Natural Restoration Technician

Position: Natural Areas Restoration Technician
Job Summary Under the direction and supervision of the Natural Areas Manager and responsible to the Director of Parks, the Natural Areas Restoration Technician is responsible for natural areas management and planning, and other park operations projects as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities May be responsible for training and providing day-to-day task instruction for seasonal employees and/or volunteers.

Essential

Job Duties Include, but not limited to the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Natural Areas Restoration Control brush and exotic weeds, including cutting with use of hand and power tools; application of herbicide by hand and spray methods; and removal by means of hauling and/or properly constructed brush pile burns.

Ability to identify native trees, shrubs and flora in the field, as well as collect native grass and forb seeds at proper times and provide for correct storage, preparation, and inclusion in habitat specific seed mixes.

Propagate native plants from seed and cuttings in greenhouse and garden settings especially regarding supplying material for upcoming volunteer events.

Plant plugs, bare rootstock, seeds, shrubs, and/or saplings, containerized and ball and burlap trees.

Assist with prescribed burn planning and execution.

Planning, design, and installation of plants in demonstration natural areas- naturalized gardens and rain gardens.

Preserve Maintenance Mowing Park District turf using walk-behind and riding equipment.

Turf maintenance: seeding, sodding, watering, and aerating.

Weed management including hand, mechanical, and chemical control methods.

Trimming trees and shrubs using hand tools and power equipment.

Removal of garbage and refuse materials from parks and natural areas.

Inspect, repair, construct, paint, and clean all park amenities.

General asphalt path repair including patching.

General road repair including gravel road.

Research and Monitoring Assist in research and monitoring projects for vegetative cover, plant species of concern, hydrology, and wildlife. Prepare and maintain accurate written records and reports as directed by the Natural Areas Manager, including GPS mobile and GIS mapping software.

Perform data quality checks and analysis for water monitoring projects.

Volunteer Coordination Plan and facilitate scheduled and requested group and corporate volunteer workdays in natural areas.

Prepare and execute volunteer workdays and activities to include providing day-to-day training for volunteers on daily tasks and safety; lead workdays and activities on their own or in the absence of the Natural Areas Manager.

Must be available for occasional weekend special events (estimated 3-4 per year) including River Day, Arbor Day, and September Adopt-a-Beach.

Other On and off-road driving/operation of Park District vehicles.

Inspect and repair park equipment, amenities, and facilities.

Tree felling and pruning.

Stream bank erosion control.

Maintain all equipment and hand tools.

Assist with set up and take down of programs and special events as necessary.

General landscape and turf maintenance, and cleanup of park facilities as needed.

Attend seminars and workshops to provide for professional growth.

Communicate matters of departmental interest or importance to the Natural Areas Manager in a timely manner.

Offer suggestions to improve job efficiency and quality while keeping the best interests of the District in mind.

Customer service; including addressing patron concerns.

On a scheduled on-call basis, including weekends, assist with District snow removal efforts from designated parking lots, sidewalks, roads, driveways, and pedestrian paths.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Two-year college associates degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Natural Areas Management, Forestry, or strongly related study and/or two years supervised field experience in natural areas restoration required. A working knowledge of local flora, basic ecological principles and natural areas management techniques is essential.

Experience with prescribed burning preferred. Familiarity with GIS/GPS mapping software and hardware preferred.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Planting and care of landscape materials; drainage techniques

Operation of light and heavy mechanical construction equipment

Use of chain saws, clearing saws, snow blowers, power tools, hand sprayers and hand tools

Herbicides and their proper uses, mixing, application, storage, and disposal

Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel Use of floristic Quality Analysis software and other monitoring related computer programs.

Basic construction methods

American Red Cross CPR/AED Certification or ability to obtain

Valid driver's license required.

Must obtain and keep current with the State of Illinois Pesticide Operator License (be able to obtain within 6 months of hire)
S-130 and S-190 Burn Certification or acceptable equivalent (be able to obtain within 6 months of hire)

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are…