Job Description

Position Summary

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) of Colorado State University seeks two Botany Technicians and two Wetland Technicians to collect field data in support of CNHP’s Statewide Natural Heritage Survey of biodiversity. Field teams will consist of 2 or more people, and some hitches may include work with undergraduate interns.  

The CNHP Botany/Vegetation Ecology Team supports the Statewide Natural Heritage Survey of biodiversity by conducting field work focused on upland rare plants, wetlands and natural plant communities. Field work will take place across Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Western Slope, and Great Plains. Standard duties will involve assisting with logistics for field hitches, driving and hiking to field sites, detailed completion of field forms, collection of spatial data, and communication with project partners, including private landowners. The position involves extensive travel, camping in remote settings, and long 10+ hour field days. The typical field schedule is 8 days on with 6 days off or 4 days on with 3 days off. The position requires experience with fieldwork and plant identification. Experience with natural heritage methodology, describing vegetation patterns on the landscape, and experience working in the Rocky Mountain, Intermountain West, and/or Great Plains is preferred, but not required and training will be provided. A valid driver’s license for travel between sites is required, as is the ability to hike and navigate to field sites. These positions are supervised by permanent CNHP staff. For more information about this position and others, please visit https://cnhp.colostate.edu/aboutus/careers/employment/.   

If you are passionate about conservation and making a positive impact, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the preferred qualifications. Join the CNHP Botany/Ecology Team and play a pivotal role in preserving our natural landscapes! We can't wait to hear from you! 

Conditions of Employment

The successful candidate must have a valid driver's license at the time of hire and pass motor vehicle history and criminal background checks.

Supervision

The position will be supervised by a CNHP Botanist / Ecologist or a CNHP Wetland Ecologist.

Essential Job Duties

• Assist the lead with field planning and logistics for 4 to 8-day field hitches, coordinate tasks, and maintain strong communication with interns, public and private land managers, and other staff. 

• Travel with a dedicated crew extensively across Colorado, camp for up to 8 days, and follow departmental safety protocols. 

• Use GPS applications and maps, navigate to and from sites via paved roads, 4x4 dirt roads, hiking trails, and off-trail travel through dense vegetation and across long distances.   

• Identify plants using dichotomous keys. Collect botanical, ecological and spatial data in the field using Survey123 and Field Maps regarding rare plants and vegetation communities following set protocols. Collect reference herbarium specimens where suitable. 

• Assist with the management, quality assurance, and reporting of field-collected data. Review collected data to ensure accuracy and completeness, which may include editing spatial data in ArcPro and working in Excel.  

Minimum Qualifications   

1. Experience collecting botanical and/or ecological field data related to vegetation sampling, plant population abundance, plant identification, and/or habitat assessments.   

2. Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules, travel extensively during the field season, share living quarters in rustic field housing, bunkhouses, and car camping, and potentially backpack and hike long distances (up to 15 miles per day) while carrying a heavy pack (up to 40 lbs). 

3. Willingness and ability to work with a positive attitude in field conditions that include exposure to inclement weather, rugged terrain, hot or cold weather (30–110° F), biting insects, and poisonous plants, all while maintaining a strong commitment to team safety. 

4. Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. 

5. Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and to maintain effective working relationships. 

6. Strong oral and written communication skills; proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.    

7. Ability to work both independently with guidance and effectively in a team. 

8. Experience using dichotomous keys and/or field guides, familiarity with the major plant families, and/or knowledge of western flora. 

9. Experience with mapping applications such as ArcGIS online, QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, and/or Survey123. 

10. A valid driver’s license is required.  

Preferred Qualifications

1. A completed bachelor’s degree (or expectation of a completed degree by May 2026) in botany, ecology, natural resources, range management, or a related field. 

2. Experience describing vegetation patterns found on the landscape including recording and describing dominant and diagnostic species by strata and/or experience applying the U.S. National Vegetation Classification System to inform vegetation observations.   

3. Experience using NatureServe Core Methodology (Natural Heritage Methodology) to conduct inventories and collect data on tracked plants and plant communities. 

4. Experience collecting data electronically using tablets or other devices, such as Survey 123. Proficiency using mapping applications such as ArcGIS Online, QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps and Survey123 to collect and edit spatial data. Ability to navigate in the field using a GPS unit, tablet or navigation apps.

5. Experience driving 4x4 vehicles on rough roads.

6. Experience working on a field crew and camping in remote locations.

7. Experience working in the Rocky Mountain, Intermountain West, or Great Plains ecoregions. 

Application Instructions

To apply, please attach a resume (in PDF form), cover letter (in PDF form), and three references (please include phone number and email contact information for references)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but for strong consideration apply by February 20th, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.