Biodiversity and Conservation Specialist (Botany)

Nabat is a climate-tech startup based in the UAE using advanced technology to protect and restore natural ecosystems with precision and scale! We operate at the intersection of ecological & environmental sciences, GIS, AI, and robotics. Our mission is to enable data-driven, science-backed ecosystem management and restoration at the speed and scale necessary to address the critical challenges of climate change, deforestation, land erosion, and biodiversity loss. Our comprehensive solution - consisting of ecosystem management software, precision aerial seeding drones, AI & ecological models, and restoration services - is already being used to plant millions of mangroves in the UAE. But we’re just getting started, as we build our platform to serve the needs of coastal, marine and arid ecosystems around the world.

If this mission resonates with you, let’s talk.

The Biodiversity and Conservation Specialist (Botany) provides scientific leadership in the design, execution, and interpretation of ecological surveys, biodiversity assessments, and restoration monitoring programmes, with a primary focus on vegetation ecology, plant taxonomy, and ecosystem restoration.

This is a scientific role requiring deep expertise in botanical sciences, ecological restoration, biodiversity monitoring, survey design, applied ecological statistics, and habitat assessment. The successful candidate will lead the development of scientifically robust, regulator-ready ecological frameworks while providing technical leadership during demanding field operations.

Botanical specialization, expert-level plant taxonomy skills, and substantial ecological field experience within the GCC are essential for this position.

The successful candidate will possess an exceptional understanding of the flora of arid and coastal ecosystems, including native, endemic, invasive, and protected species, together with a sound understanding of faunal ecology and ecosystem interactions. They will apply this expertise to ensure that ecological surveys, biodiversity assessments, and restoration programmes are scientifically defensible, operationally feasible, and aligned with regional environmental regulations and international best practices.

Your Responsibilities

Strategic Design of Ecosystem Restoration & Conservation Frameworks

• Design statistically robust ecological and botanical survey frameworks.

• Develop scientifically defensible vegetation sampling methodologies, including sampling unit size, replication, and spatial distribution.

• Apply advanced ecological statistics to detect ecological change and restoration outcomes.

• Ensure survey methodologies are reproducible, regulator-ready, and scientifically defensible.

• Adapt survey methodologies to field constraints without compromising scientific integrity.

Botanical Leadership, Taxonomy & Biodiversity

• Serve as Nabat's botanical subject matter expert for terrestrial and coastal ecosystems.

• Demonstrate expert-level field identification of native, endemic, invasive, rare, and protected plant species.

• Lead floristic inventories, vegetation community assessments, habitat classification, and ecological condition assessments.

• Validate botanical species inventories and ensure taxonomic accuracy using current nomenclature and accepted taxonomic references.

• Assess vegetation structure, species composition, ecological health, and restoration trajectories.

• Identify indicator, invasive, protected, and priority species relevant to restoration and conservation objectives.

• Provide scientific guidance on restoration species selection and ecosystem management strategies.

• Mentor field ecologists in botanical identification, taxonomy, and survey methodologies.

Decision-Making & Adaptive Field Leadership

• Make sound, evidence-based decisions under dynamic field conditions.

• Adapt survey plans in response to environmental variability, access constraints, weather, and operational challenges.

• Maintain methodological integrity while ensuring efficient project delivery.

• Lead multidisciplinary ecological field teams with scientific authority and operational excellence.

Data Quality & Scientific Integrity

• Establish robust ecological data collection protocols and QA/QC procedures.

• Ensure accuracy, consistency, traceability, and integrity across ecological datasets.

• Oversee data validation, analysis, interpretation, and long-term data management.

• Maintain comprehensive field documentation and metadata.

Technical Reporting & Scientific Communication

• Produce high-quality technical reports, biodiversity assessments, vegetation surveys, and restoration monitoring reports.

• Translate statistical analyses and field observations into scientifically defensible conclusions.

• Prepare technical documentation suitable for regulators, clients, and scientific stakeholders.

• Communicate complex ecological concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Field Leadership

• Lead ecological field campaigns in challenging environmental conditions, including extreme heat, arid landscapes, and coastal environments.

• Maintain high standards of scientific quality, organization, and safety throughout field operations.

• Demonstrate resilience and operational readiness during intensive survey programmes.

What We're Looking For

• Master's or PhD in Botany, Plant Ecology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a closely related discipline, with a clear specialization in botany.

• Minimum 10 years of professional ecological field experience.

• Demonstrated, substantial ecological field experience within GCC countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, or Kuwait).

• Expert-level knowledge of plant taxonomy, including field identification of native, endemic, invasive, rare, and protected plant species.

• Extensive experience conducting botanical surveys, floristic inventories, vegetation assessments, habitat mapping, and biodiversity monitoring.

• Extensive experience in terrestrial and coastal ecosystem restoration and conservation.

• Demonstrated expertise in ecological survey design, sampling methodologies, and applied ecological statistics.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary ecological field teams.

• Outstanding scientific report writing and technical communication skills.

• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong scientific judgement, analytical thinking, organization, and attention to detail.

• Ability to work safely and effectively in demanding field environments.

Nice to have

• Extensive knowledge of UAE flora and regional restoration ecology.

• Familiarity with UAE and GCC environmental regulations and biodiversity monitoring requirements.

• Experience supporting environmental permitting and regulatory submissions.

• Membership of recognised professional ecological or botanical societies.

• Working knowledge of Arabic.

Why join Nabat?

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to:

• Join a well-funded early-stage tech startup at the intersection of some of the most exciting, disruptive and innovative technologies in the world - geospatial AI, remote sensing, drone robotics, ecology & agricultural science.

• Relocate to Abu Dhabi – one of the safest, most livable, expat-friendly cities in the world - with an “all inclusive” relocation package for you and your family, that includes work & residence visa sponsorship, relocation flights, orientation tour, school and house search, and hotel stay until you find your new home.

• Make a real and direct impact to solving the most critical challenges of our time – climate change and ecosystem loss.

• Build partnerships that matter!

How to Apply:

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey with Nabat? To apply, please send your resume detailing your relevant experience and why you're the perfect fit for this role.

At Nabat, we’re not just building technology — we’re shaping the future of sustainable agriculture through innovation and collaboration. If you’re passionate about making a real-world impact and working alongside a diverse team of curious minds, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in transforming data into solutions that matter.