Field Technician - Tucson, Arizona

Title: Field Technician

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Plant Science

Reports to: Conservation Scientist

Seasonal Full-time or Part-time, approximately 3 to 4 months

Seasonal Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events

Seasonal Part-time employees scheduled to work 29 or less hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events

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:

We (The CaraDonna Lab in the Plant Science Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden) seek to hire a part-time or full-time, seasonal field technician to assist with field research on the population ecology of the solitary bee, Osmia ribifloris, in response to environmental change. Field work takes place in Tucson, Arizona in the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mount Lemmon) and occurs from approximately January through April 2026. The field technician will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher but will also need to be able to work independently to perform project duties (see below). The field technician will also participate in and contribute to education and outreach activities associated with the project.

Start date anticipated in January 2026.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Pollinator surveys (including netting, mark-recapture, and nest dissection)
• Plant and floral resource surveys
• Installation and maintenance of artificial bee nest boxes
• Data entry and basic data analysis
• Assistance with education and outreach activities
• Other general research tasks (organization of tools, datasheets, cleanup, etc.)

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• At least one year of research experience in pollination ecology/evolution, insect ecology/evolution, plant ecology/evolution, and/or related areas
• Has worked, or is working toward, a degree in biology, botany, ecology, evolution, conservation, and/or related fields
• Experience working or hiking outdoors in physically demanding and strenuous conditions
• Record of working collaboratively in a research environment
• Record of working independently in a research environment
• Experience with education and outreach activities related to plant and insect ecology
• Quantitative and analytical skills using R
• Interest in the natural history of insects and plants and/or ecology of climate change
• Natural history knowledge of the Sky Islands of Arizona
• The candidate is based in Tucson, Arizona

Physical Demands:

This field technician position is based in Tucson, Arizona. The majority of the work takes place in the field, on Mount Lemmon. The majority of time for this position will be spent outside in physically demanding and strenuous conditions. Standing, walking, and bending for data collection is required. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds.

Please include with your application:

1. Cover letter (one page or less) that includes (i) why the candidate is a good fit for the position and (ii) how the position helps the candidate achieve their career goals
2. A resume or CV, including contact information for at least two references

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.