill with MS Office, mapping GPS unit, and other software tools
• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in biology, botany, plant taxonomy, or a related field
• Ability to work in rough terrain, isolated areas, and in various weather conditions such as rain, snow, heat, etc.
• Ability to collect and process plants for scientific collections is preferred, but training on this topic will be available
• Ability to use and produce GIS products is preferred but not necessary.

Employment Location: There are multiple duty location possibilities for this position. Forest service offices in Bartow, Parsons, Marlinton, or Petersburg are possibilities for the primary duty location, with Bartow the preferred location for the North Zone appointment and Marlinton the preferred location for the South Zone. Temporary housing may be available at these locations. Additional details can be provided.

Employment Period:  February, 2027 through December 31, 2027 with option for renewal in 2028.