Ecological Restoration Project Manager

Ecological Restoration Project Manager

January 2025

Location:

Based out of DeForest Shop, with capability to work out the Black Earth Location for Project needs and Burn season requirements.

About Quercus

Founded in 2003, Quercus Land Stewardship Services offers high-quality ecological restoration services throughout southern Wisconsin and beyond. We are committed to improving the ecological health of our lands and waters by offering services that strengthen the connections among local plant, animal, and human communities.

Quercus employs people with a strong work ethic who love the outdoors. If you value teamwork and collaboration, and continuously improving your skills and capabilities, you’ll fit right in!

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We value diversity in our workforce just as we value diversity on the land, for many of the same reasons. A range of cultural, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds gives us the variety of experiences and perspectives that make us stronger, more resilient, and better able to cope with the many challenges that come with doing our work. Women and people of color and diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

Quercus takes pride in running a safe operation. Protecting the health and safety of our workers, our customers, and the community is our top priority.

About the Position

Quercus Land Stewardship Services is taking applications to fill an open Project Manager Position to oversee land management and ecological restoration projects including prescribed burns, invasive species control, and tree and brush removal. This position includes all facets of ecological restoration work, including contacting clients, proposing services, preparing management plans, managing jobs from initial site survey through the restoration process to completion, leading crews to carry out field work, and working alongside crew members to complete project work.

The Project Manager, located in DeForest, Wisconsin, will work on properties throughout southwest and south-central Wisconsin. The Project Manager will build their client base to maintain 10-15% of the Work Log for the company. The position is expected to comprise 30-50% administrative and management work and 50-70% field work. Field work is essential to the position by creating the bulk of the administrative workload.

Restoration activities through the spring and summer months include prescribed burning, invasive weed treatments (hand-pulling, herbicide application, mowing) and installing native trees, shrubs, and plants. In the fall and winter months restoration activities focus on invasive brush and tree removal. Project Managers are expected to participate in the field work alongside crew members as part of their role responsibilities and fill the full time hours of their Project Manger position.

Work hours are generally 35-45 hours per week.

Minimum Certifications (or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment)

• Valid driver's license
• DOT certification
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• Completed wildland firefighter training (minimum S-130/190, S131), advanced experience preferred (S131/133, S290, S219, S390)
• Certified as a Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Categories 2.0, 5.0, and 6.0
• Completed Level 1 chain saw safety training: FISTA, SAWW, USFS, or equivalent.
• Experience identifying native and non-native plants of southern Wisconsin

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in natural resources or ecology (Environmental Science, Botany, Biology, Forestry, Wildlife Ecology, etc)
• Knowledge of Wisconsin’s natural communities and best management practices for ecological restoration practices
• Two years' experience supervising crews of 2-5 technicians for prescribed burns, invasive species control and tree and brush removal or similar leadership experience.
• Proficient in the duties of Crew Leader. (Leading/ directing/supervision of restoration crews) See the Crew Leader job description (can be found on hiring website at
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks with autonomy
• Proficient with maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of prescribed burn equipment, spray equipment, and chainsaws and power brush saws, ATV/UTV operation knowledge
• Able to select herbicides and determine required concentrations and application rates to meet specific objectives

Duties of the Project Manager

• Ensure the safety of the crew at all times.
• Foster teamwork, cooperation, and professionalism among crew members.
• Communicate effectively with clients, the general public, and other Quercus staff.
• Identify potential clients and job sites through internet research, personal networking, and other means
• Communicate company qualifications and capabilities to potential clients and partners
• Survey potential job sites and determine their ecological needs
• Determine clients' expectations, discuss and adjust as appropriate
• Prepare management and work plans inline with customer budget, goals, best practices
• Develop work plans including work tasks and cost estimates to meet client and site needs
• Prepare cost estimates and submit bid packages and proposals
• Job tracking analysis conducted concurrent with the project and comparing previous like projects
• Use and comply with company estimation calculators when preparing estimates
• Negotiate scope of work and cost
• Communicate project staffing needs to Vice President
• Prepare maps using ArcGIS and other mapping software and job forms to describe scope of work and reference boundaries
• Communicate project requirements to crews through on-site and off-site briefing
• Support Crew Leaders as needed in developing job plans
• Follow up on work in progress to ensure quality control
• Debrief the Crew Leader regarding progress of the work, difficulties encountered, safety issues, lessons learned, requirements for completion, potential additional or followup work
• Negotiate changes to scope of work or budget if necessary
• Compile completed work report
• Report on completed work and recommended followup work to client
• Help crew members improve their skills through on-the-job instruction and structured training
• Lead crews in the field.
• Work alongside crew members participating in all restoration field work activities listed on the restoration specialist and the restoration crew leader job descriptions. Job descriptions can be found on the company website

Compensation

Wage: $22.50 /hr, depending on experience and qualifications.

Overtime paid over 40 hours in a week.

Benefits Full-Time Permanent Employees receive:

• Holidays Pay – 9 Holidays Paid (8 Federal 1 Flex)
• Vacation Paid Time Off – Given as a lump sum annually
• amounts based on position and time at Quercus (60 hours first year, 80 second year, 120 years 3-5, 160 hours 6-10 years, 11 years 200 hours)
• Personal/Sick Paid Time Off – 40 hours annually
• Volunteer Time – Up to 20 hours per year paid volunteering
• Boot/Gear Reimbursement – Up to $300 annually
• Required Certifications- paid for by Quercus
• Professional Development paid time for all required certifications your first year (Fire, Herbicide, Chainsaw, CPR, ATV, Defensive Driver training). Continued professional development each year at Quercus.
• Paid Parental Leave after 1 year of employment
• Sabbatical – Earned after 5 years of Full-Time Permanent employment
• Two weeks paid vacation to travel to an area of conservation importance
• Fun presentation about sabbatical to company upon return.
• Eligible for Sabbatical at 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th anniversaries
• Ability to increase wage based on longevity and promotional advancement Opportunities
• Guaranteed annual raise of at least $0.25
• Insurance benefits:
• Combination of employer contribution and employee voluntary elected insurance which include: Accident Coverage, Disability Coverage, Hospital Confinement, Critical Illness, Dental, and Cancer Protection Coverage.
• Eligible for enrollment 90 days after first day of employment

To apply, send form, letter of interest, and a resume to Kaley Lee, OR mail to 4681 County Road JJ, Black Earth, WI 53515

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $22.50 per hour

Expected hours: 35 – 45 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Sabbatical

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

License/Certification:

• Wildland Fire S130/190/L180 Certification (Required)
• Chainsaw Safety Course (SAWW, FISTA, or equivalent) (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• DeForest, WI 53532 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• DeForest, WI 53532: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $300