Natural Areas & Trails Technician II

About the role

The Natural Areas & Trails (NAT) Maintenance Technician II is responsible for a wide range of construction and maintenance projects, operating equipment and supporting chemical application.

Responsibilities

• Lead NAT mowing operations, including trailside, right of way, and noxious weed management operations
• Operate equipment, lead fleet safety program, and train other NAT staff on safe and efficient operation of equipment
• Manage small construction projects including trailheads, fencing, kiosks, soil prep and compaction, grading and leveling, small concrete jobs, and other small projects
• Lead design, oversight fabrication, and install as applicable for each project
• Work closely with other NAT staff to develop priorities and implement signage in the NAT system
• Manage landscapes within the NAT system, including repairing irrigation systems, string trimming, mowing, shelter maintenance and site cleanup
• Plan and lead volunteer projects, ensuring best practices and safety of staff and volunteers on projects
• Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports on all NAT equipment to evaluate safety and mechanical problems
• Provide supplemental support to NAT and Parks staff in herbicide application within natural areas properties and trail corridors
• Participate in prescribed burn activities in conjunction with Greeley Fire Dept. and other partners
• Use computer software including GPS/GIS applications, Cityworks, MS Excel, Word and Outlook
• Inspect properties in response to customer complaints and determine actions to resolve issues
• Absorb and communicate standard management/maintenance rules, policies and procedures to the public
• Perform and oversee the performance of a variety of complex maintenance and construction activities in Natural Areas and Trails
• Provide leadership and guidance to hourly, seasonal, and volunteer staff on policies and safety procedures
• Inspect all equipment pre- and post-trip to evaluate safety and mechanical problems, anticipate potential problems, and act promptly and diligently to avoid equipment down time and safety issues
• Maintain playgrounds and conduct safety inspections
• Utilize CityWorks software to organize work, manage inspection requests, and monitor task budgets
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Three (3) years of experience in stewardship of natural resources and trails maintenance
• Valid CO driver's license and 2 years of a good driving record
• Experience operating tractors, mowers, utility vehicles, brush chipper, chain saws, stump grinder, tree spade, backhoes, snow plow, snow blowers, snow brooms, dump trucks, loaders, and skid loaders
• Experience in the fields of natural resources, wildlife biology, weed science, agronomy, agriculture, botany, or ecology
• Specialized training beyond high school normally gained in a program of less than 18 months duration
• High school diploma or GED

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in forestry, ecology, biology, range management, natural resources management, or similar field preferred
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in the job summary

Skills

• Ability to safely operate and support a preventative maintenance program for a variety of equipment
• Working knowledge of Colorado noxious weed species, integrated pest management strategies, and techniques to minimize impacts to non-target species
• Experience leading and training hourly staff to assist in the safe operation of equipment and maintenance of areas of responsibility
• Experience leading small crews or volunteers in small construction projects
• Managing of cyclical maintenance programs which helps to improve native vegetation health, overall ecosystem function and image for the entire city
• Knowledge of various gas-powered and electric tools commonly used in construction projects, vegetation management, and snow removal
• Knowledge of basic traffic control methods for safe work zone set ups
• Strong organizational skills of hard copy and electronic files
• Ability to effectively communicate standard management/maintenance rules, policies and procedures to the public
• Ability to use judgment in unique situations that arise to determine the safest method of completing tasks
• Ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities
• Experience with limited pesticide applications
• Experience in traffic control situations
• Ability to assess traffic control needs and stage traffic control devices in a standardized manner
• Demonstrated ability to use common office computer software, specifically MS Excel and Word
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with internal and external individuals or groups
• Ability to exercise sound judgement to determine the safest method of completing tasks
• Ability to keep documents, maps, and plans organized and filed for easy retrieval
• Comprehend and make inferences from written materials and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts, using proper grammar

Benefits

This position is benefits eligible. Please view our benefits guide here.

Pay

Full Salary Range: $24.16- $35.03

Schedule

Frequent interaction with the public. Exposure to all weather conditions, sometimes for extended periods of time. Exposure to various types of machinery noise, dust, dirt, and debris. Potential exposure to chemicals used in landscape maintenance.

Conditions of Employment

• Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification.
• Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation.