Habitat Restoration Technician (9 Month)

Colorado State University • Tomah, WI

4d • $17 - $18 • 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 mid/late April through the end of September 2026 with the possibility of extension through December, pending funding. Starting dates are flexible. Applicants should expect to work up to 40 hours/week Monday-Thursday during summer months. A flex schedule may be used in the spring and fall, working every other Friday. 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). Spring, fall, and early winter will primarily consist of backpack foliar or basal herbicide applications while the majority of time over the summer will be spent conducting roadside herbicide treatments 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. Most of the non-invasive management duties will take place from late summer to early winter. If applicable, prescribed fire participation is primarily in spring with the possibility of fall burns.

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.
• Compass navigation/orienteering and aerial photo interpretation skills.
• Experience working with ArcGIS Field Maps or similar software.
• Off-road truck and UTV use.
• Experience using chainsaws and other power tools.
• Wildland Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) Certification: IS-100/LS-700/S-130/S-190/L-180.

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 (75%).
• Conduct invasive plant species surveys to record location and density data (10%).
• Perform surveys and habitat management for native plants, game, non-game, threatened, and endangered species (10%).
• Assist with Fort McCoy hunting seasons, game registration, and harvest data collection (3%).
• Potential to participate on wildland prescribed fire field crew.

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!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees