Invasive Plant Technician

St Johns River Water Management District•Mount Dora, FL

2d•$40,872 - $51,085•Onsite

About The Position

This is skilled work applying a variety of herbicides to control invasive aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. The Invasive Plant Technician will be responsible for measuring, mixing, and safely applying herbicide spray mixtures, calibrating and maintaining application equipment, and operating various computerized and manual herbicide delivery systems. The role also involves making on-site decisions regarding application methods, weather conditions, and environmental issues. Additionally, the technician will load and operate boats, trucks, ATVs, and trailers with safety gear and herbicides, and clean vehicles and equipment daily. The position supports land management by participating in prescribed burning or wildfire suppression, operating fire equipment, maintaining firelines, and participating in silvicultural and plant community restoration projects, including native seed collection and planting. Responsibilities include conducting inspections to locate invasive plant infestations and assess treatment effectiveness, attending training to obtain and maintain certifications, and operating various equipment for mechanical removal of vegetation jams and obstacles. The role also involves modifying and repairing equipment, interacting with the public to address concerns, and documenting herbicide usage and treatment areas. Accurate record-keeping, including data entry into the District’s ArcGIS Database for Invasive Plants, is essential.

Requirements

A high school diploma or G.E.D., two years of natural resource management experience; or formal education in a related field such as natural resource management, agriculture, or weed science may substitute for work experience.
Must have a valid State of Florida Driver’s License.
Must have a State of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Restricted Use Pesticide License with Aquatics and Natural Areas category certificates or obtain it within six months of employment.
Read maps and aerial photos
Make sound decisions and recommendations
Communicate well with a variety of people in all situations
Make accurate measurements, calculations, and estimates
Make accurate weather-related assessments
Transport, set up, operate, and repair pesticide application equipment
Launch, load, safely operate, and retrieve airboats, kicker boats and tractors
Understand and follow instructions
Work as a team leader, and interact effectively with co-workers
Respond to some public inquiries
Make accurate entries into District's ArcGIS Database for Invasive Plants.
Keep accurate activity records.
Geospatial tools relating to data capture.
Airboat, towboat, and motorboat operation
Minor small engine, and pump repair.
Operation of 4x4 vehicle, ATV/UTVs, chainsaws, farm tractor, basic fire equipment, and equipment trailering and transport.

Responsibilities

Measures, mixes, and safely applies herbicide spray mixtures pursuant to label directions to selectively control infestations of aquatic and terrestrial vegetation; calibration and maintenance of herbicide application equipment; posts warning signs in treated areas to inform the public of any water use or re-entry restrictions; operates computerized herbicide delivery system, tractor mounted PTO delivery system, airboats with injection systems and batch systems, ATVs, pickups and Marsh Master with batch systems, and back-pack sprayers; makes on-site decisions on methods of application for control of target vegetation, weather conditions, and other environmental issues.
Loads and operates boats, trucks, ATVs and trailers with safety gear, herbicides, and other necessary equipment; unloads and cleans vehicles and equipment at the end of the day.
Assists in the management of District lands by participating in prescribed burning or suppressing wildfires. Operates fire equipment including engines, dozers, airboats, ATVs, and Marsh Masters during prescribed burns and while suppressing wildfires; maintaining firelines; marking boundaries; participating in silvicultural activities; participating in plant community restoration projects including native seed collection and planting.
Conducts inspections of District Conservation Areas and public water bodies in order to locate infestations of invasive plants and post-treatment inspections for effectiveness of control methods.
Attends application training and safety classes to learn necessary information to receive certification; attends training and safety classes to maintain necessary certification and remain current on advances in the field technology and changes in state and federal rules and regulations.
Operates WeeDoo, airboats, kicker boats, chain saws, small hand tools, and portable winch in the mechanical removal of vegetation jams, tussocks, and fallen trees which block navigation, access, and water control structures; enters water to remove snags, debris, or other obstacles when necessary.
Modifies, and makes field repairs to boats, ATVs, trailers, and application equipment.
Maintains some public contact to address concerns, explain water use restrictions, and disseminate information about the program.
Documents amounts and types of herbicides and related chemicals used, areas treated, environmental conditions on required state, federal, and District forms. Forms include associated paperwork and entry of data in District’s ArcGIS Database for Invasive Plants. Assist with maintaining herbicide cache storage facility and record keeping.