Seasonal Plant Ecology Resource Technician

Do you know the difference between sedges, rushes, and grasses? Are you known for turning a quick hike into a plant discovery tour? If you are passionate about diverse ecosystems and eager to share your knowledge with others, we invite you to join our team.

Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) is seeking two Seasonal Plant Ecology Resource Technicians to support ecological restoration and land management projects. This position involves enhancing habitat quality, monitoring vegetation, leading volunteer groups, and restoring landscapes affected by natural disturbances such as floods and wildfires. Responsibilities range from physically demanding tasks—such as planting native trees and shrubs with hand tools in challenging soils and hiking miles of rugged terrain in adverse weather—to detail-oriented work, including data entry, quality assurance/quality control, and identifying difficult plant taxa under a dissecting scope.

Boulder County Parks and Open Space is a dynamic workplace that fosters an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for all employees. The Plant Ecology workgroup is based in the Natural Resources Division of BCPOS and regularly works with staff from the Wildlife, Agriculture, Invasive Plants, Forestry, education & Outreach, and other workgroups to achieve departmental objectives.

This is an hourly, non-benefited position that will work 40 hours per week, Monday – Thursday 7:00am – 5:30pm with availability to work occasional evenings and weekends when necessary. This position will work out of 5201 St. Vrain Rd., Longmont, Colorado. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is non-exempt (eligible for overtime).

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

Hiring Salary Range: $25.00 Hourly 

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• First Round Interviews: Week of February 23rd
• Reference Check: Week of February 23rd

Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information.

Examples of Duties

• Assists the Plant Ecology staff on restoration projects of ecosystems impacted by natural and human-caused disturbances, including but not limited to planting, seeding, erosion control installation, watering, and other maintenance
• Quantitative and qualitative vegetation monitoring of native communities, including grasslands, shrublands, forests, riparian areas, wetlands, restored areas, and rare plant communities
• Monitoring and control of invasive weeds using integrated weed management techniques, including mowing, cutting, pulling, and limited herbicide use
• Assist with leading youth groups and volunteers on work projects
• Vegetation mapping and classification of natural plant communities
• Assisting with the management of native seed collection program, including an in-house native seed increase program
• Assists with and solely leads episodic (one-time) volunteer work projects
• Detailed data entry and data analysis
• Seed collection, seed cleaning, and design and creation of seed mixes
• Maintaining and operating a variety of equipment, including trucks, trailers, water pumps, weed whips, hand tools, and small power tools
• Fence installation and repair
• Performs related work, as required
• May be reassigned during emergencies

Required Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: When completing your Application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of:

• 2 years of coursework in natural resources management, plant ecology, range ecology, botany, conservation biology, volunteer coordination, or related field

OR

• 2 years of experience in natural resources management, plant ecology, range ecology, botany, conservation biology, volunteer coordination, or related field

DRIVER’S LICENSE & RELIABLE VEHICLE:

• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record
• Access to reliable transportation
• For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK & FINGERPRINTING:

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation with fingerprinting

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position is required to wear a provided uniform

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL:

• Candidates for this position will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment physical where they can demonstrate the ability to carry 50 pounds up to 100 feet and lift up to 80 pounds from the floor to waist

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in natural resources management, plant ecology, range ecology, botany, conservation biology, or related field
• One season of field work in plant identification and vegetation monitoring, or any equivalent combination of education and experience
• Familiarity with Colorado ecosystems and native flora
• Ability to identify plant species using a dichotomous key
• Experience with volunteers
• Experience building and maintaining fences
• Experience with chainsaws, wood chipper, skid steers, tractors, and other equipment
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles and trailers
• Skills in ArcGIS software, including ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, and Field Maps
• Experience with data entry and QA/QC

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
• A strong and proactive work ethic, demonstrated responsibility and sound judgment
• Ability to work both as a part of a team and independently with limited direct supervision
• Ability to remain flexible when priorities change and maintain a positive attitude when work conditions are tedious or difficult

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Carry 50 pounds up to 100 feet
• Lift up to 80 pounds from the floor to waist

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.