Restoration Technician

ORGANIZATION

Sonoma Ecology Center is a 33-year-old nonprofit with a mission to work with our community to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.  SEC is respected throughout the North Bay and beyond for our contributions to important initiatives in land, water, biodiversity, and climate.  SEC has 30 professional, dedicated staff members and manages numerous large grants and contracts, often in partnership with other nonprofits and agencies that help leverage our work and impact.

POSITION SUMMARY

SEC seeks a full-time Restoration Technician to help fulfill the organization’s Restoration Program initiatives.  The Restoration Program is dedicated to the repair, enhancement and stewardship of over 4,000 acres of private and public lands in the North Bay Area. Our ecological restoration services include biological site assessments, native plant seed collection and propagation, invasive plant mapping and treatments, streambank stabilization and erosion control, trail maintenance, debris management and fire fuel management.  Currently, our projects are focused on post-fire restoration, forest fuels reduction, removal of invasive plants, and replanting of native trees, shrubs, and grasses.

Technicians report to the Restoration Project Manager and, ultimately, to the Restoration Program Manager.  The position will primarily be in the field with limited office and shop work.  Additional activities may include community outreach, volunteer leadership, and occasional tool and vehicle maintenance.   Field work requires exposure to adverse weather conditions and hazards such as poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. Scheduling will be discussed during the interview process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to)

• Perform various aspects of fieldwork, including vegetation management, habitat restoration, native plant installation, irrigation design and installation, and project site maintenance
• Construct ecological fuel breaks in wildland-urban interface locations
• Lead post-fire debris/toxins containment (wattles, jute, & BMP erosion control measures)
• Mapping invasive species population distribution and conducting control efforts
• Streambank stabilization and bioengineered erosion control installation
• Trail installation and maintenance
• Assist with the propagation, inventory, and maintenance of our native plant nursery
• Track and document work through photo point monitoring and reporting
• Attend program and staff meetings, and periodic check-ins with Project and Program Managers
• Conduct outreach to property owners
• Help with the supervision of college or high school interns
• Occasional weekend work is required
• Available for occasional overnight stays with advanced notice

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong interest in natural resource conservation
• Ability to perform manual labor under adverse conditions of heat, cold, rain, and rough terrain
• Commitment to safe work practices
• Reliability and punctuality
• Ability to function as an effective member of a team
• Ability to work independently as needed
• Ability to respond positively and quickly to training and feedback
• Ability to interact positively with the public and represent the organization in a professional manner at all times

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Experience using and maintaining hand tools; i.e., Pulaski, Mcloud, handpick, etc.
• Experience using and maintaining mechanical equipment, i.e., chainsaws, brush cutter, power hedge trimmer, and auger drills
• Can safely operate other power equipment
• Experience in ecological restoration, fuel reduction, wildland fire suppression, and invasive species control
• Experience with GPS technology
• Familiarity with flora and fauna of the San Francisco Bay Area
• Ability to troubleshoot problems with pumps, hoses, torches, propane tanks
• Experience with irrigation systems
• Experience driving trucks with trailers
• Training in wilderness first aid
• Valid Driver’s License/Auto Insurance, and can pass a DMV background check

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED
• 1-3 years of outdoor work experience, or:
• Related internship

IDEAL EXPERIENCE, BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Wildland Firefighter Type II-I
• Associate degree in natural resources or related field
• Chainsaw safety certificate or willing to obtain one after 90 days
• Experience with prescribed burns
• Biomass pile burning
• QAC or QAL
• Irrigation Technician Certification
• Spanish speaking

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in the field (Approximately 90%+).  Fieldwork includes bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, climbing, crawling, kneeling, wading or standing in water, and standing for long periods.  Occasional office work includes using a computer, phone, and copier.  The candidate must be able to safely lift, carry, push and pull up to 60 lbs.  Occasionally, employees will be asked to perform light construction work. Techs are exposed to inclement weather, including rain, heat, exposure to the sun, high winds, cold and smoke from prescribed fire.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety precautions are mandatory.  Sonoma Ecology Center is a drug-free workplace and an EEOC employer.

BENEFITS

Eligibility to enroll in one of two Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans on the first of the month after hire.  Of which, SEC pays 80% of the employee’s premium (not that of dependents).  You are also eligible for paid holidays; vacation accrual; sick accrual; and the ability to enroll in a self-funded TIAA 403(B) account.

All qualified applicants will be given equal consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, veteran, military status, genetic information, and marital status or familial status.  Sonoma Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all persons.  Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify our Human Resources Department.

To apply:  bambooHR: https://sonomaecologycenter.bamboohr.com/careers/36

Or, you may submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references, preferably in one document, to Celina Briggs, Human Resources Specialist at humanresources@sonomaecologycenter.org, with Resto Tech in the header. No phone calls, please.  For more information about the Sonoma Ecology Center, please visit www.sonomaecologycenter.org.