Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is Colorado’s primary biological conservation information center housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. CNHP is a key player in Colorado’s conservation of open lands and maintains the only centralized conservation database in Colorado that includes plants, animals, and natural communities. The staff consists of approximately 40 highly experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory, research, and monitoring of Colorado’s flora, fauna, plant communities, and conservation issues.

CNHP serves a wide variety of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants, environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and the public. CNHP’s annual revenue is approximately 6 million dollars and is generated from contracts and agreements through CNHP’s partners and clients. CNHP generally works on over 50 conservation projects per year. To learn more about CNHP’s mission, vision, and values, visit http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/.

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) at Colorado State University (CSU) has position opportunities for a variety of Conservation Research Associates for both Special and Temporary Administrative Professional assignments. These positions will be in the fields of Zoology, Botany, Vegetation Ecology, GIS, and various Environmental Compliance support areas. These positions will be located on the CSU campus in Fort Collins, CO or at other duty stations around the state depending on project needs. Depending on the position, it can be either full-time in-person, or part-time in-person/part-time remote. Positions are contingent upon funding.

Positions can involve extensive travel, camping in remote settings, and long 10+ hour field days. They can also involve planning logistics for and completing 4 to 8-day field hitches; driving and hiking to field sites; detailed completion of field forms; and communication with project partners.

Some positions will spend a large portion of the time in the field, while others will spend most of the time in an office setting.

Zoology: The Zoology Team supports animal inventory, assessment, and monitoring projects across Colorado. Duties include planning and logistics, securing land access, creating field maps in ArcGIS, and preparing supplies. During summer, the role involves extensive travel and fieldwork to collect animal and habitat data. After the field season, tasks include data quality control, data entry, analysis, and report writing. Additional responsibilities may include managing past data, assisting with proposals, hiring and training field staff, and supporting other projects. Proficiency in scientific writing, Microsoft Office, statistical software, and ArcGIS are required.

Botany and Vegetation Ecology Teams: The Botany and Vegetation Ecology Team supports projects in Colorado and nearby western states through all project phases, including planning, logistics, gaining land access, ArcGIS Field Map projects and Survey123 form creation, and field gear preparation. Summer fieldwork may include data collection on biodiversity and geospatial data, vegetation and other environmental conditions, native seed and herbarium specimen collection, weed mapping and treatment, vegetation and rare plant surveys, and restoration activities, often acting as a crew lead or manager. Field tasks require navigation skills, highway and rough dirt-road vehicle travel, and off-trail hiking in rugged terrain, with detailed data collection following protocols and standards of the NatureServe Core Methodology. Post-season work includes data quality control, entry, analysis, specimen processing, geospatial product creation, presentation creation, and report writing. May also assist with proposals, temporary staff hiring, training, and supervision, sponsor meetings, and other project support.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS): The GIS Team provides technical support as needed on multiple projects. May enter data into CNHP’s Biotics Data System, assist with the creation of story maps and other GIS products as needed, and other duties as assigned. Additional duties may include:

Various Environmental Compliance support areas: Other areas of support include Vegetation and Natural Resources, Aquatic, Wetland, Entomology, and other areas where CNHP conducts conservation support.

In your Statement of Qualifications, please discuss your experience regarding the preferred qualifications listed below and add any other qualifications you believe are relevant to the type of position that you are interested in.

Zoology

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in the announcement to be considered for hire. Mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted.

Upload each of the items below individually as a Word Document (.doc), PDF (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please remove social security numbers and birth dates from application materials.

A complete application consists of:
1. Statement of Qualifications (one-page letter addressing each qualification described in the announcement) uploaded in the ‘Cover Letter’ slot); please note the installation and position(s) are you applying for
2. Resume — Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

When a position becomes available for the type of position that you have chosen, your application materials will be reviewed by the search committee. If your application is chosen to move forward, a search committee member will reach out to you to provide more information about the location and to invite you to interview (by telephone or video chat).

If you wish to withdraw your application from the Open Pool, you can do so at any time at https://jobs.colostate.edu/.

This pool is valid through August 31, 2025, at which time the pool will expire.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.