Natural Resources Conservation & Restoration Technician

Company intro:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) provides education outreach, technical assistance, and financial support within the watersheds of the Poultney and Mettowee Rivers. The District brings together the efforts of citizens and organizations that share the common goals of conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural and cultural resources of the watershed. 

PMNRCD prides itself on producing top quality work in a fun and respectful environment. We offer flexible work schedules to accommodate diverse personal and professional needs. Help us build a healthier local environment!

Job description:

We are seeking full or part-time seasonal field team members from April – October. This role ideally spans the entire field season, however we are happy to consider applicants with more limited availability. This position will support multiple District programs, including tree planting, water chestnut removal, shoreline runoff assessments, and general nursery support at Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery (CVNPRN). The ideal applicants will be enthusiastic about native plants and habitat restoration, motivated to learn new skills, and comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions. This position can be physical, requiring full days of repetitive tasks and outdoor labor.

Location:

PMNRCD is based in Poultney, VT, our work focuses in the Poultney Mettowee Conservation District area, or the Poultney River and Mettowee River watersheds.

Top benefits or perks:

As a team member at PMNRCD, you’ll enjoy:

• $18 hourly base rate
• Flexible schedule to accommodate other obligations (school, family, etc.).
• Mentorship from staff with extensive knowledge in conservation.
• Networking opportunities with other local and state conservation organizations.
• Work outdoors, experiencing Vermont’s beautiful natural settings.
• Making a difference in your community.

Tasks:

Buffer Restoration – Tree Planting (April – July tendersglobal.net 9am – 5pm)

• Plant, mulch, and water native trees and shrubs at designated restoration sites.
• Restoration sites are set throughout the Poultney Mettowee watershed. Locations can be remote with various planting conditions.
• Follow restoration plans with direction from crew leaders.

Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery (May – October tendersglobal.net flexible hours)

• Provide general nursery support, such as watering, weeding, seed processing, transplanting seedlings, general nursery maintenance.
• Digging/processing bare root plants to be used at restoration sites.
• Planting bare root stock into beds for future use.
• Participating in District outreach and education events.

Water Chestnut removal (July-September tendersglobal.net 8am – 4pm)

• Manually remove water chestnut rosettes in the South Champlain Watershed. Chestnut removal is conducted on kayaks provided by the District.
• Properly dispose of collected water chestnut biomass.
• Data collection of invasive species distribution and abundance.

Shoreline Runoff Assessments (July- October tendersglobal.net flexible hours)

• Conduct Lake Wise assessments on shoreline properties along our local lakes and document survey results.
• Provide follow-up documentation for lakeshore property owners.
• Under the guidance of the Lake Wise Project Coordinator, plan and implement riparian and shoreline buffer plantings for homeowners.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in water quality, forestry, horticulture, education, or environmental sciences
• Strong time management skills and reliability
• Capable of performing demanding physical labor under a variety of weather conditions (heat, cold, rain)
• Comfortable carrying materials (full buckets, bundles of bare root tree and shrub stock, shovels, kayaks, etc.) over rough terrain and vegetation.
• Physically able to lift heavy objects.
• Comfortable using a kayak on flat water for extended periods of time.
• Hand and power tool (drill/ driver, shovel, handsaw, shears, loppers, etc.) experience; or willingness to learn on-site.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with team members and project partners.
• Work independently or with a team member to produce high quality project outcomes.