Natural Resources Technician

Summary: Performs a variety of duties and manual labor tasks related to the maintenance and improvement of various natural resources including land, water, and recreational areas.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities – Essential Functions:

• Assists with conservation, wildlife management, and land stewardship activities.
• Assists with prescribed fires, invasive plant control, and nuisance wildlife.
• Regularly uses and maintains heavy equipment.
• Regularly uses and maintains a variety of hand and power tools.
• Uses proper personal protective equipment, follows safety protocols, and uses tools and equipment appropriately to ensure the safety of themselves and others.  Immediately reports safety concerns.
• Assists with programming and special events as assigned.
• Maintenance duties which may include, but are not limited to: litter pick up, landscape development and upkeep, cleaning and maintenance of park facilities and public areas, mowing and trimming around park grounds as needed, applying pesticides and fertilizers, shoveling, and plowing snow.
• Prepares and maintains park exterior and interior facilities for use by performing duties such as cleaning, painting, and routine maintenance of reservable areas, recreational equipment, shelters, and common areas, storage rooms, kitchen areas and restrooms.
• Operates licensed and non-licensed motor vehicles.
• Maintains accurate records of tasks performed: including but not limited to time sheets, vehicle mileage, equipment usage, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Provides positive interaction, creates connections and values teamwork with staff at all levels.
• Understands the importance of community collaboration and actively supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Strives to seek opportunities and has a willingness to bring ideas forward.
• Ability to consistently provide positive and unique experiences for guests.
• Understands and provides good customer service and is welcoming to all members of the public and staff.
• Understands financial responsibility and has a commitment to being personally accountable for how work is performed.
• Ability to work unsupervised, to organize and coordinate, to prioritize and self-initiate, and to manage tasks.
• Ability to effectively and appropriately deal with confidential information.

Required Education and Experience:

• Minimum of 18 years of age at the start of employment.  
• Two years of natural resource or grounds maintenance experience is preferred for this position.
• A valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record allowing insurability by the park district’s current vehicle insurance carrier under existing coverage provisions at the time of employment and thereafter. Candidates for employment may not have more than 4 total points (or equivalent penalty) issued by a recognized licensing authority for driving-related violations on their driving record at the time of employment. 
• No history of felony convictions.

Work Environment & Schedule:

Employment in this position requires availability for a rotating schedule, at a standard 40-hour workweek. Ability to work in all outside weather conditions; wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold (below 32 F degrees) and extreme heat (above 90 F degrees).  Ability to work around various outdoor contaminants, such as pesticides, herbicides, and airborne and plant allergens.  Some work assignments and tasks will require exposure to and work in inclement weather conditions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to move about consistently during shift, position self to maintain equipment, inspect sites to detect safety concerns.  The employee may occasionally move up to 50 pounds.

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. The position functions and responsibilities are illustrative only and do not represent all the duties or tasks to be assigned or performed by an employee with this position title.

Alternates to the above qualifications may be acceptable as approved by the Executive Director.