Habitat Restoration Technician (3 Month)

Colorado State University•Tomah, WI

4d•$17•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) at Colorado State University (CSU) will be hiring up to six seasonal Habitat Restoration Technicians to conduct fieldwork at Fort McCoy Military Installation, Wisconsin. Position duration is approximately end of May through end of August 2026. Positions could be extended beyond projected dates pending hire availability and funding. Starting dates are flexible. Applicants should expect to work up to 40 hours/week Monday-Thursday. Shortened work weeks due to inclement weather may be made up on weekends or on Fridays. Housing is not provided but rentals are available in the nearby cities of Sparta, Tomah, West Salem, or La Crosse. Staff will meet at the field office in Tomah, Wisconsin, before traveling to the work location on Fort McCoy. Technicians will work as a team towards the completion of CEMML-CSU annual invasive species treatment and survey goals. Most treatments are done through herbicide applications, either foliar or basal herbicide applications with backpack sprayers or foliar applications using Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs). The majority of time from June to August will be spent conducting roadside herbicide treatments on herbaceous species with UTVs. Hand pulling will be performed in late spring and late summer. Surveys will be conducted when weather does not permit herbicide applications and/or hand pulling is not viable. Location: Fort McCoy is a United States Army installation on 60,000 acres between Sparta and Tomah, Wisconsin in Monroe County. Located about 30 miles east of La Crosse, Wisconsin, this region contains a mix of rolling wooded hills, oak/jack pine savannas, and prairies. This ecological region, known as the Driftless Area, contains numerous rare species of both plants and animals and is truly a unique habitat. Organization: CEMML is a research, education, and service unit within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. CEMML applies the latest and most appropriate science to promote the sustainable management of natural and cultural resources on Department of Defense (DoD) and other public lands. To learn more about CEMML’s contributions to land management, our mission, vision, values, and a complete listing of CEMML positions visit http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/.

Requirements

High school diploma or higher level of education.
Successful candidates must demonstrate U.S. employment eligibility; CEMML will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Obtain or have the ability to obtain a Wisconsin Forestry or Right of Way herbicide applicator’s license (CEMML will pay for study materials and exam to obtain this license).
Candidates must be able walk over uneven terrain and work in inclement weather.
The position will require bending, climbing, and lifting/carrying up to 30 pounds through the use of a 4-gallon backpack sprayer on a regular basis.
Safe operation of UTVs for extended periods will be an integral part of this position.
Ability to work well alone and within a crew setting is extremely important to this position.

Nice To Haves

State of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator’s License in either Forestry or Right-of-Way.
Wildlife species and native/non-native/invasive plant species identification skills.
Experience working with ArcGIS Field Maps or similar software.
Compass navigation/orienteering and aerial photo interpretation skills.
Off-road truck and UTV use.

Responsibilities

Perform invasive plant species control by chemical, manual, mechanical, and biological methods. This requires properly preparing, transporting, using, and maintaining backpack and UTV sprayers along with accurately recording treatment data (85%).
Conduct invasive plant species surveys to record location and density data (10%).
Limited time may be spent conducting surveys and habitat management for native plants, game, non-game, threatened, and endangered species (5%).

Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service.
With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
Review our detailed benefits information here.
Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

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