What are the responsibilities and job description for the Conservation Aide position at Story County?
Multiple positions are available for the summer of 2025. These positions will offer opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in natural resource management, plant identification, equipment operation, and park facility/grounds maintenance. These positions start May 19, 2025, and end approximately August 22, 2025. Extended employment opportunities may be available for qualified candidates. Positions are based at McFarland Park in Ames or at Hickory Grove Park in Colo.Duties will include mowing, string trimming, chainsaw operation, litter control, general carpentry, trail maintenance, prairie and forest restoration, and invasive species removal.
Conservation aides will report/repair safety hazards; offer assistance and information to the public; assist staff with area monitoring; maintain working relationships with other employees and the public; attend mandatory safety training and staff meetings; and perform related tasks as assigned. Work will involve the operation of UTVs, mowers/trimmers, chainsaws, trucks/trailers, tractors, and power tools.
Hours will average 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday (may include some
weekends and holidays if needed).
Breakdown of Available Positions:
Park Operations:
Employees will undergo post-offer, pre-employment background checks, and drug
screening.
Mandatory safety training is scheduled for Monday, May 19, 2025.
Conservation aides will report/repair safety hazards; offer assistance and information to the public; assist staff with area monitoring; maintain working relationships with other employees and the public; attend mandatory safety training and staff meetings; and perform related tasks as assigned. Work will involve the operation of UTVs, mowers/trimmers, chainsaws, trucks/trailers, tractors, and power tools.
Hours will average 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday (may include some
weekends and holidays if needed).
Breakdown of Available Positions:
Park Operations:
- McFarland and Hickory Grove Park: park management and maintenance
- Hickory Grove Park: natural resource management and restoration
Qualifications
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and have a current, valid driver's license. Natural Resource Conservation Aides must have the ability to obtain a pesticide applicator’s certification within the first month of employment.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and have a current, valid driver's license. Natural Resource Conservation Aides must have the ability to obtain a pesticide applicator’s certification within the first month of employment.
Employees will undergo post-offer, pre-employment background checks, and drug
screening.
Mandatory safety training is scheduled for Monday, May 19, 2025.
Additional Information
A cover letter and resume must accompany the online application.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
General knowledge of the common practices, tools, terminology and safety precautions of building, park and equipment maintenance; knowledge of the use and characteristics of common building and park equipment and tools including but not limited to trucks, tractors, mowers, brush chippers, chain saws, firefighting equipment, and power tools; ability to operate standard office equipment and related hardware and software; ability to learn specialized software related to department needs; ability to learn specialized equipment related to business needs; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the general public.
E-VERIFY PROCESS:
Story County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with Story County must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity. Please be prepared to provide required documents on the first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 515-382-7200 or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at: http://www.uscis.gov.
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires pushing or pulling and lifting and occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and repetitive motions; work requires ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts and exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to vibration and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
General knowledge of the common practices, tools, terminology and safety precautions of building, park and equipment maintenance; knowledge of the use and characteristics of common building and park equipment and tools including but not limited to trucks, tractors, mowers, brush chippers, chain saws, firefighting equipment, and power tools; ability to operate standard office equipment and related hardware and software; ability to learn specialized software related to department needs; ability to learn specialized equipment related to business needs; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the general public.
E-VERIFY PROCESS:
Story County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with Story County must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity. Please be prepared to provide required documents on the first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 515-382-7200 or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at: http://www.uscis.gov.
Salary : $14
