WCB Channel Islands Restoration Technician

JOB OPENING: CHANNEL ISLANDS RESTORATION TECHNICIAN 

Santa Cruz Island Restoration Technician – Oak Woodland Restoration (up to 3), Channel  Islands National Park, Ventura, California 

Santa Rosa Island Restoration Technician – Cloud Forest Habitat Restoration (up to 3),  Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California 

Anacapa Island Restoration Technician – Native Plant Restoration (up to 2), Channel Island  National Park, Ventura, California 

EMPLOYER: California Institute of Environmental Studies (CIES; www.ciesresearch.org)  

Position Background: Up to eight restoration technician positions to support native plant  habitat restoration are available. Project location will be on Anacapa, Santa Cruz or Santa  Rosa Islands (SCI) within Channel Islands National Park. Work will be targeted at  completing native plant restoration at each island. These are full time, field-based  positions. A 1 year commitment is required for all positions. This project is in cooperation  with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the National Park Service (NPS), and successful  applicants will work closely with staff from these organizations. 

Position Description: As part of a team of 2-4 people, successful candidates will work to  collect native seed and acorns on island, propagate seed in an on-island nursery, outplant  seedlings, and prepare and maintain restoration sites on the islands. The position  advertised is for employment as a full time restoration technician with CIES. All hires have a  start date around February 1, 2025. Full duration of position is contingent on funding. 

Primary job duties will include seed collection, seed propagation, outplanting,  handling/mixing/applying herbicide to non-native plant populations using 4 gallon  backpack-style spray applicators and vehicle mounted spray rigs, use of GPS units and  ArcGIS Field Maps app to collect data. Occasional additional duties will be required, such  as data entry and proofing, vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair, equipment  troubleshooting, and aiding project leads in writing progress updates.  

Successful applicants will be required to work a “8 days on, 6 days off” schedule (pending  schedule changes due to weather). Restoration technicians will live in provided housing  during field stays on the Islands. As such, technicians will be required to live in close  quarters within a small community of coworkers and island staff. Strong interpersonal  skills and the ability to maintain a positive and respectful attitude while living and working  in a small group are required aspects of the job. All food, clothing, bedding, and personal  supplies will need to be brought back and forth to the island. Housing is not provided on  the mainland between workweeks. 

Field staff will be expected to work 160 hours per month (two approximately 80-hour work  weeks), with the opportunity to perform office tasks such as data entry and trip report  writing to reach 160 hours (should field work fall short of 160 hours per month). Island field  schedule will be Wednesday to Wednesday, or Tuesday to Tuesday depending on island  post with the first and last day of each tour including travel time to and from the mainland  aboard either the NPS vessel Ocean Ranger, or Concessionaire Island Packers. The office  schedule is flexible. 

Qualifications: All prior experience that candidates describe in their application materials  will be considered. Knowledge and skills could come from fields other than conservation  such as agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, volunteering, or education. Applicants  should have a strong interest in island ecology and a desire to work on habitat restoration  projects. Enthusiasm for fieldwork and for working in a variety of weather conditions is a  must. The ability to carry up to 40lbs on steep slopes and uneven terrain is  essential. Highly qualified candidates should demonstrate their flexibility to adapt to  changing conditions, resourcefulness to problem solve and understand where to seek  additional guidance, and skillfulness in maintaining group cohesion in challenging  situations. Successful candidates must be willing to work long hours hiking in the field,  maintain accurate field notes/data collection, and possess excellent balance and agility.  Applicants must be comfortable with the use of chemical herbicide, and be willing to apply  herbicide to non-native plants.  

Preference may be given to those who possess: 1) Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences  or related discipline; 2) prior experience with habitat restoration work, native plant  propagation, herbicide application, irrigation systems, gas and electric power tools (weed  whackers, augers, drills etc.), and vegetation surveys; 3) knowledge of native and non native California flora, 4) ability to move and lift equipment and materials up to 40 lbs; 5)  ability to hike in steep, unstable terrain; 6) desire to work in a remote field setting both  independently and as part of a field crew; 7) superior observational and data collection  skills; 8) excellent written and verbal communication skills; 9) proficiency in Word, Excel,  and ArcGIS Field Maps; 10) a valid driver’s license with clean driving record; dirt road and  4WD experience preferred. 

Compensation: The position will pay a minimum of $21.85 per hour. In addition, a field  per diem of $30 per day will be provided through reimbursements for multi-day trips (on  average totaling $480 per month). Sick and annual leave benefits are also provided. 

Additional considerations: These positions are based out of Ventura, CA with regular  travel via boat to Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands from Ventura Harbor or Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. Successful applicants will be required to arrive at the 

transportation dock to start work at the beginning of their scheduled tours; reliable  personal transportation is needed to arrive on time, typically 7am. Additionally, applicants  will need to be comfortable with boat travel for approximately 1-3 hours each direction  during the employment period. Island work and scheduling is dependent on many factors,  so flexibility to schedule changes is preferred. Island housing is provided during work tours.  Island housing consists of a shared bunkhouse with amenities (bathroom/hot showers,  living room, kitchen, and internet). Cell phone service is limited, internet service may not  be reliable. Housing on the mainland is not provided. All other personal items including  food, bedding, and additional clothing will be provided by the applicant. Herbicide  application requires the use of closed toed, waterproof boots with thick socks, long sleeve  shirts, long pants, gloves, and eye protection. CIES will provide all data collection devices,  and proper PPE and equipment for work tasks.