Monitoring Technician

Service Dates April 28, 2025 to October 17, 2025 (940-hour position)

The Monitoring Technician is Land Stewards AmeriCorps position through Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), which holds as its mission strengthening the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development, and research.  
Land Stewards is a career development internship program for young adults, ages 21-30, interested in learning more about public lands and natural resources management. 

In partnership with Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), King Conservation District (KCD) will host a Land Stewards AmeriCorps Intern to serve as a Monitoring Technician. The intern will spend the season learning how a conservation district operates by working in several different fields within the district, including the Riparian and Forest Stewardship Programs. The primary project will involve monitoring conservation practices on private property. GPS, GIS, and other technologies will be used to assess and record tree and shrub survival, invasive plant cover, and other markers of project success. This position will also support community education throughout King County by representing KCD at tabling events. This position can expect to be the lead coordinator for monthly volunteer events at KCD’s native plant nursery. Depending on the time of year, the intern will spend time in the office, at project sites, in the native plant nursery, and at public events as part of this position. This opportunity is perfect for someone who has a passion for educating and engaging with the public about local conservation efforts, wants to learn more about management of conservation projects, and is familiar with the Puget Sound vegetation and forest mensuration.

Essential Functions
To include, but not limited to:

• Coordinate with landowners to set up monitoring visits.
• Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools such as ArcPro and GPS to determine study plot locations and collect data.
• Assist Riparian and Forest Stewardship Program staff with vegetation inventories and assessments to characterize the condition of forest and tree canopy cover.
• Identify actions to improve and expand forest and tree canopy cover and communicate those to KCD staff and private landowners.
• Supervise volunteers at monthly volunteer events for quality control and safe tool usage. Manage tool storage.
• Assist with planning and coordinating educational and tabling events, including at the King County fair.
• Attend KCD and partner trainings related to forest health management and riparian restoration.
• Perform office and administrative tasks in association with assigned projects.
• Attend and complete all MAI/AmeriCorps trainings and service requirements.
• Complete and submit all necessary MAI/AmeriCorps paperwork and reports in a timely manner.

Position Requirements

• Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and ability to provide documentation when requested.
• Working knowledge of Puget Sound native and invasive tree, shrub, and herbaceous species.
• Proficient use of computers and organizational skills to write reports, track work products, and prepare and record field and technical data including use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools such as ArcPro and GPS.
• Interest and ability to engage with a variety of people.
• Ability to serve occasional evenings and weekends.
• Willing to travel to various locations throughout King County. A KCD vehicle will be provided for field visits.
• Physical ability to walk up to five miles across steep and uneven terrain while carrying up to 30 pounds.
• Willingness to work in a variety of weather conditions. The weather is rainy, cloudy, and cold but rarely below freezing most of the year, with a few months of sunny and dry weather between July and September.
• Must follow all health and safety policies and procedures, including any changes that are implemented throughout the course of the program. Accepting a position means accepting the current requirements and any updates to those requirements while enrolled in the program.

AmeriCorps

• 21-30 years of age (up to 35 for military veterans) at beginning of service term.
• U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent, or commit to earning one prior to receiving education award.
• Ability to commit to the full term of service.
• Attend mandatory program orientation, career development training, and graduation.
• Selection, placement, and retention are contingent upon passing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state of service and state of residence criminal history check, and a national FBI check.
• Must wear MAI identifiers while performing service or attending official events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education, training, and/or experience in forestry, natural resource management, ecology, restoration, or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of field measurements such as tree height and diameter, invasive plant cover, and tree canopy cover.
• Working knowledge of habitat restoration techniques, natural resource management issues, and invasive species control in urban, suburban, and rural landscape settings.

Benefits

• $11,250 living allowance—paid monthly over term of service ($450 weekly, before taxes).
• $3,697.50 education award (qualified student loans and/or education expenses)
• Budget for field gear ie. Rain gear, rain boots, personal protective equipment etc.
• Loan Forbearance.
• Child Care Reimbursement through AmeriCorps Childcare Program for those who qualify.
• ORCA card for transportation.

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