Botany Technician

Overview

Position Title:

Botany Technician

Application Review Begins:
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Final date to receive applications:
Sunday, February 15, 2026

Department/Division:
Natural Resource Management

Field (e.g., systematics):

General Information:
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking botany technicians to contribute to botanical survey projects alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

Estimated Position Dates:
April 20, 2026 - Fall 2026

Location Details/

Description:

Tahoe National Forest (Nevada City, California)

Position Benefits

• Pay: $895/week
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority
• Housing Allowance:
  Up to $280/week
• Field Gear Allowance:
  Up to $500
• Training/Professional Development Allowance:
  Up to $500

Position Overview:

The Botany Technician position will take direction from Lead Botany Technicians and USFS Botanists in conducting botanical surveys, weed management, field data documentation, and data entry. All Technicians on the Botany crew will work both independently and as a team to coordinate work efforts, conduct botanical field surveys, summarize survey findings, manage field equipment, discuss technical problems encountered or anticipated during project work, and create a safe work culture.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Botanical Survey Responsibilities (75%):

• Conduct floristic surveys and targeted surveys for rare and invasive plants within project areas, typically covering one to three thousand acres per person in a season.
• Collect survey and inventory data to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat.
• Use botanical keys and field guides to identify plants encountered during surveys.
• Collect and maintain detailed documentation of field data.
• Compile and summarize data obtained from surveys, inventories, biological evaluations and monitoring, and produces reports that summarize findings, which are used in Forest Service Botanists’ analysis of projects occurring on Forest Service lands.
• Use computer systems and associated software for recording, organizing, storing, and summarizing data.
• Use global positioning systems (GPS), aerial photographs, topographic maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or compass in navigation.
• Perform physical labor and daily hiking, often to remote locations in rugged terrain, sometimes under adverse weather conditions.
• Enter data and track data entry using MS Word, MS Excel, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, and USFS databases.

Invasive Plant Management Responsibilities (25%):

• Assist with a full range of technical assignments related to seasonal invasive plant management activity on US Forest Service lands.
• Assess invasive plant population parameters, including size, distribution, and phenology to inform decisions about appropriate control tactics and treatment prioritization.
• Perform manual invasive plant treatments such as hand-pulling, using hand tools, and using power tools.
• May assist with herbicide application under the supervision of the USFS Botanist, a California certified pesticide applicator.

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly…