Organization Details
The Oahu Army Natural Resources Program is responsible for managing over 60 endangered species and their critical habitat in the Wai'anae and Ko'olau mountains.
Opportunity Details
The US Army Natural Resource Program on Oahu (ANRPO)/University of Hawaii is seeking a Rare Plant Biologist (0079150T). This position, under the direction of the Rare Plant Program Coordinator and Native Plant Materials Development Program Manager, leads the strategic planning, implementation, and adaptive management of ANRPO’s rare plant management program. If you have experience and interest in both the ex situ and in situ management of rare plant resources, please consider applying. Also, pass this along to others that may be interested. Please direct questions to Tim Chambers- tchambers.oanrp@gmail.com 808-285-5139.
Job Description
Title: Research Associate (Rare Plant Biologist)
Position Number: 0079150T
Hiring Unit: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), Army Natural Resource Program on O‘ahu (ANRPO)
Location: Schofield Barracks
Date Posted: 12/19/2025
Closing Date: 01/09/2026 @ 11:59pm
Band: Pay Band B (PBB)
Salary: salary schedules and placement information
Additional Salary Information: Commensurate with education and experience
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Temporary/Permanent: Temporary
Other Conditions: This position is annually renewable contingent upon satisfactory performance and/or availability of funding.
Duties and Responsibilities
(NOTE: ** denotes Essential Functions)
**Leads the strategic planning, implementation, and adaptive management of ANRPO’s rare plant management program in alignment with biological opinions, federal consultations, and Army Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (INRMPs).
**Coordinates with program managers, coordinators, field supervisors, biologists, and specialists on rare plant program projects, initiatives, management plans, and actions. Ensures actions are scheduled and reviewed with field teams.
**Oversees the rare plant program logistics, including scheduling, gear and supply inventory, purchasing, facilities maintenance, data collection, and ensuring successful action completion.
**Designs and directs rare plant program activities. Develops innovative techniques, monitoring protocols, and management strategies.
**Implements, monitors, and provides oversight for fieldwork initiatives focusing on rare plant management, including related propagule collection, outplanting, and threat management. Directs staff on relevant field actions.
**Oversees and conducts staff training on critical rare plant management and related threat control practices and actions. Provides oversight, mentorship, and technical support for field teams, technicians, and temporary staff conducting management activities.
**Manages and analyzes rare plant management data to monitor program effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and ensure data accuracy.
**Ensures the accuracy, quality, and timeliness of programmatic deliverables, including internal and external reports and presentations, action review, permit review and reporting, pesticide and fertilizer usage documentation, and collaborative agency updates. Manages workflows to meet deadlines and stakeholder expectations.
**Oversees research, development, and adaptive management initiatives to continually enhance rare plant management. Conducts and manages experimental trials, distributing key findings through publications to inform and improve rare plant management practices.
**Engages in interagency collaboration and coordination, participating in working groups, consultations, and meetings to inform, innovate, and implement shared conservation strategies related to rare plant management.
**Leads and supports staff development activities, such as education days and hands-on training in field techniques, native and invasive plant identification, propagule collection and processing, outplanting, habitat management, and safety practices.
Reviews, revises, and enforces safety practices and standard operating procedures.
Conducts operations in UXO-affected areas, supports helicopter missions, and may perform other high-risk tasks while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Professional Work Experience:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Biological Science, Botany, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience with natural resource management of biological resources, including two (2) years of experience in rare plant management; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of rare plant management in island ecosystems, including strategies, monitoring methods, tools, and threat control techniques as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with the Endangered Species Act and environmental laws.
Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and proficiency including but not limited to: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint or other presentation software; software for statistical analysis and graphing; and ArcGIS or other geospatial database software.
Supplemental Minimum Qualifications
Strong verbal and written communication, organizational, and project management skills.
Knowledge of Hawaiian native plants, particularly threatened and endangered species, including taxonomy, identification, biology, natural history, physiology, propagation, outplanting, and threats.
Knowledge of rare plant management strategies and approaches.
Demonstrated working knowledge of natural resource management strategies and techniques, native ecosystems, ecosystem threats, native and invasive animals, invasive plants, and threat control.
Knowledge of trial and experimental design principles.
Established proficiency in terrain navigation utilizing maps, compasses, and GPS.
Required to complete a Department of Defense (DoD) security check for employment as an Army contractor, including a government security investigation and eligibility verification for access to unclassified information.
Must possess Certification in First Aid/CPR or be able to obtain the certificate within three (3) months of hire through provided training. Certification must be maintained throughout the duration of employment.
Must be able to complete helicopter safety courses within six (6) months from date of hire.
Must be able to obtain and maintain State of Hawai‘i Certification for Application of Restricted Use Pesticides within six (6) months from date of hire and maintain throughout duration of employment.
Must complete the online Hazard Communication training immediately after hire or no later than the employee's initial exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Must complete Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Training within six (6) months from date of hire and maintain throughout duration of employment.
If selected for chainsaw use, must be able to complete chainsaw training within twelve (12) months from date of hire.
If selected for rope work, must be able to complete rope work training course within twelve (12) months from date of hire.
Requires a valid U.S. driver’s license and the ability to drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle in various conditions.
Ability to hike up to six (6) miles per day with a 35-pound backpack, camp in rugged terrain and in remote areas for up to four (4) days at a time, and conduct work under strenuous outdoor conditions (e.g., mud, extreme weather, steep terrain).
Required to comply with all applicable RCUH, University of Hawai‘i, and business entity policies, procedures, and training as a condition of employment.
Desirable Qualifications
Education and experience in programs managing rare and endangered species and ecosystems on Army lands in Hawai‘i.
Knowledge of Department of the Army natural resources programs in general and the policies and organizational contexts within which they are managed, especially safety and logistical requirements necessary to plan field operations around Army training schedules.
Familiarity with integrative techniques used to inventory, assess, and monitor natural resource assets, environmental impacts and their interrelationships.
Familiarity with biological database application and maintenance.
Demonstrated experience with rare plant management in Hawai’i.
Expertise in taxonomy and identification of native Hawaiian plants.
Familiarity with plant identification tools and resources.
Basic knowledge of plant pathogens.
Basic knowledge of plant propagation and propagule and nursery management.
Familiarity with working under federal and state permitting requirements for endangered plants.
Working knowledge of rare and federally listed Hawaiian vertebrates and invertebrates.