Restoration Technician

ABOUT LCFEG: Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group (LCFEG) is a non-regulatory, non-partisan 501(c)(3) salmon recovery organization established in 1991, working within Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. LCFEG partners with individuals, tribes, agencies, and landowners to restore habitat and recover salmon and steelhead populations throughout the Lower Columbia River region.

The technician will contribute to on-the-ground salmon habitat restoration work to increase quality and availability of habitat for ESA-listed salmonids while learning about salmonid habitat requirements, ecological restoration strategies, fundamentals of river and stream restoration, and native and invasive plant species. 

The technician’s main responsibilities are to assist senior staff with fish habitat construction, nutrient enhancement, and vegetation management. The technician will need to be comfortable working in/around water, willing to work in inclement weather, have the physical strength and stamina to perform duties, have a positive “can do” attitude and a conservation ethic, work well with different types of people, and be a problem solver. Tasks will include but are not limited to: 

• Operating and maintaining electric, gas-powered, and pneumatic hand tools and small engine machinery (e.g., weed whackers, augers, rock and wood drills, etc.)
• Assisting with the installation of log jams in streams
• Working on riparian restoration including preparing, planting, monitoring, and maintaining nurseries and worksites
• Conducting habitat monitoring, surveying, and assessments
• Assisting with nutrient enhancement activities (transporting/placing fish carcasses in streams)

COMPENSATION: $23/hour, paid medical/vision/dental insurance, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave (80 hours/year), paid vacation (120 hours/year), and a 401(k) plan with up to a 3% employer match.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position requires a current driver’s license and maintaining a clean driving record; the ability to lift and carry 40+ lbs; safe use and maintenance of a variety of electric, gas-powered, pneumatic, and manual construction tools; ability to safely drive vehicles and trailers on paved and unpaved roads; and a friendly demeanor when interacting professionally with others. The technician will report directly to LCFEG project managers and must be able to follow both written and verbal instructions.

Construction requires an understanding of construction practices and a firm commitment to safety. Typical equipment used includes pulling/backing trailers, small hand tools, electric drills/saws, air compressors, rock hammer drills, and gas-powered wood drills. The work entails drilling holes, inserting bolts, and placing anchors.

Vegetation work entails clearing vegetation, watering, weeding, mowing, harvesting native clippings, and planting. Equipment used includes weed-eaters, shovels, augers, and brush mowers.

Other responsibilities include maintaining and properly storing tools and equipment; maintaining vehicles and keeping them clean and orderly; assisting with inventory and other administrative tasks as needed; and interacting with the public and landowners in a professional manner.    

LOCATION & SCHEDULE: LCFEG’s main office is in Vancouver, Washington and that’s typically where the workday begins. LCFEG restoration projects are mainly in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties in southwest Washington. It is important that the technician have reliable transportation and be able to arrive on time to start work each day; occasionally they may need to use their personal vehicle to travel to worksites.

The typical weekly work schedule will either be 4-10’s or 5-8’s depending on the season. Start times vary but typically begin at 7:00 am. Summer construction occasionally requires staying overnight near the worksite. Total hours will rarely exceed 40 per week. This is a non-exempt position with time-and-a-half compensation for hours over 40 per week. No weekend work is anticipated.

POSITION TYPE: This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt, at-will position. Employment with LCFEG is at-will, meaning either the employee or LCFEG may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause. A background check will be required prior to hire, as this position may involve interaction with the public, including minors.

LCFEG provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, sex, and age.