Restoration Ecology Lead (NPS, North Cascades National Park)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the National Park Service at North Cascades National Park, is recruiting one Restoration Ecologist to plan and implement priority restoration projects across the park. 

North Cascades National Park Complex includes three National Park Units across the Cascades Crest, from low elevation forests, rivers and wetlands to high elevation mountain meadows, woodlands and alpine ecosystems. Restoration projects at North Cascades National Park Complex span these systems: high elevation meadow restoration to reduce damage from off-trail hiking, wetland rehabilitation and erosion control in hydroelectric project corridors, experimental weed exclusion projects, and post-fire recovery efforts. The restoration ecologist will work with the park vegetation ecologist and program manager to plan and prioritize restoration actions for different projects, determine best practices, work directly with staff from other divisions and partners to develop plan details, establish monitoring plans and effectiveness measures, implement work in the field with NPS staff, partners and cooperating groups, and report on actions. The restoration ecologist will rely on and be a part of a dynamic interdisciplinary resource management team, have opportunities for professional development and training, and mentor interns or other entry-level staff. 

Primary Responsibilities:

GBI will hire and support a park-based Research Associate Restoration Ecologist, in collaboration and agreement with NPS, for 2080 hours to support project work for the park:

• Plan, or contribute to restoration plan development, for actions across the park, developing expertise in acting as a subject matter expert in restoration planning efforts;
• Native seed collection and management: identify and prioritize collections, manage seed inventories, maintain increase beds, work with seed collection crews, plan direct seeding efforts;
• Native plant sourcing and propagation: Identify and review materials sources, contribute expertise to propagation discussions;
• Implementation of restoration actions, site maintenance, and monitoring;
• Data management and reporting: qualitative, quantitative and spatial data management to track restoration sites across the park, reporting and summary analyses of restoration results;
• Act as a technical field lead for NPS and partner field crews, in collaboration with NPS supervisor;
• Collaborate and coordinate with other divisions and external groups or conservation corps teams to meet project goals and communicate work efforts; and
• Assist in collateral projects in forest management and monitoring, invasive weed management and monitoring and similar work.

Timeline:

• Anticipated start date on or before 3/24/2026; 52 wks;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: 4/10s Mon-Thurs or maxi-flex.

Location:

North Cascades National Park’s headquarters are in Sedro-Woolley, WA. The selected candidate will be expected to work during the field season in Marblemount, WA and be within commuting distance of park offices.  

North Cascades National Park Complex includes three NPS units: North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The park is about 3 hours from Seattle and primary access to both North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area is from the State Route 20 corridor. Stehekin and Lake Chelan are accessible by ferry or foot. Most of the park is a steep wilderness crossing the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Elevations range from near sea level to 9000 feet and include a diversity of ecosystems, from dense western Washington old growth forests to alpine environments. Dryer, warmer summers are bookended by high rains in spring and fall and heavy snows and avalanche risks above 2000 feet. Off-trail travel can traverse loose, steep slopes. 

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $29 hourly;

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Competitive PTO accrual and paid holidays;
• Eligible for 401(k) retirement savings with up to 4% GBI match;
• Access to Pro Deals; and
• Relocation costs ($1500) and personal equipment ($660) reimbursement.

Housing: Will not be provided and the selected participant will be expected to procure housing on their own; Park housing (at participant’s own cost) may be available to the selected employee in Marblemount, WA. 

Per diem: Travel or Camping per diem provided while on official travel (per night).

Qualifications:

Required:

• The position will require an early career ecologist or biologist with some experience or graduate education in vegetation restoration, native plant materials collection and management and project planning and implementation;
• Skills in data management, geospatial data management (e.g., ESRI products) and reporting;
• Leadership and experience training others;
• Experience creating and/or reviewing restoration plans;
• Ability to work in teams of varied expertise and skills;
• Ability to work safely in the field in varied environments and weather conditions;
• Ability to work safely at elevations up to 6500’, carrying packs up to 50lbs. in steep terrain, on and off trail;
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; and
• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI). If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your Application.

Preferred: 

• Experience in PNW ecosystems and with PNW plant species;
• Experience with motorboat operation and/or willingness to obtain certification (through NPS);
• Experience in invasive weed management and herbicide application; and
• Field first aid certifications.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Office Duties:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

The overall nature of the (Indoors/Office) position is sedentary, requiring little physical effort and occasional light exertion. There is occasional exposure to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and temperature changes.

Field duties:

Field work will require significant driving and travel by boat and on foot to sites ranging from road edges, lake shores, low elevation fens and 5000’ subalpine meadows. The selected candidate will need to be able to operate safely on foot, vehicle, and boat (with provided training) and access sites on and off trail, carrying weights of 25-50 pounds, in varied weather conditions.