Vegetation Ecology Technician (Fuels Management)

ESSENTIALDUTIESANDRESPONSIBILITIES

Wildfire Mitigation Monitoring in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

• Workswith the Wildland Fire Sr. Program manager to survey potential treatment sites for sensitive resources and baseline conditions and to document theinitialstatus after fuels treatments (type extent location of treatments).

• Assiststhe Wildland Fire Sr. Program manager to install study plots andmonitorthe vegetation fuels and environmental conditions of areas treated for fuel reduction in the wildland urban interface following established protocols.

• Providestechnical andgeneral supportto wildfire risk reduction and vegetation management programs including prescribed fire strategic grazing strategic mowing forest thinning etc.

AdditionalMonitoring andVegetation StewardshipTasks

• Workscollaboratively with other ecological services workgroups as neededif time allows depending on the demands of wildfire risk reduction and fuels management support.

• SupportsOSMPs native seed program by scouting for collection sites processing collected seed inventorying seed preparing seed mixes co-leading seed collections andmaintainingthe seed storage facility.

• Monitorsforest understory vegetation and/orortallgrassvegetation inlong-term plots.

• Conductsphotographicvegetationand/or soil monitoring toinformmanagementof rare plantsandsensitive habitats nonnative invasive speciesandtilled/untilledgrassland sites where prairie dogs will be removed orrelocated.

• Mountsandlabelcollected plants forOSMPsherbarium.

• Assistsin ecological restoration projects through collection and potting up of dormant woody plant materials seeding planting fencerepairand watering.

• Controlsinvasive weeds using weed whipping cutting or hand pulling.

MINIMUMQUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work independently and safely in the field.

• Ability to perform work withhigh levelof attention to detail and accuracy to follow detailed field monitoring protocols and to meticulously organize andmaintaindata and equipment. Ability tomaintainaccuraterecords of progress status and concerns.

• Knowledge and experience in fuels management including monitoring fuel loads or implementing fuel reduction treatments equivalent to one full field season or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of ecological principles and data collection and analyses frameworks.

• Knowledge ofcomputer software preferably using Microsoft Office (Excel Word OutlookPowerPointand Access).

• Valid drivers license and ability tomaintainan acceptable motor vehicle record.

• Have andmaintainan acceptable background information including criminal history isrequired.

PREFERREDQUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to learn andcomply withdepartment and program safety policies including using proper safety precautions and equipment in the field and acting accordingly to prevent and report accidents and injuries.

• Ability to judge weather conditions.

• Ability topractices active listening and is open to the ideas of colleagues and customers.

• Ability todemonstrateexcellent verbal and written communication skills and evidence of ability to regularly track and communicate work progress and challenges.

• Ability toexpressideas effectively and organizes and delivers information appropriately.

• Ability touses time effectively and efficiently; concentrates efforts on the more important priorities seeking supervisor input when needed; gets more done in less time than others; self-motivated with ability to work independently during unscheduled time periods from a list of ongoing projects.

• Ability to read and interpret maps and aerial photos and to navigate using a compass and GPS.

• Knowledge of Colorado Front Range wildfire regimes fuel typesecosystemsand flora.

• Knowledge of and/or interest in climate change impacts on ecosystems and/or experience working on climate change field experiments.

• Skills in ArcGIS software preferably with ArcGIS Online ArcMap and ArcGIS field apps.

• Bachelors Degree in Natural Resource Management Ecology Restoration Ecology Botany Geography EnvironmentalStudiesor related degree orBachelorsdegree in another field and at least 2 years of specialized field experience conducting natural resource inventories research or monitoring or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience operating trucks trailers and mechanized vegetation management equipment ( tractors).

• Experience with data entryanddatamanagementQA/QC and basicstatistical analyses skills.

• Experience in plant identification and/or vegetation monitoring or mapping.

• Experience or training supporting native seed programs.

• NWCG Basic Firefighter (FFT2) qualification.

• Current Red Cross or equivalent certifications in CPR and First Aid.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma GED or equivalent.

• At leastone(1)yearof work experience in ecology preferably within natural resources.

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received:Wildland Fire Sr. Program Manager.

Supervision Exercised:None

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Physical and Mental Effort:Sufficient vision or other powers of observation thatpermitsthe employee toobservedetailed plant characteristicsup-closeand toreview evaluate and prepare a variety of writtenand manual dexterity thatpermitsthe employee tooperatehand-held electronic equipment in the field and computer equipment and other office equipment.

• Work Environment:Flexibility to work early morning schedules are typically 8-10 hours per day Monday to Thursday with occasional workrequiredon Fridays or availability and interest to occasionally work extended hours during or after wildfire incidents is ()toxicplants orchemicals() and dangerous weather conditions (e.g. heat coldextreme windlightning).

• Machines and Equipment Used:Technician may beaskedto useapersonal vehicle for this work and ifrequiredto use personal vehicle will be reimbursed for mileage.