The Montana Citizen Botany Program is a citizen science program being jointly developed by the Montana Native Heritage Program and the Montana Native Plant Society (MNPS). The program enlists volunteers, Citizen Botanists, to conduct native plant conservation tasks. This program is still in its beginning and developmental stages. A three-year pilot study has demonstrated the need to create a Citizen Botany Coordinator position to manage Citizen Botanist volunteers and help further refine the position and to move the Montana Citizen Botany Program to its next phase of development.

The Citizen Botany Coordinator will be supervised and trained by the MTNHP Botanist and Botany Data Assistant. The MTNHP Botany Data Assistant and Citizen Botany Coordinator will work closely together. The Citizen Botany Coordinator’s main duties are to manage the current Citizen Botanist volunteers (plant assignments, training credentials, contact information, etc.), conduct outreach to secure new volunteers, provide education about the program, assist in refining a webpage for the MNPS website, and investigate, test, and refine workflow processes to make the Coordinator’s position sustainable. Other tasks may include organizing and developing group-based rare plant revisits; writing a manual for the Coordinator’s position; initiating ideas and proposed plans on how the program could be strengthened; and investigating grant and funding opportunities for the program.

This position will be in an office environment 70% of the time and out in the field (workshops; field trips; tabling at conferences) for 30%. 

Essential Functions and responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the MTNHP botanists to develop and refine the Citizen Botany Coordinator’s position, roles, and processes to help further the Citizen Botany Program
• Manage potential and established Citizen Botany volunteers
• Conduct volunteer outreach and manage volunteer data
• Assist in designing a webpage for the MNPS website
• Investigate ways to make the position more sustainable
• Assist in developing workflow processes between major partners (MTNHP, MNPS, land management agencies, volunteers)
• Adhere to program policies and procedures
• Demonstrate the ability to balance service activities
• Demonstrate professional behavior and use of appropriate language
• Demonstrate the ability to be flexible and serve cooperatively
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts
• Attend mandatory trainings (Orientation, Symposium, mid-service training and end of service training)
• Participate in evaluation and reporting (monthly reporting, bi-weekly timesheet submission and monthly check-in calls)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Interested in plants and has a desire to develop botanical skills or knowledge
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 programs (Word, Excel)
• Public speaking and communication skills
• Enjoys working with people of varying backgrounds and botanical skills
• Valid driver’s license