Botanical Specialist

The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) is seeking qualified applicants for the botanical specialist position to support the development and design of an interpretative trail along the Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) Jardin Botánico.

The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuario. Established in 1994, we are the only tropical and non-continental location within the National Estuary Program (NEP) under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Estuario operates as a partnership committed to their collective responsibility to restore and conserve the waters and associated ecosystems of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its watershed as a sustainable axis of social and economic development.

Estuario’s work is guided by a master restoration plan known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the San Juan Bay Estuary.

In order to ensure successful execution of the work plan under Section 320 funding, in collaboration with its partners, Estuario will be developing an interpretative path and signage system along the Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) Jardin Botánico. This effort will provide environmental education support to increase community awareness. The Botanical Specialist will collaborate with the Interpretative Planning and Content Development Specialist to develop the final signage system.

• Conduct a botanical and ecological assessment of the proposed interpretive trail area, identifying native, endemic, culturally significant, and ecologically important plant species and habitat features that should be highlighted along the trail.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance public education, environmental awareness, and conservation of the Jardín Botánico through interpretation, in consultation with Estuario staff, Jardín Botánico staff and researchers, local experts, surrounding communities and other entities, recreational groups, etc.
• Provide technical information, scientific references, and recommendations to support the development of accurate interpretive content by the Interpretive Planning and Content Development Specialist.
• Collaborate with the Interpretive Planning and Content Development Specialist to ensure the scientific accuracy and relevance of the interpretive themes, educational messages, content developed for the five (5) interpretive signs, and other related tasks.
• Validate appropriate locations for the five (5) interpretive signs.
• Participate in stakeholder meetings, site visits, and project coordination meetings, as requested, to provide technical expertise and recommendations, and to incorporate stakeholders’ recommendations into the botanical and ecological assessment of the proposed interpretive trail, as needed.
• Review and provide technical comments on the draft interpretive content, developed by the Interpretive Planning and Content Development Specialist, to ensure scientific accuracy, consistency, and alignment with the project’s educational and conservation objectives.
• Prepare and submit a technical assessment summarizing the botanical and ecological assessment, recommended interpretive themes, sign locations, and supporting scientific rationale for use by the project team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Plant Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Conservation Biology, or a related field. Advanced degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in botanical assessments, plant identification, ecological evaluations, conservation planning, or related work.
• Experience conducting botanical inventories and identifying native, endemic, invasive, and/or culturally significant plant species.
• Experience working in botanical gardens, natural areas, parks, protected areas, or similar environments preferred.
• Experience supporting environmental education, conservation, or interpretive projects preferred.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders preferred.

• Knowledge…