Title: Ecologist
Exemption Status: Exempt
Department: Native Habitats
Reports to: Managing Ecologist, Prairie/River
Year-Round, Full-time
Supervises: Volunteers, ecological restoration technicians
Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:
- 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time
Compensation Philosophy:
At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.
Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.
The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.
Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.
Position Overview: The ecologist works with the Garden's managing ecologists to collaboratively manage the Garden’s natural areas (including our woods, prairie, river, lakes, and shorelines) while supporting applied research and helping to grow our new Stewardship and Ecology of Natural Areas (SENA) program. This includes working with other staff in the Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, as well as staff and programs throughout the Garden to help support related on-site applied research, learning, and community engagement activities. This includes ensuring a welcoming environment and helping to supervise and mentor a diverse team of SENA technicians and volunteers.
Responsibilities
In this role you will be responsible for the following:
- STEWARDSHIP (65%): Work with the Garden’s managing ecologists to develop and manage diverse plant communities in natural areas to support native plant species diversity and ecological integrity. Actively manage barrier species (including the use of herbicides); mow; participate in and prepare burn breaks for prescribed burns; remove and oversee the removal of hazardous trees; maintain trails, paths, deer fence, and appearance (e.g., litter collection) associated with the natural areas including woodland roadways and boundaries; and related activities. Collect, clean, and sow seeds and plant native species. Assist managing ecologists in the native seed nursery in planting, weeding, and seed collection. Maintain herbicide application equipment and tools. Prepare herbicide mixes when requested by the natural areas staff and keep record of herbicide use.
- MENTORING (30%): Ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment. Support managing ecologists in supervising, mentoring, and training SENA technicians and volunteers.
- APPLIED RESEARCH (3%): Assist managing ecologists and research ecologist with native species monitoring in our natural areas. Support development of applied research projects in collaboration with staff ecologists, Garden scientists, undergraduate and graduate students in the plant biology and conservation (PBC) program, and outside collaborators in support of restoration ecology and stewardship at the Garden and regionally.
- INTERNAL COLLABORATION (2%): Actively collaborate with other Garden departments as necessary to execute work responsibilities, including Construction, Grounds, and Horticulture, as well as Learning/Engagement and Interpretation to support programs, classes, and interpretation that help diverse audiences learn about and experience the Garden’s natural areas.
Qualifications
Our ideal candidate will have the following:
Required
- Minimum three years of hands-on experience in natural areas restoration, stewardship, and prescribed burning
- Minimum one year of chainsaw experience
- Minimum one year of mentoring individuals from different backgrounds as they conduct restoration and stewardship practices
- High comfort level being in and around water along with an ability to swim should the need arise in an emergency
- Familiarity with plants of the Chicago region or upper Midwest
- Ability to key plant species out using a dichotomous key
- Familiarity with midwestern barrier plant species (e.g., buckthorn, lesser celandine) and related stewardship approaches
- Valid driver's license insurable by the Garden
Preferred
- Use of ropes and mechanical devices for safely felling mature, hazardous trees
- Experience with different habitat monitoring approaches to inform stewardship activities
- Possess Illinois pesticide applicator license and s130/s190/Chicago Wilderness prescribed burning certification
- Mechanical ability to use and do minimum equipment maintenance on tools such as chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers, pumps, and leaf blowers
Physical Demands: Frequent, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, lifting, pushing, working, and walking outdoors on uneven terrain and wetland habitats, including during inclement weather. Exposure to poison ivy, bees, ticks, mosquitoes, pollen, other potential allergens, and wildlife. Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds. Licensed driver insurable by the Society.
To Apply: To apply for this position, submit an application and upload a resume. Please be sure your resume indicates your experiences with plant ID, herbicide application, chainsaw use, and conducting prescribed burns, including the habitat type (e.g., prairie, woodland, wetland) where you gained this experience. Please do not submit a cover letter: instead, please answer the questions (three to five sentences each) in the application form: 1. How does this position fit into your desired career path? 2. Please describe your experience supporting teams of individuals from diverse backgrounds in conducting restoration and stewardship activities.
Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.