Research Scientist - Native Seed Strategy Coordination

Position Title: Research Scientist - Native Seed Strategy Coordination
Project Title: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Seed Strategy Coordination
Employer: Chicago Botanic Garden
Location: Remote or based near Falls Church, VA (with optional travel)
Full-time: Full-time, salaried (2 years)
Reports to: Senior Manager, Seed Projects and Partnerships; works in close coordination with FWS National Seed Strategy Team, Chicago Botanic Garden seed partnership team, and outside collaborators

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 Research Scientist will provide scientific and strategic support to both the Chicago Botanic Garden and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as part of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration. The Research Scientist will play a central role in facilitating interagency coordination and stakeholder engagement to advance the goals of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (National Seed Strategy), National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center (NISRC), and Seeds of Success (SOS) Seedbank. The position will focus on strengthening communication and collaboration across diverse federal, state, Tribal, and nonprofit stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the broader Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA). Through this coordinated engagement, the Research Scientist will support the development and implementation of key strategies, tools, and resources, including how-to manuals, to support national seed restoration efforts.

Key Responsibilities

1. Scientific Research Support and Facilitation of Information Exchange

• Develop and distribute how-to manuals, technical guides, and other resources that support stakeholders in implementing seed restoration best practices, advancing the goals of the PCA and the National Seed Strategy.
• Synthesize and communicate scientific insights and findings, including contributions from the PCA, to inform and advance national seed initiatives through diverse communication channels.
• Collaborate with the Science Communicator to ensure that complex scientific content is accessible, clear, and actionable for a wide range of audiences, including decision-makers, stakeholders, and partners.

2. Coordination of Interagency and Partner Engagement

• Facilitate collaboration and dialogue across federal, state, Tribal, nonprofit, and private sector stakeholders involved in native seed collection, production, and restoration.
• Plan, organize, and participate in multi-stakeholder and interagency meetings (virtual and in-person) on topics related to native seed supply, revegetation, and restoration planning.
• Summarize key discussion points, recommendations, and action items from stakeholder engagement efforts.

3. Support for Strategic Planning and Technical Input

• Contribute to the business planning and organizational design of the National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center (NISRC), including cost modeling and partner coordination strategies.
• Assist in drafting planning documents, reports, and technical content that support agency decision-making around the NISRC and the SOS Seedbank.
• Provide scientific input on native plant restoration, seed sourcing strategies, and ecological considerations relevant to ecoregional program development.

4. Technical and Administrative Support

• Assist with planning logistics and documentation (e.g., agendas, note-taking, materials prep) for coordination meetings, working groups, or workshops.
• Help maintain internal records of project activities, deliverables, and coordination outcomes.
• Participate in relevant training, scientific meetings, and workshops, representing the Chicago Botanic Garden and the FWS project team as appropriate.

Qualifications Required:

• Master's degree in environmental policy, natural resources, biology, or a related field.
• Strong foundational knowledge in biological sciences and environmental systems, with demonstrated ability to engage with scientific and technical content.
• Experience coordinating projects or partnerships in environmental conservation, resource policy, or natural resource management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize technical information for diverse audiences.
• Proven organizational skills and experience managing multiple priorities in collaborative or interagency settings.
• Proficiency with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Google Suite, Zoom, shared drives, web-based platforms).

Preferred:

• Knowledge of federal land management or conservation programs.
• Familiarity with national seed supply infrastructure, seed banking, or revegetation efforts.
• Experience with stakeholder facilitation, strategic planning, or multi-agency project coordination.
• Familiarity with ecological restoration, native plant conservation, or seed supply issues.
• Experience working with federal, Tribal, or nonprofit partners on conservation or land management projects.
• Knowledge of environmental policy frameworks relevant to public lands, restoration, or biodiversity.
• Experience supporting meetings, workshops, or stakeholder engagement processes.
• Ability to translate science and policy into actionable plans, outreach materials, or reports.

Work Environment and Travel

This position may be remote or based in proximity to key federal collaborators. Occasional travel to attend interagency meetings, workshops, or site visits may be required, in coordination with the project team and subject to budget approval.

Deliverables and Evaluation

• Develop and deliver scientifically grounded materials-such as presentations, technical guides, and implementation manuals-to support stakeholder understanding and application of best practices in seed sourcing and ecological restoration. Three planned how-to manuals include:
  1. Ecoregional program development
  2. Native plant performance and provenance
  3. Native plant production
• Contribute to interagency coordination and technical planning meetings by documenting outcomes, synthesizing key discussions, and supporting follow-up actions that advance native seed and restoration initiatives.
• Support the development of strategic planning documents and reporting deliverables for NISRC and PCA, with attention to scientific priorities and programmatic alignment between Chicago Botanic Garden and FWS, and the broader collaboration.
• Manage project records, track deliverables, and generate regular progress updates to ensure transparency, accountability, and data-informed decision-making across partner institutions.
• Facilitate additional planning discussions between FWS and other federal agency subject matter experts and decisionmakers to determine strategic direction and assist business planning for the NISRC, informed by and to augment outcomes of the preliminary meetings underway.
• Conduct business planning, including cost analysis for the NISRC, SOS Seedbank, and ecoregional programs that will fall under FWS purview.
• Provide input in seed collection protocols, conservation strategies, and restoration techniques to improve the efficiency and success of seed banking and restoration efforts.
• Assist in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of the NISRC and SOS Seedbank's strategic goals and restoration outcomes.

Physical Demands:

Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds.

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, 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.