Weed Management Supervisor

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 Management Supervisor is an integral part of the Weed Management team, responsible for overseeing and coordinating efforts to preserve and protect native landscapes from non-native invasive plants. This position includes both office and field duties related to noxious weed management across Chaffee County, Lake County, and neighboring areas, including backcountry regions. The Weed Supervisor may also represent the County in the Upper Arkansas Cooperative Weed Management Area (UACWMA). This role involves maintaining essential permits, documenting field operations, managing daily records, writing grants, preparing reports, and developing mapping databases.

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 Supervisor will perform office and field duties associated with noxious weed management in Chaffee County, Lake County and other neighboring counties, including backcountry areas. This position may represent the County’s membership in the Upper Arkansas Cooperative Weed Management Area (UACWMA). The Supervisor maintains proper permits, documents field operations, maintains daily records, writes grants, prepares reports and develops and maintains maps and mapping databases. Regularly interacts with regulatory agencies and the general public.

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.

• Develops and administers contracts with landowners, local, state and federal agencies.
• Develops Integrated Weed Management (IWM) Plans with mining operations and other land managers.
• Maintains working relationships via in person, phone and email, with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies, including but not limited to BLM, USFS, Parks and Wildlife, CDOT, NRCS, Conservation Districts, Cooperative Weed Management Areas and neighboring counties.
• Represents the Department at regional, state, and regulatory agency meetings as well as in other public settings such as weed tours, presentations, and interviews.
• Assists the Chaffee County Planning & Zoning Department ensuring compliance with all County land use permitting requirements, including revegetation, weed management, and landscape plans.
• Assists with County planning implementation efforts to ensure proper weed control and mitigation for open space, forest health and wildfire fuels mitigation, trail building and maintenance, agricultural support, and riparian restoration projects.
• Attends Chaffee County Weed Advisory Board Meetings.
• Interfaces with and maintains working relationships with staff, elected officials, a variety of local, state, federal and regulatory agencies, as well as private landowners.
• Obtains and maintains applicable permits and pesticide licensure.
• Researches, writes and completes reports for weed management grants.
• Maintains daily records of biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical management methods as required by the County or any government or regulatory agency.
• Operates various ATV, UTV, and off-road vehicles, mechanical tools and other weed management equipment. Properly sets up, inspects and calibrates equipment prior to use.
• Performs field operations including mixing of herbicides, application of herbicides, operating within State laws and/or regulations and reclamation standards along with daily record-keeping of work activities. Continuously monitors treated areas for success and any adverse effects.
• Surveys for noxious weeds via foot, truck and by ATV or UTV.
• Performs basic noxious weed mapping using GPS equipment.
• Performs mathematical calculations to combine or mix chemicals for application.
• Provides plant identification services.
• Continuously keeps apprised of weed management techniques.
• Reads, understands and appropriately interprets documents such as safety rules, material safety data sheets, herbicide labels.
• Maintains a safe working environment including practicing safe workplace procedures and wearing required protective equipment.
• Performs administrative duties such as invoicing, mailing and emailing, copying, and answering telephones for the department.
• Develops the annual department budget.
• Functions in a team environment as well as independently with minimal supervision.
• May supervise department employees.
• Travels regionally on a frequent basis.
• Perform other duties 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 and complete weed management records and reports.
• Ability to frequently work outdoors in variable weather conditions and terrains.
• Possess mechanical ability to maintain and repair equipment.
• Ability to safely operate motor vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, trailers.
• 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 and County staff.
• Ability to operate, maintain and repair a wide variety of weed department equipment.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations, utilize calibration and measurement tools.
• Proficient ability with 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
• 1 years of experience in weed management field operations, natural resource management.
• 1 year of experience supervising direct reports.
• 1 year of experience with GIS.
• 2 years of experience operating ATV, UTV with no major safety incidents.
• Experience in loading, unloading of ATV, UTV and related field operations equipment.
• Experience in backcountry operations and safety.
• Experience with basic 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:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Biology, Botany, Horticulture, Weed Science.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to grasp and manipulate field and 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 may require the use of safety gear. While performing requirements, the employee may be regularly exposed to moving technical 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: $31.50 - $39.00 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 : $32 - $39