Botanist jobs in Jefferson City, MO

Our Business

WSP is a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering, and technical services to energy and industrial markets. We operate in more than 60 countries, employing around 60,000 people, with revenues of over $10 billion. We provide performance-driven solutions throughout the asset life cycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream oil & gas, power & process, environment and infrastructure, clean energy, mining, nuclear, and general industrial sectors.  For more information please visit our website at www.wsp.com. 

We offer competitive salaries along with a complete benefits package including: medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) matching, educational reimbursement, and a variety of training and development programs to help you develop the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career path.[BM1] 

This Opportunity 

WSP is recruiting for a Botanist/Natural Resources Professional to report to our St. Louis, Missouri Office. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of experience (preferred) working on natural resources/ecology-related projects with a preference towards botany. Candidates with less than 2 years of experience that have applicable experience conducting botanical and other ecological/natural resources-related field surveys and have good writing skills documenting natural resources studies may be considered for this position and are encouraged to apply. This is a position that will appeal to individuals with a solid background and interest in botany, vegetation surveys, wetland biology and other natural resources including fish and wildlife ecology, and aquatic or terrestrial field investigations. Candidates should have a good work ethic and genuine interest in career growth within a team of professionals including fisheries and wildlife biologists, wetland scientists, botanists, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) specialists, and environmental permitting specialists. The successful candidate will support botanical and other natural resource field data collection, data organization and analysis, and technical writing efforts for projects in the infrastructure, power, mining, and water resources sectors. Experience participating in natural resources field surveys, organizing and analyzing data, and writing reports is preferred. Work will be performed to support and maintain project/client compliance with various environmental regulations such as Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, Endangered Species Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting compliance, Natural Resources Damage Assessment compliance, Clean Water Act Section 316(a) and 316(b) permitting compliance, and NEPA.

WSP invites qualified applicants with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of botany or plant taxonomy with approximately 0 to 5 years direct work experience to apply for the position. Other degree programs such as those in biology, ecology, wetland science, or an equivalent discipline with a focus on plant identification may also apply.

Your Impact

• Field data collection to support various projects including botanical surveys, identification of wetlands and waters of the U.S, sensitive and protected species and habitat surveys, and fisheries and wildlife surveys.
• Data organization and analysis for data collected in the field and/or through desktop research/reviews.
• Writing technical reports or sections of technical reports including ecological/biological study reports, protected species survey reports, biological assessments/evaluations, wetland delineation reports, environmental permit applications, mitigation plans, impact assessments, and pertinent sections of NEPA documents (EA/EIS).
• Actively participate in assigned work activities and work effectively with team members, as well as independently.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have a BS degree or higher in the field of botany, plant taxonomy, wetland science, or an equivalent discipline.
• 0-5 years of applicable experience conducting ecological/natural resources related field surveys, writing natural resources related technical reports, participating in environmental permitting, wetland delineations, and/or other natural resources surveys.
• Good taxonomic knowledge of Midwest native flora and familiarity with taxonomic keys, especially for wetland flora is highly desired.
• Familiarity with GPS is highly desired for this position.
• Applicant should have strong oral and interpersonal communication skills and good writing skills (may be asked to provide a recent example of a natural resources related report, such as a wetland report, showing the portion(s) of the document written or co-authored by the applicant).
• Formal plant identification training is required.
• Formal wetlands delineation training is beneficial, but not required.
• Availability to travel for fieldwork, including overnight stays is required. Fieldwork typically occurs on weekdays, but in some instances could require working or at least travelling to and from project locations on weekends.
• Ability to work long hours, walk long distances (sometimes in rough terrain), and ability to assist team members with loading and unloading survey equipment and other items may be required at times.