Watershed Aide (Vegetation Management)

Marin Water protects over 20,000 acres of watershed lands, primarily on Mt. Tamalpais, a biodiversity hotspot. We will be hiring up to 4 temporary employees to assist with vegetation management this year. This is a great opportunity for folks who enjoy being outdoors in a diversity of habitats, have a good work ethic, and are considering pursuing a career in conservation/ natural resources management. 

These positions are for a maximum of 6 months, with no benefits and the duty station is 49 Sky Oaks Rd, Fairfax, CA. Pay for a step 1 aide is $25.46 per hour; applicants with relevant experience will be hired at the step 2 rate ($27.39). Step 3 ($29.38) will be considered for applicants with both field experience and experience identifying plants of the area, including grasses.

We will begin reviewing applications Jan 20, 2024. Two positions will begin around March 9th. One or two additional positions will begin in May.

The assignment is about 75% field work. This is primarily navigating safely to known invasive species locations, correctly identifying the relevant plant, using a handheld electronic device to update the mapping and assessment, and manually removing the invasive. Many of the invasives we treat are small stature plants such as grasses, though some of the work is with larger plants such as broom or thistles. Marin Water does not use herbicide. Follow up office work includes ensuring all digital records are accurate and complete. One of the positions may focus on rare plant biomonitoring, ensuring protection of rare plants near a trail project.

Strong candidates will have a proven track record of working safely outdoors, have some experience with plant ID and invasives removal, are capable of clear communication of questions and observations, have a strong work ethic, and are capable of courteous communication with the recreating public. Coursework or a degree in ecology or related fields is desirable, and candidates with an interest in pursuing a career in natural resources management are encouraged to apply.

Watershed Aides may direct interns or volunteers and may provide oversight to contractors. Watershed Aides may also assist with other projects such as: on-going restoration projects, vegetation surveys, research data collection and entry, and rare plant mapping. Aides may also help other departments such as Fisheries or Volunteer.