Conservation Technician

the South Dakota State Government•Canton, SD

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Park District 8 is a large district that includes Newton Hills State Park, Good Earth State Park, Union Grove State Park, Adams Homestead and Nature Area, Lake Alvin Recreation Area and numerous Lake side Use Areas. While the conservation technician position will be working in all of these areas, Newton Hills State Park will be where the position will report to work and the primary emphasis of work will be. Position will assume the lead role on facility maintenance and management on all facilities at Newton Hills State Park. Also assist with maintaining facilities throughout Park District 8 including comfort stations, park shop buildings, cold storage buildings, park office, group lodge, camping cabins, playgrounds, dump stations, vault toilets, picnic shelters, and many other facilities. Specific duties include but not limited to: Concrete work, electrical work, plumbing, carpentry. Direct and inspect the work of seasonal staff to assure facilities are clean, sanitized and readily available for the public; maintain cleaning equipment and chemicals to assure proper formulation and use; inspecting facilities for safe and proper operation and maintaining accessibility; prepare facilities for safe winter storage. Assist district staff with maintenance & repair on a large assortment of vehicles and equipment; administrative tasks such as preparation of vehicle & equipment reports, weed spray records, electrical maintenance license repair records, natural resource and turf maintenance. Position will act as a lead worker for seasonal, volunteer and inmate trustee staff while maintaining daily park operations and maintenance tasks.

Requirements

Valid driver's license
Certification as chemical applicator
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
Ability to work on a wide variety of terrain and in and around water.
Ability to operate a wide variety of machinery, boats, equipment and tools.
Ability to handle chemicals.
Ability to perform physical labor.
Ability to lift heavy objects over 50lbs.
Ability to repair and maintain equipment.
Ability to fell trees.
Ability to work with welders and welding equipment.
Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite, operation of point of sale system, web browsers).
Ability to identify tree and weed species by sight.
Ability to operate a variety of vehicles and equipment in remote, rough terrain, extreme slope areas.
Ability to operate tractors, skid, mowers, snowmobiles, UTV's and various equipment.
Ability to calibrate sprayers and seeders.
Ability to maintain and repair a wide variety of equipment.
Ability to operate a chainsaw and fell trees.
Ability to perform facility inspections to ensure public safety and everything is in working order.
Ability to prioritize work lists.
Ability to complete resource management objectives including the physical requirements of prescribed fire.
Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools.
Ability to provide on-the-job training to assigned employees.
Ability to assign tasks to others based on evaluation of their capabilities.
Ability to organize and complete assigned projects.
Ability to diagnose and repair vehicles and equipment.
Ability to operate dump trucks with manual transmission and split axle and dump trailers.
Ability to communicate effectively with park users, co-workers, general public and stakeholders.
Ability to operate boats.
Ability to handle and transport chemicals safely.
Ability to read and follow written instructions, and write required reports.
Ability to communicate sufficiently to convey instructions and information about assigned work.
Must apply online.

Nice To Haves

Commercial driver's license (CDL) is preferred.
Experience or formal training in trades related to a maintenance of a state park.
Knowledge of carpentry; plumbing; electrical repair and welding; diagnostic and repair methods for a wide variety of vehicles and equipment; janitorial and sanitation procedures, chemicals and supplies; tree and shrub pruning and removal; noxious weed control; chemicals for spraying; methods and rates of application; safe use and handling practices; spraying equipment; seed, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides; human resources management sufficient to provide daily training and work direction to seasonal employees and volunteers.
Skill to grounds and facilities.

Responsibilities

Lead role on facility maintenance and management on all facilities at Newton Hills State Park.
Assist with maintaining facilities throughout Park District 8 including comfort stations, park shop buildings, cold storage buildings, park office, group lodge, camping cabins, playgrounds, dump stations, vault toilets, picnic shelters, and many other facilities.
Perform concrete work, electrical work, plumbing, and carpentry.
Direct and inspect the work of seasonal staff to assure facilities are clean, sanitized and readily available for the public.
Maintain cleaning equipment and chemicals to assure proper formulation and use.
Inspect facilities for safe and proper operation and maintaining accessibility.
Prepare facilities for safe winter storage.
Assist district staff with maintenance & repair on a large assortment of vehicles and equipment.
Perform administrative tasks such as preparation of vehicle & equipment reports, weed spray records, electrical maintenance license repair records, natural resource and turf maintenance.
Act as a lead worker for seasonal, volunteer and inmate trustee staff while maintaining daily park operations and maintenance tasks.
Perform basic building maintenance and custodial work such as replacing light fixtures, basic plumbing, painting, cleaning, equipment repair, etc.