Conservation & Parks Technician - FT

Join our team as Conservation and Parks Technician at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve! Join Great Parks’ team and assist us with the awesome responsibility of managing natural resources, maintaining grounds, implementing sustainable practices and conserving our parks!

The successful Conservation and Parks technician performs a variety of technical, manual and administrative labor on park grounds, trails, equipment, facilities, and natural areas. Serves as functional supervisor of part time staff, and volunteers on an assigned basis.

At Great Parks, our team members work together to preserve and protect natural resources and to provide outdoor recreation and education in order to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations. Be a part of an inclusive organization that enriches the region by inspiring nature-based experiences, celebrating cultural heritage and building strong and healthy communities through our dedicated staff, volunteers and friends

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs various natural resource management tasks, including invasive species removal, forest management, tree planting, wildlife management, grassland management and prescribed burns.
• Mows natural areas, plants native plants and harvests seed for propagation.  Conducts exotic species surveys and facilitates research projects.  Identifies native trees and herbaceous plants species to map plant cover and recognize management needs in natural areas.
• Installs and maintains nest boxes.  Assists with hazard tree assessment and applies herbicides according to label instructions.
• Performs grounds and horticultural duties including mowing, planting, mulching, and maintaining plants, flowers, shrubs and trees, waters and fertilizes plants, prunes trees and shrubs, weeds landscape beds, applies pesticides, removes leaf debris.
• Provides routine maintenance on nature trails and paved trails.  Assists with sustainable trail building, and recognizes potential hazards to visitors.
• Serves as on-call to plow snow from roadways, parking areas and walkways using trucks, plows, UTVs, and hand tools. Applies salt to roadways, parking areas and walkways.
• Repairs roadways and trails by patching potholes and sealing cracks.
• Performs minor mechanical repairs and performs routine preventative maintenance to tractors, mowers, pumps, utility vehicles, trucks and other equipment, such as oil changes, lubrication of moving parts, fluid checks, belt replacement and other routine checks.
• Performs rough carpentry, paints walls and ceilings, replaces signs, repairs fences, tables and other maintenance duties.  Sweeps and mops floors, picks up litter, empties trash and cleans restrooms.   Makes minor repairs to buildings and facilities.  Completes required inspections.
• Performs irrigation system repairs.  Maintains sewage treatment plants. Repairs water and sewer lines and performs minor plumbing maintenance at park facilities.
• Reports work progress and related information to Conservation & Parks Manager on a regular basis.  Plans projects in collaboration with supervisor and others.
• Maintains purchasing records and is responsible for purchasing card expenditures and reports.
• Responds to public questions and needs in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Performs job duties in accordance with Great Parks of Hamilton County’s policies, procedures, and performance expectations.
• Maintains confidentiality of confidential and sensitive information.
• Works assigned schedule, exhibits regular and punctual attendance and works outside of normal schedule as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

An appropriate combination of education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities.  An example of an acceptable qualification is:

• High School Degree, GED or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in parks & recreation, natural resources, facility maintenance, horticulture, or grounds maintenance. Or Associates Degree in Parks & Recreation, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Botany or related field can substitute for work experience.
• Ability to document identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• State Pesticide Applicator’s License in category 5 (industrial vegetation) or other specific categories as required, within 12 months of employment, State Motor Vehicle Operator’s License that meets GPHC current carrier guidelines.

We offer an excellent benefit package that includes medical, dental and life insurance; paid vacation, 11 holidays and sick time; enrollment in Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and free or discounted use of many Great Parks of Hamilton County recreational activities.:

Great Parks is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or any other classification protected under applicable law.