Level Restoration Ecologist - Temporary

About the opportunity

SWCA’s Southern California offices offer a collaborative work environment with a diverse portfolio of engaging projects and clients. Due to continued growth, we are seeking a Temporary Staff Restoration Ecologist, with the potential to transition into a regular part-time position (approximately 26‑34 hours per week) based on performance and business needs.

This position will predominantly require work in the Orange County and Riverside County area and may require occasional travel to complete habitat restoration projects throughout Southern California. The position requires travel to restoration project sites.

The candidate could fill one of two staff-level roles based on skill and years of relevant experience:

• Assistant Staff Restoration Ecologist:
  Typically up to 1 year of experience
• Staff Restoration Ecologist:
  Typically up to 2 years of experience

For this position, depending upon the project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise a restoration survey crew in the field:

• Independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on‑time delivery.
• Ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely.
• Serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers.
• Receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field.
• Monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline.

• Work in a team setting to complete habitat restoration activities such as container plant installation, seed collection and installation, plant propagation by cutting, and removal and control of non‑native plant species using mechanical and chemical methods.
• Conduct baseline surveys including wildlife and vegetation studies.
• Collect field data, record and identify fauna and flora.
• Prepare technical memoranda and other project documentation forms.
• Coordinate with supporting field crews, monitor restoration activities and identify target non‑native species.
• Work with senior ecologists to assess restoration performance through vegetation cover data collection (square, transect and relevé).
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, species of interest, and associated landforms.
• Photograph and take detailed notes of habitats, species, and landforms.
• Operate SWCA vehicles safely, including operation of 4‑wheel‑drive vehicles on rugged, back‑country roads.
• Effectively communicate with other project team members and follow instructions.
• Implement and complete tasks and responsibilities delegated by Supervisors in an independent fashion.
• Take positive action and accountability for assigned work.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a diverse team is critical.
• Learn project environmental requirements and the applicable laws and regulations protecting biological resources.

• Minimum of B.A. or B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or Natural Resource Management or similar field preferred. Extensive existing restoration implementation field experience may be considered as a replacement for this requirement.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in landscaping or ecological restoration implementation.
• Experience with field‑based scientific data collection and attention to detail.
• Must have experience with accurate data collection procedures and data entry QA/QC.
• Familiarity with Southern California flora and fauna and wetland ecosystems.
• Familiarity with native and invasive flora and fauna as well as management techniques.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Ability to identify target non‑native flora,…