Weed Field Technician

Live and play in beautiful Chaffee County! Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Chaffee County offers an exceptional lifestyle that blends natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a tight-knit community.

The Weed Field Technician plays a vital role in preserving and protecting native landscapes by managing non-native invasive plants in residential, commercial, and public land areas. This hands-on position involves fieldwork in various environments, including backcountry areas, where they will identify, inventory, monitor, and control noxious weeds using a variety of methods (manual, mechanical, and chemical). You will work closely with landowners and local, state, and federal agencies in alignment with Chaffee County Weed Department protocols and the Colorado Noxious Weed Act.

TO APPLY APPLICANTS MUST OBTAIN, COMPLETE, AND SUBMIT A CHAFFEE COUNTY GENERAL EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION TO careers@chaffeecounty.org.

The application for employment can be accessed at:
www.chaffeecounty.org/departments/human_resources/employment_opportunities.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Weed Management team is responsible for preserving and protecting native landscapes from non-native invasive plants. The Weed Field Technician conducts field work to identify, inventory, monitor and control noxious weeds in residential, commercial and public land areas in Chaffee County, Lake County and other neighboring counties, including backcountry areas. The Field Technician performs field work using manual, mechanical and chemical methods and operates motor vehicles including trucks, ATVs, UTV’s. Work is conducted in alignment with the Chaffee County Weed Department protocols and the Colorado and Chaffee County Noxious Weed Acts. This position requires flexibility to work overtime during the busy weed management season. Work requires interaction with landowners, local, state and federal agencies.

In the event of a local emergency due to an actual or threatened disaster, County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duty statements illustrate the job’s essential functions and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. The County reserves the right to modify, change, or add duties or essential functions of this job at any time, with or without advance notice.

• Survey, map, identify and manage plants and noxious weeds on County-owned and partner-funded properties as detailed in the Chaffee County Noxious Weed Management Plan.
• Develop project plan, perform weed control measures including manual removal of weeds, calibration of pesticide sprayer, chemical selection, mixing of chemicals and application of herbicides at private residences and contracted properties.
• Perform mathematical calculations to combine or mix chemicals for application.
• Maintain daily records for activities related to pesticide use including documentation of biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical management methods, site visits, GPS mapping, GIS data, recordkeeping and reports.
• Monitor treatment sites and evaluate treatment effectiveness; perform repeat treatments as necessary.
• Operate motor vehicles including but not limited to truck, ATV, UTV, off road vehicles.
• Perform inspection, maintenance and repair on weed department vehicles and equipment.
• Load field equipment to trailer, ATV, UTV.
• Operate both motorized and non-motorized equipment, including sprayers that are ATV mounted, highway vehicle mounted, and backpack sprayers.
• Travel via motor vehicle to conduct site visits for educational purposes, plant identification and treatment recommendations, to privately owned properties, grant-funded initiatives and intergovernmental agreement projects.
• Conduct work via foot, truck, off road vehicle, in diverse terrains, including riparian zones, prairies, foothills and remote areas.
• Read, understand and appropriately interpret documents such as work instructions, safety rules, material safety data sheets, herbicide labels.
• Adhere to all compliance, licensing, and safety protocols including backcountry safety protocols.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, steel toe shoes, hardhat, goggles, facemask, coveralls, boot covers, reflective vest and other PPE as required.
• Perform field and office tasks independently, with supervision, with a partner and/or in large groups.
• Perform work on an adjustable schedule according to weather patterns.
• Work includes extensive hours during weed growing season.
• Off season work to include updating weed plan development and implementation processes and procedures, long range planning, seeking grants, developing next season scopes of work, developing new partnerships, nurturing current partnerships and other administrative tasks.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Learn and maintain knowledge of the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, Colorado Noxious Weed Rules, and County Weed Management Plans.
• Utilize knowledge of local and regional noxious weed species, plant identification across all Colorado taxa, including native and non-native species.
• Utilize basic knowledge of gardening and weed control techniques.
• Apply knowledge of map reading, GIS, GPS mapping techniques and technologies.
• Ability to compile data and record accurate mapping coordinates, complete weed management records and generate reports.
• Ability to frequently work outdoors in variable weather conditions and terrains.
• Ability to operate, inspect, maintain and repair a wide variety of department equipment.
• Ability to safely operate motor vehicle, off road vehicles, ATV, UTV.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently, with minimal work direction and supervision.
• Demonstrate strong verbal, writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to courteously communicate with the general public and to present information knowledgeably to citizens, visitors, co-workers, local, state and federal agencies.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations, utilize calibration and measurement tools.
• Proficient ability to type with a keyboard, operate a computer, tablet and navigate software including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and GIS.
• Utilize personal knowledge of backcountry safety measures including awareness of weather, wildlife, appropriate gear, navigation and attire.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Age 18 or older.
• 1 year of experience with GIS.
• 2 years of experience operating ATV, UTV, off road vehicles.
• Experience with maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment.
• Currently possess, or able to obtain within six months of hire, a Colorado Pesticide Applicator's License.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable motor vehicle record.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1 years of experience in weed management field operations, including loading, unloading, equipment maintenance, backcountry operations, troubleshooting, safety, recordkeeping, and reporting.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to grasp and manipulate office equipment and other tools and materials.
• Ability to conduct activities involving substantial sitting, walking, and standing.
• Ability to conduct activities involving stooping, kneeling, bending, crouching, twisting, and reaching on a daily basis.
• Ability to frequently push, pull, lift and carry burdens up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to hear and distinguish sounds in outdoors in various weather conditions and indoor shop and office environments.
• Ability to distinguish small objects at near and far distances in bright or low light conditions, distinguish depth, and see objects in a wide field of vision.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Many of the duties are performed in an outdoor environment that require the use of safety gear. While performing position requirements, the employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts; adverse weather conditions and elements including high wind, rain, hail, and intense sunlight; loud noises; a range of hazardous chemicals, fumes, and dust; wildfire hazards, including vertebrate and invertebrate animals, poisonous plants, or other wildlife hazards which may have the potential to impact human health. Some duties may be performed in an office environment with exposure to noise, mechanical and electrical, and other hazards associated with an office environment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $26