The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is accepting applications for a Restoration Technician to support the Redwood Creek Vegetation Team. This team manages 5000 acres of coastal parklands on the south side of Mt Tamalpais in Marin County, including Muir Woods and Mt Tamalpais State Park.
Restoration Technician
(May through October 2019)
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is one of the world's largest national parks in an urban area, encompassing 80,000 acres of California coastal landscape and visited by 17 million people each year. These parklands add immeasurably to the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) is the non-profit partner of this national park. The Parks Conservancy works with the National Park Service on projects to preserve and restore habitat, rehabilitate trails and trail corridors, improve facilities for park visitors, and protect special status species during these projects.
The Redwood Creek Vegetation Program is part of the larger Tamalpais Lands Collaborative
(TLC), a partnership made up of the National Park Service, California State Parks, Marin County Parks, Marin Municipal Water District and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The TLC combines the expertise and resources of its partners to ensure the long-term health of Mt. Tamalpais by advancing efforts to restore ecosystems, improve trail corridors, enhance visitor services, expand education and stewardship programming, and inspire community support through volunteerism and philanthropy. Redwood Creek is an important watershed within the TLC area of focus as home to federally listed wildlife species including: Coho Salmon, Steelhead Trout and California Red legged Frog. The Redwood Creek watershed encompasses diverse vegetation communities including old growth redwood forest, native perennial grassland, oak woodland, chaparral, and coastal scrub; together giving a home to over 600 plant species.
The Redwood Creek Vegetation Program is comprised of resource management staff from the National Park Service, California State Parks, and the Parks Conservancy, working on lands within Muir Woods National Monument, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Mount Tamalpais State Park. This Team works collaboratively across jurisdictional lines to increase the health and resiliency of biological diversity in the Redwood Creek Watershed.
Position Overview
Restoration Technicians (RTs) perform restoration activities to support park projects, initiatives and community programs throughout the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This support primarily includes manual and mechanical invasive species removal, planting, herbicide use, erosion control installation, mulching, watering, sign installation, social trail decommission, leading contractor crews, light construction, mapping/data collection, and tool maintenance. Duties may also include recording work performed data, data entry, office administration, and schedule coordination. RTs work at multiple project locations throughout the GGNRA, may be asked to work as part of a crew or independently, and may be asked to provide their own transportation to and from work-sites.
This is a full time 40-hour week position with a duration from May through October 2019, with possibility of extension.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Work duties will vary between sites and may include the following restoration-related activities:
Field work
- Invasive species removal. Become knowledgeable of all targeted invasive species in all life stages, and best removal practices. Remove targeted invasive species according to established protocols.
- Acquire California Department of Pesticide Regulation Qualified Applicator Certificate and use pesticides in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Native plant revegetation. Plant native plants from containers, field divisions, root stock or broadcast seed. Ensure that all plants are planted properly to ensure greatest chance of plant survivorship. Mulch, water, flag, and weed around outplantings as required.
- Mapping and monitoring restoration treatments using hardware such as GPS units or mobile apps such as Calflora (to be determined by Project Managers), and completion of field data sheets.
- Assist in light construction projects such as sign or fence installation or repair, and/or social trail decommissioning.
- Assist with mulching projects, including receiving straw bale orders, and spreading mulch.
- Assist with erosion control installation, including straw bales, rice waddles, jute fabric, or other materials as needed.
Leadership
Restoration Technicians may be asked to serve as the site lead for one or more sites, or may be asked to work independently on specific projects. As a site lead or independent worker, responsibilities include the following:
- Act as primary liaison to site supervisor. Communicate with site supervisor as needed, and keep site supervisor regularly informed of crew progress, whether crew is on track to meet established goals.
- Be responsible for understanding scope of work, quality standards and other relevant project background. Seek clarification of goals and feedback as needed. Ensure that relevant information is also passed on to crew members.
- Assist with contractor management; meet contractors on-site, direct their activities, monitor for safety and proper use of PPE, communicate with park visitors regarding contractor activities, and work to ensure that contractors do not damage natural or cultural resources and follow all NPS guidelines.
- Plan workdays, keep team on task; delegate work to crew members as needed.
- Monitor and be responsible for quality of crew work.
- Ensure that all paperwork and relevant data is collected, and attend to any administrative needs that arise.
- Plan ahead to ensure that team will have needed tools and materials.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative.
Maintenance, Administrative, and Other
- Assist with other monitoring and mapping associated with restoration sites or other park lands. Examples include photomonitoring, outplant survivorship studies and bird and wildlife surveys.
- Maintain tool room, raingear, and herbicide application equipment. Keep all supplies cleaned and organized. Make repairs and sharpen tools as necessary.
- Maintain vehicles.
- Maintain list of tools and materials, and assist with ordering tools and materials as necessary.
- Attend relevant meetings and trainings as directed by supervisors.
- Fill out needed data forms and enter into database programs as required, and assist with maintenance and input of records.
- Complete timesheets by established deadlines.
- Participate in and help coordinate trainings.
- Work with, and support, other crew members in their duties.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Basic Qualifications
- Excellent work ethic, be physically fit, able to lift 50 pounds, and perform outdoors in all adverse weather and site conditions.
- Minimum one year experience in field application of restoration practices.
- Strong field observation skills.
- Experience with hand tools, including hand picks, pulaskis, shovels, and pry bars.
- Proficient basic computer skills; knowledge and familiarity with using MS Office and Google Docs.
- Ability to effectively communicate with diverse members of the public and volunteers.
- Ability to work with team of peers and independently.
- Valid CA Driver’s License.
- Ability to acquire a California Department of Pesticide Certification Qualified Applicator Certificate.
Desired Qualifications
- BS degree or at least two years college course work in biology or related environmental field.
- Familiarity with Bay Area ecology, including native and non-native vegetation.
- Experience with small gas-powered tools, including brushcutters and augers.
- Demonstrated proficiency in reading maps and using on-the-ground reference points.
- Familiarity with GPS and GIS.
- Possession of current California Department of Pesticide Certification Qualified Applicator Certificate.
- Maintain excellent work ethic and positive working relationship with colleagues.
- Represent the National Park Service and the Parks Conservancy to the public in a positive and professional manner. Dress professionally, and respond to any inquiries from the public in a helpful and friendly manner.
- Be attentive and responsible for quality of all work produced by self and other team members.
- Be responsible for the safety of yourself and your co-workers.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- Work is performed in an outdoor setting and includes exposure to poison oak, ticks, and adverse conditions, including, but not limited to, exposure to sun, wind, rain, loud noise, uneven terrain, steep slopes, and mud.
- Work is primarily performed standing, or walking.
- Work requires squatting and kneeling.
- Frequently lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Compensation
The salary for this position will be commensurate with work experience, skills and educational background.
To Apply
Applications are due by Wednesday April 3, 2019.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is dedicated to representing the community it serves. We encourage candidates that would bring diversity to the Conservancy to apply.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances.