Student Conservation Corps – Assistant Leader

Under general supervision of SCoCo Coordinator, performs a variety of duties related to invasive species removal and restoration of park areas within a group of 18-24 peers. Work may involve physical field work, removing ivy, scotch broom, and other invasive plants from local parks, including Blakely Harbor Park, Fort Ward, Gazzam and Pritchard Park. May act as lead over small groups of peers as needed.

Examples of Duties

• Removes English ivy from trees and surrounding area with a variety of tools.
• Removes English ivy ground cover with tools and by hand.
• Pulls or cuts Scotch broom with tools or by hand.
• Removes other invasive plant species with tools or by hand.
• Performs work relating to planting and care of trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Performs restoration work such as planting native species at previous work sites.
• Mentors and coaches other corps members at the direction of the Program Manager.
• Engages in conservation education through hour-long lunch break speaker visits.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

Typical Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• At least 1 year of experience working as a SCoCo Member or similar program.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to use tools in a responsible and safe manner.
• Ability to work harmoniously in a group.
• Ability to lead and direct others.
• Demonstrate punctual and reliable work habits.
• Willingness to accept supervision and to communicate effectively with supervisors and peers.
• Ability and enthusiasm to learn new job-related skills as required.
• Can be trusted to work without direct supervision and take initiative where appropriate.
• Ability to use time efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to interact with the public in a positive and courteous manner.

Work Environment and Physical Effort

This is a non-smoking work environment. Work is performed outdoors at a Park District park location.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to perform physical requirements of landscape maintenance at the most rigorous level.
• May experience exposure to extended periods of sun, rain, cold or hot temperatures, wind and potentially uneven terrain that may contain trip hazards.
• May experience exposure to bees and potentially hazardous plants (i.e., poison oak, stinging nettles).
• The ability to perform parks services duties that require sustained, strenuous physical exertion that includes activities such as lifting heavy items up to 50 pounds, stacking, pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, climbing and standing for extended periods.
• Must be able to hear distress noises and hear and see distress signals in a variety of environments, keeping safety in mind at all times.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, grab, pull and push objects, squat down, stoop, kneel, crouch and jump.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. But this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.