Restoration Technician

Sonoma Ecology Center is a 33-year-old nonprofit with a mission to work with our community to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.  SEC is respected throughout the North Bay and beyond for our contributions to important initiatives in land, water, biodiversity, and climate.  SEC has 30 professional, dedicated staff members and manages numerous large grants and contracts, often in partnership with other nonprofits and agencies that help leverage our work and impact.

POSITION SUMMARY

SEC seeks a full-time Restoration Technician to help fulfill the organization’s Restoration Program initiatives.  The Restoration Program is focused on repair, enhancement and stewardship of private and public lands throughout the North Bay. Our ecological restoration services include: ecologically informed vegetation management, trail maintenance, the management of woody material, fire resiliency work, biological site assessments, native plant seed collection and propagation, invasive plant mapping and management, streambank stabilization and erosion control, and a variety of other tasks.  Currently, our projects are focused on post-fire restoration, forest fire resiliency, invasive plant removal, and planting native species.

Technicians report to the Restoration Project Manager and, ultimately, the Restoration Program Manager.  The position is primarily in the field with occasional work at the office.  Additional tasks include: community outreach, volunteer leadership, as well as tool and vehicle maintenance.   Field work regularly consists of long days in adverse weather conditions, work on uneven, steep slopes, and exposure to hazards such as poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to)

• Perform various fieldwork tasks related to natural resource conservation  including: native plant installation, irrigation installation, and project site maintenance
• Enact ecologically informed vegetation management to promote healthy landscapes using hand tools and/or mechanical equipment
• Fire resilience work, prescribed fires
• Assist with Biochar (kiln) burns
• Invasive species management and mapping
• Streambank stabilization and erosion control installation
• Trail creation and maintenance
• Assist in the propagation, inventory, and maintenance of our native plant nursery
• Log work using photo point monitoring and reporting
• Attend program and staff meetings, and periodic check-ins with Project and Program Managers
• Help with the supervision of college or high school interns
• Occasional weekend and overnight work with advanced notice

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong interest in natural resource conservation
• Ability to perform manual labor under adverse conditions like heat, cold, rain, and rough terrain
• Ability to function as an effective member of a team, including reliability and punctuality
• Commitment to safety
• Ability to take initiative and work independently as needed
• Ability to respond positively and quickly to training and feedback
• Ability to communicate with the public and represent the organization in a professional manner at all times

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Experience using and maintaining hand tools; i.e., Pulaski, Mcloud, handpick, etc.
• Experience using and maintaining mechanical equipment, i.e., chainsaws, brush cutter, power hedge trimmer, auger drills, and other power equipment
• Experience in ecological restoration, fire resiliency work, wildland fire suppression, or invasive species management
• Experience with mapping software, Trimble GPS, or other mapping technologies
• Ability to identify flora and fauna of the San Francisco Bay Area
• Ability to troubleshoot problems with fire equipment such as pumps, hoses, torches, and propane tanks
• Experience with irrigation systems
• Experience driving trucks with trailers
• Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Certified
• Valid Driver’s License/Auto Insurance, and can pass a DMV background check (Required)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED
• 1-3 years of outdoor or physical work experience

IDEAL EXPERIENCE, BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Wildland Firefighter Type II
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or related field
• Chainsaw trainings or safety certificates
• Experience with conservation pile burning or Biochar creation
• QAC or QAL
• Irrigation Technician Certification
• Bilingual, particularly Spanish speaking

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in the field (Approximately 90%+).  Fieldwork includes bending, kneeling, climbing, crawling,, wading or standing in water, and being on your feet for long periods.  Occasional office work includes using a computer, phone, and copier.  Candidate must be able to safely push, pull, lift and carry up to 60 lbs.  Occasionally, employees will be asked to perform light construction work. Technicians regularly experience inclement weather, including rain, heat, cold, exposure to the sun, high winds, and smoke from prescribed fire.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety precautions are mandatory.  Sonoma Ecology Center is a drug-free workplace and an EEOC employer. 

BENEFITS

• Eligibility to enroll in one of two Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans on the first of the month after hire.  Of which, SEC pays 80% of the employee’s premium (not that of dependents).  You are also eligible for paid holidays; vacation accrual; sick accrual; and the ability to enroll in a self-funded TIAA 403(B) account.
• Annual professional development budget to further skills and knowledge associated with natural resource management
• Work boot stipend after 90 days
• Company cell phone plan

All qualified applicants will be given equal consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, breastfeeding, veteran, military status, genetic information, and marital status or familial status.  Sonoma Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all persons.  Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify our Human Resources Department.