Seasonal Natural Resources Preprofessional Plant Nursery - May 2025

Join us at our upcoming Seasonal Job Fair on Sat, 11/23 from 10AM-1PM to learn more about this position and other seasonal opportunities! This event offers a great chance to meet some of our hiring leaders, ask questions, and discover other seasonal openings. Don't miss this opportunity to explore a career with us firsthand! For details on the job fair and to RSVP, please click here: https://forms.office.com/g/6G6F81Nix5

Job Summary

This position assists the Stewardship Supervisor and Stewardship Technician in the maintenance of the District's native plant nursery and provides leadership to nursery volunteers while receiving on the job training to complement their education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in planting, transplanting plugs or potting mature plants, watering, weed management and scouting areas for pests, invasive species, or disease, and reporting on general health of the District's formal native planting beds and informal native landscape plantings.
• Assist in maintaining inventory records of native plant species.
• Maintain and install stake signs, weed barrier walkways, and edging.
• Operate motorized groundskeeping equipment including mowers and weed whips.
• Participate in invasive species control Integrated Pest Management practices using herbicides, hand tools, hand weeding, and mechanical equipment.
• Collect, clean, and plant seeds of native plant species.
• Assist in the cleaning and maintenance of equipment.
• Operate District motor vehicles, including a one-ton pick-up truck.
• Provide District information to the public regarding the preserves, conservation initiatives, rules, and regulations.
• Assist supervisor with the selection of staff, schedule, train, provide guidance and communicate day-to-day work activities, department expectations, and work rules. Relay and provide input regarding work performance, training needs and growth opportunities while promoting morale.
• Foster a working environment that promotes safe work habits; Become familiar with and observe all applicable safety rules, policies, and work procedures; Follow all safety rules that pertain to the duties performed and support all aspects of the District's safety and risk management program; Keep work area clean, orderly, and free of hazards; Immediately report all unsafe conditions and incidents.
• Maintain a supportive working environment and demonstrate a desire to exceed the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements:

• 18 years of age or older at time of hire.
• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Horticulture, Botany, Natural Resources Management, or a related field.
• Valid Driver's License in good standing.
• Must have or obtain an IL Pesticide Operator's License within 1 month of employment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of basic ecological principles.
• Familiarity with basic landscaping equipment, including line trimmers, mowers, and hand tools.
• Proficiency in the identification of native and invasive flora.

Schedule: Position starts in May. Monday through Friday, M-F, 6:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Pay: $17-18/hour.

Work Environment: Requires working outdoors. There is exposure to all weather conditions, insects and other wildlife, high vegetation, and uneven terrain.

Location: Reports to Blackwell Nursery in West Chicago, IL. Work will be conducted at multiple sites across DuPage County.

Other Information: Safety toe boots are required and reimbursed, PPE and uniforms are provided, seasonal start times may be adjusted, bring lunch and water as breaks are on job sites, and paid time off may be limited prior to holidays during the growing season.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace built on a foundation of respect, integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Our organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Salary : $17 - $18