Botanist/Wildlife Biologist

We have an opening for a Botanist/Wildlife Biologist to support the Environment, Safety & Health Directorate, Water Resources and Environmental Planning Group. You will be responsible for understanding and interpreting the impacts of technical research and facility operations projects on natural resources including rare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats, migratory birds, wetlands, floodplains, and other sensitive areas.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization. 

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level. 

You will

• Serve as a technical contact and resource to LLNL programs to ensure that programs and projects comply with requirements of the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other applicable natural resource protection and conservation requirements.  This will include a combination of field work, pre- and post-project surveys, and document preparation.
• Be responsible for field work tasks, as needed, primarily for floristic inventories, vegetation community sampling and mapping, and potentially for wetland delineations and compliance monitoring.
• Perform activities required to eliminate or reduce invasive and non-native species.
• Perform field work in adverse conditions including monitoring and other activities that may involve the collection of voucher specimens, capturing and releasing of animals, telemetry studies and observational studies.
• Contribute to monitoring reports, articles, posters, and other materials for employee and community awareness and outreach purposes.
• Respond to various wildlife concerns and employee-wildlife interaction issues.
• Train and oversee contractors and other LLNL staff on natural resource protection and management issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the TSS.3 level 

• Provide advanced regulatory ESA guidance and recommendations to LLNL programs and operations in specific areas of assignment.
• Independently prepare and conduct assessments, monitoring programs, and other activities that may involve the capturing and releasing of animals, telemetry studies and observational studies.
• Prepare written correspondence to Federal, State, and other regulatory agencies concerning natural resource issues.
• Mentor less experienced personnel.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. 
• Bachelor’s degree in biological or ecological science, wildlife management, environmental science or related field. 
• Comprehensive experience or knowledge in applying the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other state and federal natural resource regulations.
• Broad knowledge of natural and managed ecosystems and floristics, and experience identifying common and rare plant species.
• Experience monitoring bird populations.
• Experience documenting technical work, communicating policies, procedures and complex requirements, and giving technical presentations to inter-organization and external stakeholders.
• Effective organizational skills with detail orientation necessary to handle multiple complex tasks in a demanding environment with conflicting priorities, tight and changing deadlines, and frequent interruptions while providing high-level customer service, and good follow-through.
• Analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills to evaluate, interpret, negotiate, recommend and implement actions/solutions for moderate to complex problems.

Additional qualifications at the TSS.3 level 

• Advanced knowledge and significant experience independently interpreting and applying the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or other federal natural resource regulations.
• Significant experience documenting and interpreting technical work, communicating policies, procedures and complex requirements, and giving technical presentations to professional colleagues and mid-level management.
• Advanced knowledge of California ecosystems and floristics, and experience identifying common and rare plant species.

Qualifications We Desire

• Expertise in the ecology and conservation of special status plant and amphibian species. 
• Service-approved for handling California red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii) and California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense).
• Experience training and conducting briefings to staff and contractors on natural resource protection issues.
• Significant experience in management techniques for California Grassland ecosystems and/or in wetland delineation and/or riparian/aquatic habitat management.

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity
• Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values 
• Employee engagement - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement

Site 300

Site 300 is an experimental test site operated by LLNL.  Situated on 7,000 acres in rural foothills approximately six miles southwest of downtown Tracy and 15 miles southeast of Livermore, Site 300 hosts approximately 200 employees with expertise in such fields as engineering, chemistry, biology, and environmental restoration. Employees assigned to work at Site 300 may be exposed to the organism that causes San Joaquin Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis).

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.