Conservation Technician III

CONSERVATION TECHNICIAN III

Location:         DNREC- Division of Watershed Stewardship                          Deadline:  Until Filled

                                Shoreline and Waterways Section                                    Salary:   $38,519.28

                                901 Pilottown Road

                                Lewes, DE 19958                                                                       

This is not a State of Delaware merit position.  It is a one-year contractual position with the opportunity to work long term.

The Kent Conservation District (KCD), a governmental subdivision of the State of Delaware, is seeking applicants for the contractual services position of Conservation Technician III with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Watershed Stewardship- Shoreline and Waterways Section. 

The Shoreline and Waterway Management Section is responsible for maintaining Delaware’s shoreline and navigable waterways, in addition to a sand bypassing system. 

JOB SUMMARY

The selected candidate will work within shoreline management for field operations based out of the Lewes facility.  The selected candidate will work with members of the southern team responsible for operating and maintaining the DNREC sand bypass facility at Indian River Inlet, installing and/or maintaining dune fencing, pedestrian and vehicle dune crossovers, and beach grading along the southern shorelines.

This work includes shoreline management practices, coordination with other conservation technicians during shoreline activities and projects, investigating complaints received from shoreline users, property owners, and municipalities, and participating in equipment maintenance and transportation of equipment to and from projects.  Maintenance areas include all public ocean front beaches, with associated pedestrian and vehicular crossings, and all public Delaware Bay Beaches, with associated pedestrian and vehicular crossings. The selected candidate will be expected to assist other work crews with waterway and shoreline operations as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties.

• Applies conservation and preservation principles and practices in support of the management of the state’s natural resources.
• Performs maintenance and repairs in a variety of labor/trades fields such as plumbing, carpentry, painting, welding, construction, grounds maintenance and assists higher level personnel on large scale projects.
• Operates, maintains, and repairs a variety of marine, land-based, and construction equipment/vehicles.
• Operate a quad track dozer to push and grade beach sand, move discharge pipe, pull a scraper pan, and grade the facility yard.
• Operate a D5 dozer performing finish grade at the dune toe.
• Operate a front-end loader to grade an access road, transport material, and configure discharge pipe.
• Monitor pump and pipe load gauges, record readings, and perform maintenance.
• Provides information to the public as requested or responds to inquiries regarding agency initiatives/programs.
• Crane operation for use of moving pipe.
• Learns applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Contacts are typically to respond to general public and state agency inquiries and answer general questions regarding work activities.
• Ensures the safe usage of state owned, managed, and/or maintained grounds and facilities by the public.
• Completes standard forms/applications; maintains records and reports detailing daily activity, tool and equipment inventory, fuel and service logs and related activities.
• May oversee junior staff, temporary workers, community service workers and volunteers.
• Additional duties to assist with waterway operations, assist the beach crew, and transport equipment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS 

Applicants must have the following:

• Three years’ experience in operating land and marine-based construction equipment used for grading, excavating, pumping, or dredging.
• Three years’ experience in operating power tools, hand tools, and small equipment.
• Basic carpentry skills are required.
• Six months experience in routine maintenance of land and marine construction equipment, light trucks, and vessels.
• Six months experience in performing a variety of groundskeeping, mechanical, and building maintenance trades work.
• Six months experience in land stewardship, plant life, pest or disease control, invasive species identification and management.
• Six months experience in recordkeeping.
• Must have the ability to perform physical labor and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Knowledge of prioritizing, assigning and reviewing the work of others.
• On the job training will be provided for specifics of job requirements.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Conservation District participates in the Federal E-Verify system to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.  The Conservation District shall require verification of identity, validating you are lawfully permitted to work in the United States beyond a temporary period without employment-based sponsorship.
• The Conservation District does not provide sponsorship for holders of H-1B Visas.
• Direct Deposit of paychecks is required of all new employees.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required (not suspended, revoked, cancelled, or disqualified from driving.)
• Possession of a valid CDL Class A or B Driver’s License is required (not suspended, revoked, cancelled, or disqualified from driving.)
• Applicants must read the detailed physical requirements for this position as provided during the hiring process.

BENEFITS

The Kent Conservation District offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:  37.5-hour work week with flexible scheduling options, 9.5 hours per month of accrued vacation leave and 9.5 hours per month of accrued sick leave (prorated the first month of employment), and 11 paid holidays per year (holidays and floating holidays follow the State of Delaware schedule.)  Health insurance and pension are also included in the benefits package.