Natural Resources Technician I - Denver Parks and Recreation

City and County of Denver•Mountain Parks Headquarters, CO

6d•$27 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

This is an on-call, part-time, hourly position working no more than 39 hours per week to support forestry and natural resources operations within Denver’s Mountain Parks system. The Mountain Parks system, established in 1912, includes 22 accessible parks and 24 conservation/wilderness areas totaling over 14,000 acres. The role involves managing parks to protect native forests and species, mitigate noxious weeds, and manage wildlife through site assessments, evaluations, and restoration projects to ensure ecological sustainability. It also involves working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to preserve these parks.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Range or Wildlife Management, Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, Restoration Ecology, Park and Recreation Management, or a related field of study
One (1) year of urban and rural habitat management experience
A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum education and experience requirements
Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment
Experience with vegetation and wildlife management in both urban and mountain parks
Current possession of Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator License and Chainsaw Certification
Proficiency in plant identification
Experience writing and editing technical reports
Experience designing and executing forest inventory samples
National wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) S-130/190 Wildfire training
NWCG Wildland Fire Chainsaws Training S-212
Possession of a current Commercial Driver’s License
Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, GIS, GPS, FVS
Experience with chainsaws, and other related forestry and logging equipment
Experience operating a 4-wheel drive vehicle in variable weather and road conditions
Knowledge of grants programs and experience writing and managing grants
Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

Responsibilities

Manages mountain parks to protect native forests and species, mitigate noxious weeds, and manage wildlife, which includes conducting site assessments, evaluations, and restoration projects to ensure the ecological sustainability of our parks and natural areas.
Works with stakeholders both internal and external to the city to preserve our mountain parks, which include working with citizens, volunteers, rangers, Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colorado State University (Colorado State Forest Service), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, US Forest Service, BLM, local fire protection districts, Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Jefferson County Open Space, Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office, Clear Creek County, Douglas County, and related non-profit organizations.
Conducts forest assessments and evaluations to identify and inventory tree and plant species, land terrains, wildlife, grasses, shrubs, etc.; all while determining best methods of potential management to maintain sustainability of the ecosystem
Manage forest vegetation and fuels, including the removal of weeds, shrubs and trees by means of felling, bucking, swamping, chipping, masticating, burning, etc.
Collecting field data and mapping for stand delineation, boundaries and borders.
Mapping, eradication, and control of noxious weeds in parks to promote healthier ecosystems, which includes assessing area conditions, mapping targeted species populations, determining treatment method of control, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, and development of a system wide monitoring program.
Mapping and control of forest insect and disease outbreaks
Assist with prescribed fire activities
Conduct public outreach and natural resource/forestry education, which includes educating citizens within the parks, setting up educational boots at community events, formal classroom presentations, responding to 311 calls regarding forestry issues, and assists with training and working with volunteer groups.
Perform habitat restoration work, which includes planting trees and native plants, reseeding native grasses, collecting native seeds, installing fencing, signs, and building and installing bird boxes.
Adheres to public and personal safety guidelines and standards, which includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and understanding herbicide instructions and applications.
Assist with data management to include GPS, GIS, FVS, Survey123, etc. to make recommendations for program and project improvements, which includes logistics planning
Prepare reports and maintains a work journal of activities in parks regarding tree data, invasive species mitigation, wildlife population counts, locations of studies and site activities, hours worked, and resources necessary to complete objectives.
Performs regular maintenance and restoration of parks, which include building and maintaining tails and fences and installing informational signs.
Performs other related duties as assigned.