At The Garden — Employment

Woodland Management Technician Seasonal Position

Requisition Number 28

The Barbara Brown Nature Reserve is a newly established 12-acre restoration encompassing cottonwood groves, prairie, savanna, open water, and shoreline plantings. The woodland management technician seasonal position is responsible for removal of invasive species (including the use of herbicides), general weeding of newly seeded areas, transplanting native plants, and watering of recently planted trees and shrubs. Some time also will be spent assisting the Garden’s ecologists with invasive species control, maintenance of the Garden’s native seed nursery, planting of native plants in woodland restoration areas, seed collecting and cleaning, preparation of fire breaks for controlled burns, litter collection, and other tasks as assigned.

Position requirements include a Bachelor’s degree and/or experience in ecology, environmental management, natural areas restoration, or a related field. This position involves physically demanding work for extended periods of time, working in sometimes arduous field conditions and with exposure to mosquitoes, wood ticks, and poison ivy. The employee must be able to operate a portable pump for watering plants along with other small power tools and hand tools. The work environment includes working alone for extended periods of time as well as in team situations, and often working closely with Garden volunteers to accomplish the goals of the restoration work.

Candidates must have a high comfort level being in and around water, and an ability to swim should the need arise in an emergency. Employees will be expected to operate row boats and canoes, and they must have an ability to lift and carry 35 pounds. The successful candidate will be required to obtain an Illinois herbicide operators license, take training to assist with the conduct of controlled burns in the Garden’s natural areas, and possess a valid driver’s license.

The 2012 employment term for this position begins in May and continues through October or November. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am – 4 p.m.; infrequently, some overtime effort (at time-and-a-half pay) may be requested.