Restoration Technician

Position Time Frame: March 2024 through November 30, 2024 (Potential for extension)

ABOUT GREAT RIVER GREENING

Great River Greening is Minnesota’s leading environmental restoration nonprofit with a mission to inspire, engage, and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the land and water that enrich our lives. Our services extend throughout Minnesota in partnership with local communities, governmental agencies, conservation and agricultural organizations, individuals, and businesses. Great River Greening has grown significantly in its geographic scope in the last few years, but the staff remains small and works collaboratively as a friendly and committed team.

Great River Greening values Science, Community, Partnership, Education, and Environmental Equity. Great River Greening is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates of all backgrounds, including women, candidates of color, LGBTQ, or candidates with non-traditional work or experience backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Position Description

The Restoration Technician joins a team of conservation crewmembers responsible for implementing restoration and ecological management activities on public and private sites throughout Great River Greening’s project areas in the state of Minnesota. This role offers hands-on natural resource management experience on a variety of projects and varying landscapes.

This is a full-time, hourly position with benefits including health, dental, 401k, LTD, Dependent Care, Health Care FSA, Life Insurance, and a PTO plan. The starting wage is $17.00/hr – $18.50/hr (depending on experience) during a 30-day probationary period. Review and adjustments based on performance and obtaining necessary trainings and certification. The technical season, March through November, may be extended pending project load and employee availability. A $250 cash bonus will be paid if employed through November 30th.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform tasks related to natural resource management including site preparation, invasive species removal and treatment, planting and seeding, native seed collection and processing.
• Maintain garage, equipment, and other supplies in addition to other field related tasks as needed.
• Represent Great River Greening when interacting with public and private landowners.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• This position is physically demanding and typically requires 8-10 hours/day working at times in difficult terrain, under adverse field conditions and during inclement weather. The work often requires repetitive actions such as squatting, bending, kneeling, lifting, hiking, carrying, and using tools and equipment for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to accomplish assigned tasks according to plan and within specified timeframe.
• May be subjected to moving mechanical parts, light to heavy duty machinery, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, chemicals, and intense noises.
• Must be able to safely drive full-size crew extended cab 1 ton pickup for local and regional travel in all weather conditions, for up to 4 hours per day. Days will begin and end at office or garage location in St. Paul.
• Must be available to work some Saturdays during Great River Greening’s Spring and Fall volunteer event season, as well as possible weekend days during prescribed fire season (Spring and Fall).

Qualifications

• Must be over 18 years of age.
• Experience doing outdoor physical labor.
• Should be a self-starter and motivated individual.
• Able to work safely.
• Valid driver’s license required; ability to pass Great River Greening’s safe driver background check.
• Good safety record.
• Possess or ability to pass MN pesticide applicators license (Sections A & J).
• Possess or ability to pass First Aid/CPR training.
• Basic plant identification or ability to learn.
• Experience in native and/or traditional landscape installation and management.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills – expected to update field records and equipment logs.
• Ability to work outdoors on steep and hilly terrain and thick underbrush.
• Ability to team-lift 100 pounds.
• Able to take directions and follow detailed instructions, as well as ability to adjust in field when it represents the interest of Great River Greening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Chainsaw operation and felling of small to medium trees and brush.
• Experience driving full-size truck and loading and unloading gear and equipment.
• Familiarity with small engines and a variety of wheel/tracked equipment.
• Experience working with volunteer, outreach, and school groups.