backstory/docs/jobs/restoration-botanist.md

Senior Restoration Botanist

Organization: Pacific Northwest Conservation Alliance
Location: Portland, Oregon
Duration: June 2020 - Present

Position Overview

As Senior Restoration Botanist at the Pacific Northwest Conservation Alliance, I lead complex restoration projects aimed at preserving endangered plant communities throughout the Cascade Range. This role combines technical botanical expertise with project management and leadership responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership

• Design and implement comprehensive restoration plans for degraded ecosystems with emphasis on rare plant conservation
• Lead field operations across multiple concurrent restoration sites covering over 2,000 acres
• Establish measurable success criteria and monitoring protocols for all restoration projects
• Conduct regular site assessments to track progress and adapt management strategies

Native Plant Propagation

• Oversee native plant nursery operations producing 75,000+ plants annually
• Develop specialized propagation protocols for difficult-to-grow rare species
• Maintain detailed records of germination rates, growth metrics, and treatment effects
• Coordinate seed collection expeditions throughout diverse ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest

Team Management

• Supervise a core team of 5 field botanists and up to 12 seasonal restoration technicians
• Conduct staff training on plant identification, restoration techniques, and field safety
• Facilitate weekly team meetings and monthly progress reviews
• Mentor junior staff and provide professional development opportunities

Funding & Partnerships

• Secured $750,000 in grant funding for riparian habitat restoration projects
• Authored major sections of successful proposals to state and federal agencies
• Manage project budgets ranging from $50,000 to $250,000
• Cultivate partnerships with government agencies, tribes, and conservation NGOs

Notable Projects

1. Willamette Valley Prairie Restoration Initiative

   • Restored 350 acres of native prairie habitat
   • Reintroduced 12 threatened plant species with 85% establishment success
   • Developed innovative seeding techniques that increased native diversity by 40%

2. Mount Hood Meadow Rehabilitation

   • Led post-wildfire recovery efforts in alpine meadow ecosystems
   • Implemented erosion control measures using native plant materials
   • Achieved 90% reduction in invasive species cover within treatment areas

3. Columbia River Gorge Rare Plant Recovery

   • Established new populations of 5 federally listed plant species
   • Developed habitat suitability models to identify optimal reintroduction sites
   • Created monitoring protocols adopted by multiple conservation organizations

Achievements

• Received Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award from the Society for Ecological Restoration, Northwest Chapter (2023)
• Featured in Oregon Public Broadcasting documentary on native plant conservation (2022)
• Published 2 peer-reviewed articles on restoration techniques developed during project work