Title: Staff Botanist

State Role Title: Scientist II

Hiring Range: $65,000-$70,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Office

Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

As part of the Inventory Section, the Staff Botanist of DCR-DNH will work with the Senior Botanist as part of DNH’s botany program to conduct field inventories of elements of biodiversity tracked by DCR-DNH (see https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/infoservices#lists), accurately mapping their extent, assessing the condition of and threats to populations, and completing field data for inclusion into the Biotics database. The Staff Botanist will work with the Senior Botanist to review, analyze, and evaluate the protection and conservation of the Commonwealth’s natural heritage resources (NHR; the habitats of rare, threatened, and endangered species, exemplary natural communities, and significant geological features), informing DCR’s statewide conservation programs. Tasks:
1) Develops, plans, coordinates, and implements field inventories across the state to identify occurrences of rare plant species and potential threats to those species. This includes working closely with other Natural Heritage staff to develop, plan, and coordinate botanical inventories related to land protection, environmental review, and stewardship.
2) Analyzes and helps maintain data on the locations, habitats, status, and ecology of rare, threatened, and endangered species in Virginia, including submissions to the BIOTICS database.
3) Provides DCR and DNH with botanical expertise including assistance with environmental reviews and inquiries from staff on stewardship and protection issues. Provides technical consultation to private, non-profit, and local, state, and federal agencies for the conservation and management of natural heritage resources
4) Fosters partnerships and collaborations to improve the conservation of VA’s NHRs and increase the understanding of DNH’s mission. This includes maintaining a network of botanical contacts, delivering oral presentations, providing spatial data, and generating written reports as appropriate and needed.
5) Supervises two seasonal wage staff and additional staff as needed.
6) Coordinates DNH’s annual inventory work with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). This includes working with the DNH inventory team to target areas of interest to USFS, training botany wage staff to conduct botanical inventory, and acting as liaison for data exchange between DNH and USFS.

The Staff Botanist position is based out of Richmond, Virginia, but the position has statewide responsibilities, including field work across the state. The field season runs generally from April through October. Frequent overnight travel and non-traditional hours will be required Monday-Friday, and sometimes, though rarely, weekend work. The non-field season portion of the year is devoted to synthesizing field data for entry into DCR-DNH’s biodiversity database, specimen curation and identification, and administrative processes. This position is supervised by the Senior Botanist.

Minimum Qualifications

The Staff Botanist must be capable of conducting all aspects of field work in a variety of habitats, terrain, and weather conditions, and must be equally adept at office tasks such as data entry, specimen identification, curation, and report writing. The Staff Botanist should possess a broad knowledge of the flora of Virginia/Mid-Atlantic or the greater Southeast region.
1) Experience in plant taxonomy and ecology, field investigation, and specimen curation.
2) Proven experience and familiarity with the flora of Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, and proven ability to identify most plant species encountered in field work.
3) Professional knowledge of the principals and practices of botanical investigation and protection.
4) Thorough understanding of conservation biology and environmental planning concepts as applied to protection of rare plant species.
5) Skilled at map and aerial photography interpretation, Geographical Information System (GIS, especially ESRI products) and Global Positioning System (GPS) applications, interpretations of soils and geologic maps
6) Willingness to travel and conduct physically demanding work in all weather conditions
7) Ability to independently plan and conduct field work to accomplish data collection goals.
8) Ability to work with public and private interests to initiate and complete the environmental planning process
9) Ability to supervise and train full and part-time employees. Ability to plan and budget for botany related projects and manage the execution of these projects
10) Proficiency with standard office software for word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and presentation graphics, preferably Microsoft Office software and Windows based systems
11) Advanced abilities in graphic and oral communications and technical writing

Additional Considerations

1) Demonstrated experience applying NatureServe/Natural Heritage methodology; Experience with biodiversity inventory, data management, and conservation planning activities in the context of NatureServe/Natural Heritage Network
2) Experience conducting environmental impact reviews and making conservation recommendations, including recommendations for land acquisitions, management designations, land management activities, and sustainable development.
3) Supervisory experience.
4) Obtain and maintain certification in CPR and basic first aid.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

In addition to the VA state application, please provide the following:
A letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile, required and desired position qualifications, and special position requirements.
An example of your technical writing (a project report or publication that you authored).

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
A valid State Driver's License is required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency.


DCR is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and the highest ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that our greatest strength lies in the individual differences, experiences, and skillsets that our employees bring to the table. Because of this, we strongly encourage applications from all walks of life, and we welcome all contributions in terms of age, beliefs, color, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, language, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran’s status.

Selected candidate(s) will need to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. DCR participates in E-Verify.

Submission of an online application is required for this position. DCR does not accept applications, resumes, cover letters, etc. for this vacancy in any other format. When applying for jobs, please ensure your online application or resume is complete with duties and skills associated with your work experience.

Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/T

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: n/a

Email: n/a

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.