Responsibilities:
- Manage and supervise 5-member crew to work on variety of indoor and outdoor conservation projects in Forest Preserves of Cook County
- Work independently to fulfill restoration work orders and project responsibilities, including, but not limited to, year-round field work, supplies procurement, tool and vehicle maintenance, scouting, walkthroughs, and follow up treatment
- Train and lead crews for field work, herbicide application, prescribed burning, and mechanical control of invasive species using motorized equipment (brush cutters, chainsaws, mowers) and hand tools
- Assist with educating crew in ecological restoration and local ecology concepts
- Develop weekly crew schedule, training, and reporting
- Evaluate and document crew work activities and performance through compiling weekly work log data, taking and uploading crew photos, and assisting with writing quarterly and annual work progress reports
- Interview, screen, hire, and onboard all new crew members
Required Qualifications:
- 21 years or older with clean driving record
- At least 3 years practical experience working with crews to conduct habitat
- restoration
- Excellent working knowledge of restoration best practices and plant identification
- Strong commitment to creating a culture of safety, teamwork, and learning
- Current Illinois Herbicide Applicator license or ability to secure one within 45 days
- of hire
- Current Basic First Aid and Adult CPR certifications
- Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to create an inclusive working environment for a diversity of team members
- and partners
- Ability to lift and move heavy objects (50 lbs.) and work outside in inclement
- weather and extreme temperatures
- Comfortable driving an extended-bed heavy duty F250 truck (training provided)
- Flexibility for schedule changes due to trainings, burn season, and weather
Beneficial Skills/Qualifications:
- Experience with technical report writing
- Staff management/supervisory experience
- Experience teaching in classroom and/or field setting a plus
- 300 hours of chainsaw experience, 100 hours of brush cutter experience, 570 hours of herbicide experience
- Experience using GPS Units
- S290 certification and Burn Boss certification
- Experience with team leadership
Benefits
- Health, dental, short- and long-term disability, and $100,000 of life insurance coverage
- 403b retirement account with 3% match after 1 year
- 3 weeks of vacation
- 2 weeks of sick time
- 11 paid holidays plus 2 additional paid days of winter break
To apply: Submit cover letter, resume, and two references via the Friends’ website at https://fotfp.org/who-we-are/jobs/. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please NO calls, faxes, office visits, or emails.
Friends of the Forest Preserves strongly encourages people of all identities to apply. We strive to include people of every race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, and/or sexual orientation. Friends is an equal opportunity employer, in addition to observing all legal protections of special status, promoting diversity in the conservation community. |
