Restoration Technician

**See our full position at huronpines.org/jobs

Position: Restoration Technician

Location: Gaylord, Michigan 

Responsible To: Habitat Specialist

Employment Term: Full-Term is May 11th-November 19th, partial-term positions will be considered

Huron Pines: Huron Pines is a nonprofit conservation organization with a mission to enhance and protect land, water, and wild places through community-driven conservation. Our vision is conservation driven by engaged, empowered communities. Huron Pines is a leading voice for habitat restoration and protection in the region; through education, advocacy, and on-the-ground stewardship activities, Huron Pines promotes ecological diversity, natural ecosystem processes, and sustainable management. Huron Pines collaborates with a wide range of local, state, and federal partners to facilitate these stewardship activities across jurisdictional boundaries on nearly 100 unique project sites over 800+ acres annually. 

Scope of Work: The Restoration Technicians will be implementing tasks on behalf of Huron Pines’ stewardship project managers and the Huron Heartland and Huron Coastal Invasive Species Networks (HHISN/HCISN) throughout an 11-county service area in the NE lower peninsula. Restoration Technicians will work closely with Huron Pines staff to use a variety of management techniques in an effort to improve ecological outcomes in the region, with a focus on rare and imperiled natural communities. Specific techniques will vary day to day and site to site, with the essential role of the Restoration Technician being to manipulate plant communities and control invasive species through herbicide applications and mechanical means. Huron Pines is always looking for innovative and adaptive ways to complete a diverse array of project work, and values flexibility and versatility in our staff. We are looking for motivated individuals who have a passion for the stewardship of our natural resources, a willingness to learn, will be strong team members, help problem solve, work efficiently and confidently without direct supervision, and maintain a high level of professionalism in field and office settings. 

Position Responsibilities Include:

• Approximately 85% field work, 10% office/maintenance work, 5% education/outreach
• Manage invasive species in collaboration with Huron Pines staff, outside agencies, volunteers, and landowners through chemical and physical removal techniques
• Assist with the monitoring of threatened and endangered species
• Assist with native plantings and seed collections to enhance imperiled communities
• Assist with the implementation of fuel breaks and hazardous fuels management
• Ensure safe and responsible operation and decontamination of Huron Pines equipment
• Maintain a high level of communication with Huron Pines Staff
• Submit accurate reports, including electronic forms, timesheets, digital photos, and GPS/GIS data
• Assist the Huron Pines staff as needed in other project areas such as education, water resource management, and preserve stewardship/maintenance
• Be willing and able to stay overnight (1-3 nights at a time) near project areas via camping or provided lodging (1-2 times per month)

Required Qualifications:

• Possess a valid driver’s license, up-to-date insurance, and reliable transportation to and from work
• Familiarity with navigational tools such as GPS and paper maps
• Ability to work in a team-oriented setting
• Commitment to the mission and goals of Huron Pines, a passion for Michigan’s natural resources, and a willingness to learn
• Must be able to represent Huron Pines in a professional manner, both in the field and office setting.
• Be willing and able to obtain the Michigan Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certificate (associated fees are covered by Huron Pines; certification is valid for 3 years)
• Must be able to work efficiently outdoors in varying weather conditions and terrain while maintaining a positive attitude
• Ability to comply with safety regulations and protocol administered by Huron Pines staff
• Ability to pass a background and/or security check
• Ability to hike while carrying a backpack sprayer or other equipment weighing up to 30 pounds (reasonable accommodations may be made)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• A minimum of one year’s experience completing natural resource management projects and/or a relevant Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Ability to identify invasive, native, and at-risk plant species common to the state of Michigan
• Experience with herbicides, including safety, proper storage, mixing, and Application
• Experience with GIS mapping, data collection, and Google Suite
• Experience safely operating watercraft, off-road vehicles, and pickup trucks, as well as chainsaws, brushcutters, and other power tools

Benefits and Learning Outcomes:

• This position pays $17-$18/hr. dependent on experience
• 3-day weekends! The work week is generally four ten-hour days, Monday to Thursday
• Employees receive three paid federal holidays plus 3 hours of flexible PTO accumulated biweekly (42 hours if working the full 28-week term)
• On-the-job training and the opportunity to learn about and explore Northern Michigan
• The opportunity to build a professional resume, including the addition of a 3-year certification
• A work vehicle is provided; if you must use a personal vehicle, you will be reimbursed for mileage
• Apparel that you can keep – Huron Pines shirts, hat, and a pair of muck boots
• Have a hand in directly influencing the health of Northern Michigan’s natural resources