Vegetation Specialist

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community•La Conner, WA

14h•$24 - $36

About The Position

The Vegetation Specialist provides programmatic, field, technical, and administrative support for the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection’s Forestry, Camas, and Noxious Weed Control Programs. The role supervises vegetation field activities and data collection, leads and participates in vegetation management fieldwork, and tracks and reports work. The position is supervised by the Forester and provides general oversight to 3–5 technical environmental staff and/or seasonal technicians or interns involved in vegetation-related activities. The Specialist leads reforestation and traditional plant restoration, forest relief treatments, and integrated weed management in uplands, freshwater wetlands, and intertidal areas of the Swinomish Reservation. The work includes collecting and managing vegetation control data; preparing field forms using GPS and other mobile tools; maintaining herbicide mixes, records, and storage areas; and operating equipment such as ATVs, small vessels, tractors, and powered spray equipment. The role also assists other Tribal departments with vegetation control and habitat restoration. The position implements and manages 2–5 or more programmatic grants and contracts as directed by the Forester, including supporting work plans and budgets, coordinating spending, assisting with project management, and preparing draft grant reports. Additional duties include supporting studies and research, data collection and preliminary analysis, technical reporting and review, contributing to reports, presentations, and research proposals, and assisting with public and Tribal Community outreach and environmental education. The employee may perform other office and field duties as needed. This is a full-time position with a 40-hour workweek. Work takes place in an office and outdoors over rough ground, and may involve stressful conditions and extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, or wading in cold water.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in environmental, physical, or natural science, or another discipline appropriate to the position, and 2 years of experience at the Technician 1 level or comparable job experience; alternatively, a combination of education and professional experience providing 5 years of comparable responsibility in vegetation management and data collection.
Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining equipment, materials, and procedures used in vegetation management.
Demonstrated experience in herbicide application.
Demonstrated experience tracking and reporting fieldwork.
Ability to safely operate and maintain light and heavy equipment, including small gas-powered tools, pumps, ATVs, powered sprayers, vessels, and tractors.
Physical ability to work in the field, including wading in streams, wetlands, and at beaches, and working from a boat during inclement weather, as well as working in an office setting.
Valid Washington State Driver’s License.
Obtain and retain, within 6 months of hire, Washington State pesticide applicator certification as a Public Operator, with appropriate endorsements for noxious weed control on the Swinomish Reservation, including at minimum the aquatic pesticide applicator endorsement.
Obtain and retain, within 1 year of hire, a 40-hour HAZWOPER certificate and renew it annually.
Ability to independently implement detailed data collection and data quality assurance/quality control procedures.
Ability to work independently and efficiently, be reliable and self-motivated, and work as part of a team.
Practical field experience and experience collecting data using GPS or mobile technology.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Swinomish or other Tribal governments or communities.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise vegetation field activities for Forestry, Camas, and Noxious Weed Control Programs, including oversight of 3–5 technical staff and/or seasonal technicians or interns.
Lead reforestation and traditional plant restoration work, including site preparation, seeding, planting, weed control, pruning, seedling replanting, and restoration.
Conduct forest relief treatments, including brush and small timber removal.
Implement integrated weed management using herbicides, manual removal, and biological controls in uplands, freshwater wetlands, and intertidal areas of the Swinomish Reservation.
Assist other Tribal departments with controlling undesirable vegetation for habitat health and restoration.
Collect and manage vegetation control data, prepare field data forms using GPS and mobile technology, and conduct basic data analysis and reporting.
Prepare and maintain herbicide mixes, use records, and storage areas in accordance with safety protocols.
Operate ATVs, small vessels, tractors, powered spray equipment, and tools for vegetation management.
Implement and manage 2–5 or more DEP programmatic grants and contracts as directed by the Forester.
Assist with drafting grant work plans and budgets, coordinate program spending, assist with project and contract management, and prepare draft grant reports with maps and tables.
Support special studies and research projects through data collection and preliminary analysis to identify data gaps and potential noxious weed issues or impacts.
Perform technical reporting and review, and contribute to reports, presentations, and research proposals for internal and external audiences.
Assist with outreach and environmental education for the public and Tribal Community.
Perform other office and field duties as assigned.