Seasonal- Land Stewardship Field Technician

Position Summary: As the Field Technician, you will assist with land management of varied plant community types at both our Riverside Park and Menomonee Valley locations.  The Field Technician will help with removal of invasive species as well as site preparation and planting of native plants to improve biodiversity, habitat quality, and recreation.  Other duties include invasive species mapping, erosion control, trail maintenance, weeding and watering of previously planted areas, and working alongside, and occasionally leading, volunteer groups of various sizes and ages.  This seasonal position will begin as early as May 5th and end no later than October 10th. 

The UEC’s Land Management Department will hire (2) Field Technicians.  Application review will begin on February 24th; candidates are encouraged to apply by that date.  Application deadline is March 7th , with the interview cycle concluding no later than March 21st.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Land Stewardship:

• Assist with management and restoration activities of UEC managed lands, including removal of invasive species, trails maintenance, native seed collection and planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
• Support the maintenance of hand tools and equipment.
• Perform weekly mapping and monitoring surveys of invasive species using ArcGIS Field Maps within UEC managed lands..
• Participate in monthly fauna surveys at all three UEC branch locations.  Additional offsite opportunities to survey flora and fauna will be offered during monthly field trips.

Maintain Safety Practices:

• Complete first aid, CPR, and AED training certification- provided by Urban Ecology Center. 
• Gain Right of Ways & Natural Areas Pesticide (6.0) Certification within 1-month of start date.
• Adhere to all safety protocols for equipment operations and procedures.

Staff & Community Engagement:

• Assist in leading volunteers and service groups to implement the organization’s goals for UEC managed lands.
• Act as an ambassador for ecological restoration within the city with community members, dog walkers, park users, and volunteers.
• Work solo and/or alongside Riverside Park Land Steward, Menomonee Valley Land Steward, Assistant Land Stewardship, Land Stewardship Interns and Outdoor Leaders.

TEAM AND SUPERVISION

• You will be a member of Land Management and will be managed by the Director of Land Management.
• Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with the Research, Facilities, and Volunteer department team members.
• All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.

OUR EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. Many of our staff serve on cross-departmental committees for internal and external events, employee engagement, our equity, dignity, and justice (EDJ) focus, and safety initiatives, to name a few.
• We host a 2-day all-staff retreat each fall, with quarterly all-staff meetings, regular department meetings, and ongoing communication in between. We make frequent use of Slack and utilize the Google platform for email and cloud computing.
• UEC staff work on-site a minimum of twice per week at one of our 3 branches, though many choose to work in person more frequently. Several of our roles do not have remote capabilities by the nature of their responsibilities.
• UEC staff are automatically members of the Urban Ecology Center with the ability to attend all events at a low or no cost. Children of staff members attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Skills and Abilities

• Reliability and Agency: You build trust and exercise good judgment by meeting deadlines, delivering on commitments, prioritizing needs, and making considered and effective decisions.
• Efficient: You have strong attention to detail, are self-motivated, and are able to multitask. You are able to prioritize your work based on importance and urgency.
• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers.
• Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. You have the ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
• You have basic knowledge of and identification skills for native Wisconsin plants, invasive plant species, and plant communities.
• You can demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation of Wisconsin biological diversity in urban areas.
• You have a knowledge of and willingness to adhere to safety procedures.

• Multilingual skills in English and another language is preferred.
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• You have a minimum of 1 growing season (June - August) experience working in a related field, including working with or leading groups of volunteers.
• A valid driver’s license, with insurability through UEC’s liability policy is required.
• Pesticide application training and/or experience is preferred.
• Lifeguard/CPR/FIRST AID training and experience is preferred.
• A High school diploma or GED is required.   

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Condition & Location: Work is done indoor and outdoors throughout the season and in a variety of weather conditions.  Outdoor work is up to 90% of the time.  You will spend 40% of time at the Riverside Park branch, 40% of time at the Menomonee Valley, and 10% of time at the Washington Park branch locations.  Some work may involve potential exposure to hazards.   
• Physical Requirements: Ability to work outdoors throughout the seasons up to 90% of the time; ability to lift 50-pounds with or without accommodations; work properly and safely with conventional power tools and equipment.
• Equipment Used: Ability to operate small machines (lawnmower, weed whip and water pumps), sprayers and hand tools.
• Schedule: Standard business hours, though some evening and weekend hours will be required.

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.

Salary : $17