Laborer I

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County Flood Control District is seeking a Laborer to support vegetation management, herbicide application, and channel maintenance at facilities in Houston, TX. The role reports to the Crew Leader and requires a high school diploma or GED along with a valid Texas Class C license.

40 hours weekly; salary discussed at interview. Responsibilities include using gasoline-powered equipment, weed cutting, debris removal, and basic tool maintenance in an outdoor, field environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year in landscaping, vegetation maintenance, herbicide application, labor work, or a closely related field.
• Valid Class C Texas Driver’s License.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions and work outdoors in varying weather.

Responsibilities

• Cut and remove vegetation using gasoline-powered equipment and hand tools.
• Apply herbicides with backpacks weighing 25–30 pounds.
• Maintain and perform preventive maintenance on tools and equipment.
• Follow safety wear equipment requirements and safety protocols.
• Adapt to additional responsibilities as needs change.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Following written instructions

Outdoor work endurance

Team collaboration

Self-starter / autonomy

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Gasoline-powered equipment

Hand tools

Lawn maintenance tools

Job description

Position Description

About Harris County Flood Control District

The Flood Control District has the mission to reduce the risk of flooding in Harris County, the third most populated county in the United States, with a population in excess of 4.7 million, including the City of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city. The District has jurisdiction over the primary stormwater facilities in the county, which consist of approximately 1,500 channels totaling nearly 2,500 miles in length, as well as more than 60 regional stormwater detention basins, totaling more than 10,000 acres and several wetlands mitigation banks including Greens bayou.

What you will do at Harris County Flood Control District

Harris County Flood Control District is seeking a qualified candidate for the role of Laborer. Reporting to the Crew Leader, the Laborer is responsible for operating gasoline-powered equipment and various hand tools used in the daily operation of maintaining clear channels, drainage elements, and rights of way in accordance with the District’s mission to maintain the infrastructure.

Essential Functions and Duties

Vegetation Cutting & Removal

• Cut and chop weeds and other types of vegetation using gasoline-powered equipment such as weed eaters and non-powered hand tools such as machetes, axes, or tree trimmers.
• Remove and stack cut vegetation in, along, and around channels, drainage elements, and rights-of-way using hand rakes or pitchforks.
• Load or assist in loading cut vegetation and refuse into trash trucks for removal to the dump site with or without power or hand tools.
• Clear rights of way of trees, rocks, and any other large obstacles.
• May enter the channel in water up to three feet in depth or from the bank to dislodge and remove drifts and debris (trees, limbs, brush, vines, trash, and refuse) that impede water flow around and under bridges or other areas.

Herbicide Application

• Spray herbicides on selected weeds and grasses using filled backpacks that weigh between 25 and 30 pounds.

Equipment & Tool Maintenance

• Perform preventive maintenance on tools and equipment, such as using a file to sharpen machetes, axes, and shovels, changing line cords for weed eaters, checking fluid levels in gasoline-powered equipment, and cleaning and replacing air filters, etc.
• Report necessary replacement or repair of defective equipment to the supervisor.

Safety & Compliance

• Utilize safety wear equipment as specified by the District and dictated by each job assignment performed.

Additional Responsibilities and Duties

• Assume additional responsibilities as required, adapting to the District's evolving demands, responsibilities, needs, and objectives.

Requirements

Education

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent

Experience

• One (1) year in landscaping, vegetation maintenance, herbicide application, labor work, or a closely related field

Licensure

• Valid Class "C" Texas Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Good verbal & written communication skills.
• Can effectively communicate with coworkers and the public.
• Must be able to read and follow written instructions.
• Work well in an outdoor setting.
• Work well with a team in a field environment.
• Work independently with limited supervision, relative autonomy, and general review.
• Be a self-starter; assume ownership in completing assigned tasks.

Preferences

• Knowledge of bayou, drainage area, and rights-of-way maintenance, including, but not limited to, application of various herbicides, cutting and clearing brush, and debris removal. (preferred)

General Information

Position Type, Hours and Salary

• Regular | Full-Time | Non-exempt
• 40 hours per week
• Salary: To be discussed at interview

Locations

• Facilities Maintenance | 7522 Prairie Oak Drive Houston, TX 77086
• 5301 Almeda Genoa Rd., Houston, TX 77048

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure

• Frequent walking up and down steep slopes of ditches or on rough and uneven surfaces or ground such as sloping terrain, plowed or furrowed areas or construction sites.
• Frequent stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying of items up to 20 pounds and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional driving of vehicles with automatic and four-wheel drive controls.
• Occasional ascending and descending stairs.
• 100% of duties are performed outdoors where there will be routine exposure to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind, and dust.
• May be exposed to vegetation retardants, herbicides and fertilizers, petroleum products including but not limited to gasoline, oil, grease, diesel and other fuels and lubricants, snakes, wildlife, wasps, bees and other flying or walking insects, aquatic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, and vibration or noise in excess of 85 decibels.

Equal Opportunity Statement & Contact

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx . If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail].

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications, positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.