Invasive Plant Management Technician

Summary
California Institute of Environmental Studies, a nonprofit in partnership with the Catalina Island Conservancy, is seeking an Invasive Plant Management Technician to contribute to the Catalina Habitat Improvement & Restoration Program Invasive Plant Project (CHIRP-IPP) project alongside CIC Staff.

Start Date: March 2026
Estimated End Date: December 2026

Location Details/description: Santa Catalina Island, California

Santa Catalina Island is one of the southern Channel Islands and is located approximately 25 miles off the coast of Southern California. It’s known for its wildlife, diving sites, and unique flora. The Catalina Island Conservancy, founded in 1972 as a nonprofit organization, is one of the oldest private land trusts in Southern California. It protects 88 percent of Catalina Island, including more than 62 miles of beaches and secluded coves – the longest publicly accessible stretch of undeveloped coastline left in Southern California. Catalina Island is home to more than 60 plant, animal, and insect species found nowhere else in the world.

For more information regarding the Catalina Island Conservancy (CIC) please visit www.catalinaconservancy.org.

For more information regarding the California Institute of Environmental Studies please visit https://www.ciesresearch.org.

position Overview: The Invasive Plant Management Technician will work closely with Plant Program Lead Technician and the Invasive Plant Program Manager to plan and implement invasive plant control using a variety of techniques including chemical, mechanical, and manual removal. The technician will accompany the Plant Program Lead Technician in the field in remote, steep, and rugged topography, and implement the workplan of the lead technician and manager.

The Invasive Plant Management Technician will:

• Be comfortable applying and working around herbicides.
• Hike up to 5 miles a day, often across rough and steep terrain.
• Be able to lift and carry up to 45 pounds.
• Survey and treat populations of invasive plants.
• Use a map and GPS to navigate to remote sites for treatment/survey.
• Conduct Early Detection/Rapid Response surveys to search for and map incipient introduced plant populations.
• Conduct maintenance of equipment/field gear, vehicles, and project base yard, including proper storage of herbicides and provided personal protective equipment.
• Collect field observations of natural resource conditions.
• Map native and non-native plant populations by operating a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and ESRI ArcGIS Field Maps
• Input and update data and produce maps to guide daily field activities.
• Keep accurate and detailed records of management work.
• Administer quality control for operations and provide constructive feedback to staff and supervisors.
• Contribute to creating and preserving a positive work environment and serve as a valued member of the conservation team.
• Conduct literature reviews, which may include gathering data and generating summaries or reports.
• Perform other duties as needed or assigned. Management reserves the right to assign and re-assign work at its discretion.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: The typical schedule is 5 x 8-hour days a week though schedules may vary as needed. A 4x day 10-hour schedule may be necessary for more remote work. Weekend work is potentially required on occasion, particularly when volunteer events are held.

Position Benefits

Pay: The CIES field technician is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will be compensated $21.85/hour. Payroll is distributed once per month on the 26th of each month. In addition, a field per diem of $30/ work day will be provided through reimbursements distributed monthly (on ~8th of each month).  The compensation is a fixed rate determined by the CIC and CIES and is not flexible. 

Housing: The Invasive Plant Management Technician will be provided with housing by CIC on Santa Catalina Island at no cost for the duration of the term. Please note housing is in a remote area; cellular services may be limited or unavailable. Internet access is provided with housing.

Provided Training/Orientation: CIES technicians will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining both CIC and CIES policies, procedures, and networks for support. Specific training from the CIC will be included related to the position’s needs for success.

Qualifications 

Required:

• Willing and able to represent CIES and CIC in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Interest in/willingness to learn about California Island ecology.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Comfortable mixing, carrying, and applying herbicide.
• Able to safely hike across rough/steep terrain while carrying up to 45 pounds.
• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts. Documentation required for I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification.
• CIES technicians will need to complete timesheets, attend CIES monthly all staff meeting, exit interviews, and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Ability to and willing to work outdoors, in varying weather conditions, participating in physical labor.
• Written and verbal English proficiency is required.

Preferred:

Knowledge and skills:

• Experience with invasive plant management, restoration, and/or plant monitoring.
• Familiarity with field-based ecological surveys and/or managing plants in rugged terrain.
• Knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience with ArcGIS, Google Earth, and GPS.
• Skill with operating and maintaining small, mechanized equipment (chainsaws, power sprayers, weed whackers, etc.).
• Ability to identify common native and non-native plants/animals and knowledge of plants in southern California.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, oral and written skills.

Problem Solving and Complexity:

• Strong analytical problem-solving ability.
• Flexibility, willingness, and ability to learn new tasks and take on new projects.
• Familiarity with basic principles of plant ecology and ecosystem science.
• Aptitude to balance a mix of office-based and field-based tasks.

education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing. Hiking up to 5 miles a day across steep and rugged terrain. Lifting and carrying up to 45 pounds. Manual dexterity is required for the use of various tools. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Environmental: Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The CIES technician may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, hazardous plants (poison oak, cactus, etc.), biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife, including rattlesnakes and bison. The technician is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger themself, fellow staff/members, or resources. 

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the CIC.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the CIC. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), provided by the CIC, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to CIC and CIES equipment training, certification, and safety protocols is required.