Senior Ecologist - DPW-Stormwater Engineering

This is a third-party position. The selected individual will be employed by Knowledge Services, not directly by the City of Indianapolis. Knowledge Services is a workforce management and solutions company headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, with more than 25 years of experience. All employment benefits will be provided through Knowledge Services.

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) aims to improve residents’ quality of life through bettering public spaces and infrastructure, and through providing excellent public services. With a focus on multi-modal connectivity, thriving green spaces, meaningful capital improvements, universal accessibility, and collaborative public and private partnerships, DPW builds and maintains public infrastructure and park land; manages solid waste collection; and keeps the City’s entire vehicle fleet rolling.

One of the largest city agencies, “Team DPW” commits itself to effective efficient customer service for residents and visitors to Indianapolis. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Position is responsible for managing specified natural areas by implementing ecological restoration prescriptions to improve native biodiversity of flora and fauna according to Land Stewardship’s core values, policy and best management practices. Incumbent also works in the field and is responsible for monitoring sites, collecting data and keeping accurate records related to resource management and budget. Position must follow established City policies and procedures.

Independent judgment is utilized when there are no available policies and procedures or risk of bodily injury or property damage. Position reports to the Land Stewardship Manager. This is a grant funded term position not to exceed five (5) years or the grant completion date, whichever occurs first.

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

• Coordinates grant activities to restore urban natural areas through invasive species control and native plantings
• Plans volunteer workdays and community engagement related to natural area restoration
• Monitors grant locations to ensure successful outcomes and quality assurance of restoration activities
• Helps implement natural area restoration including woodland and wetland restorations, prairie plantings, reforestation projects, and associated non-native, invasive vegetation control
• Prescribes work plan and technical specifications for staff ecologists, contractors, and site stewards
• Schedules work, gives technical clarification, and determines or evaluates project goals and objectives
• Completes tasks associated with ecological restoration including invasive species control, native plant and seed installation and trail maintenance
• Meets on site with consultants, partners and volunteers as needed for stewardship projects
• Works in the field with chemical application and power tools and is responsible for collecting data and records for accurate data management
• Performs Early Detection Rapid Response control and reports on new invasive species to shared invasive species databases
• Uses GIS/GPS, interprets remote sensing and associated technologies to collect, record, track and manage data relating to natural area restoration, natural resource management or related park and city projects
• Performs inventories to locate high quality natural communities and rare plants and animals
• Establishes baseline data and monitoring methods. This may be designed in partnership with qualified technical staff
• Assists with flora and fauna surveys using appropriate sample plots and statistical analysis to determine the efficacy of ecological…