Forest Pest Technician

Position Summary
Muskegon Conservation District is seeking (1) Forest Pest Technicians to assist with survey and treatment of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).

Work Location
Muskegon Conservation District Office, 4735 Holton Road, Twin Lake, Michigan 49457; field work primarily in Muskegon and Oceana Counties, with occasional work in surrounding counties.

General Conditions
This is a seasonal position. A successful applicant will work 30-40 hours per week from April 1 through September 30, although this is flexible. A typical work week consists of 4, 10-hour shifts, Tuesday-Friday with periodic voluntary paid overtime. Successful applicants will spend roughly 90% of their time implementing field-based projects and approximately 10% of their time reviewing data and maintenance.

Essential Functions

• Assist the Forest Pest Manager with HWA treatment under the USFS Landscape Scale Restoration grant and the Districts HWA treatment program.
• Duties include maintaining accurate survey and treatment data, correspondence with landowners, creating maps, and helping facilitate HWA workshops, supplies inventory and other general program organization.
• Application of herbicide/insecticide
• This job will frequently require the lifting and moving of objects weighing 50 lbs or more
• Work in conjunction with other District Staff to implement contract and grant programs
• Manage small portions of larger initiatives
• Coordinate with other District staff for special initiatives, education, and outreach
• Assist local agencies, municipalities, organizations, and individuals with conservation programming
• Ensure that the District adheres to the provisions of grant agreements and contracts while obeying laws covering Conservation Districts.

Qualifications

• Education: Coursework or experience related to Natural Resource Management, Botany, Environmental Science, General Biology, GIS, or Ecology preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years of age as of April 1st, 2025.
• Must either be a Michigan Certified Pesticide Applicator or be able to become certified before May of 2026; training materials will be provided, and testing fees are on a reimbursement basis. All required Pesticide Applicator licenses must be obtained within the first 2 weeks of employment.
• Maintain a valid Michigan driver’s license or equivalent.
• One or more seasons of relevant field experience preferred
• Be able and willing to work efficiently outdoors in a variety of conditions and terrains and stand/walk for long periods
• Be able to pass an occupational drug screening.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity to identify spills and other potential hazards in the workplace
• This position works around pesticides, and the employee runs the risk of exposure to such chemicals. Employees must be able to wear all required clothing and equipment.

Experience and Skills

• Experience with Michigan tree identification
• Experience in invasive species identification and control
• Experience with map interpretation and GPS usage and ArcGIS experience
• Familiarity with small machinery usage
• Strong organization and data management skills

Working Conditions and Compensation

The is a seasonal position with the Muskegon Conservation District located at 4735 Holton Road, Twin Lake, Michigan 49457. Salary is $17 per hour. Benefits include 40 hours of sick leave and federal holidays off. Normal work hours are from 7:00am to 5:30pm Tuesday through Friday. Some flexibility with scheduling is permitted and from time to time may be required. Participation in a limited number of evening meetings and weekend events may be necessary. Travel outside of the office and county on behalf of the District could occur and will be reimbursed at the current federal rate.