Natural Areas Restoration Technician
Park Dist Of Highland Park
Turn this role into an interview — a resume and cover letter built around what this employer wants.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Park District of Highland Park is seeking a Natural Areas Restoration Technician to manage and restore natural areas, plant demonstrations, and assist with park operations under the Natural Areas Manager and Director of Parks.
The role includes coordinating volunteers, maintaining turf and park facilities, and supporting research and monitoring projects. Requires knowledge of local flora, herbicide safety, and GIS/GPS mapping, with a valid driver's license and pesticide credentials.
Qualifications
- Two‑year college associates degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Natural Areas Management, Forestry, or related study.
- A working knowledge of local flora, basic ecological principles and natural areas management techniques.
Responsibilities
- Control brush and exotic weeds using hand and power tools; herbicide application by hand and spray methods.
- Identify native trees, shrubs and flora; collect native grass and forb seeds for habitat seed mixes.
- Propagate native plants from seed and cuttings; supply material for volunteer events.
- Plant plugs, bare rootstock, seeds, shrubs, and trees.
- Assist with prescribed burn planning and execution.
- Design and install plants in demonstration natural areas and rain gardens.
- Mow turf; maintain soil and turf health; manage weeds.
- Inspect, repair and maintain park amenities and equipment.
- Coordinate and lead volunteer workdays; train volunteers; occasional weekend events.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Under the direction and supervision of the Natural Areas Manager and responsible to the Director of Parks, the Natural Areas Restoration Technician is responsible for natural areas management and planning, and other park operations projects as assigned.
May be responsible for training and providing day-to-day task instruction for seasonal employees and/or volunteers.
- Control brush and exotic weeds, including cutting with use of hand and power tools; application of herbicide by hand and spray methods; and removal by means of hauling and/or properly constructed brush pile burns.
- Ability to identify native trees, shrubs and flora in the field, as well as collect native grass and forb seeds at proper times and provide for correct storage, preparation, and inclusion in habitat specific seed mixes.
- Propagate native plants from seed and cuttings in greenhouse and garden settings especially regarding supplying material for upcoming volunteer events.
- Plant plugs, bare rootstock, seeds, shrubs, and/or saplings, containerized and ball and burlap trees.
- Assist with prescribed burn planning and execution.
- Planning, design, and installation of plants in demonstration natural areas- naturalized gardens and rain gardens.
- Mowing Park District turf using walk-behind and riding equipment.
- Turf maintenance: seeding, sodding, watering, and aerating.
- Weed management including hand, mechanical, and chemical control methods.
- Trimming trees and shrubs using hand tools and power equipment.
- Removal of garbage and refuse materials from parks and natural areas.
- Inspect, repair, construct, paint, and clean all park amenities.
- General asphalt path repair including patching.
- General road repair including gravel road.
- Assist in research and monitoring projects for vegetative cover, plant species of concern, hydrology, and wildlife. Prepare and maintain accurate written records and reports as directed by the Natural Areas Manager, including GPS mobile and GIS mapping software.
- Perform data quality checks and analysis for water monitoring projects.
- Plan and facilitate scheduled and requested group and corporate volunteer workdays in natural areas.
- Prepare and execute volunteer workdays and activities to include providing day-to-day training for volunteers on daily tasks and safety; lead workdays and activities on their own or in the absence of the Natural Areas Manager.
- Must be available for occasional weekend special events (estimated 3‑4 per year) including River Day, Arbor Day, and September Adopt‑a‑Beach.
- On and off‑road driving/operation of Park District vehicles.
- Inspect and repair park equipment, amenities, and facilities.
- Tree felling and pruning.
- Streambank erosion control.
- Maintain all equipment and hand tools.
- Assist with set up and take down of programs and special events as necessary.
- General landscape and turf maintenance, and cleanup of park facilities as needed.
- Attend seminars and workshops to provide for professional growth.
- Communicate matters of departmental interest or importance to the Natural Areas Manager in a timely manner.
- Offer suggestions to improve job efficiency and quality while keeping the best interests of the District in mind.
- Customer service; including addressing patron concerns.
- On a scheduled on‑call basis, including weekends, assist with District snow removal efforts from designated parking lots, sidewalks, roads, driveways, and pedestrian paths.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience: Two‑year college associates degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Natural Areas Management, Forestry, or strongly related study and/or two years supervised field experience in natural areas restoration required. A working knowledge of local flora, basic ecological principles and natural areas management techniques is essential. Experience with prescribed burning preferred. Familiarity with GIS/GPS mapping software and hardware preferred.
- Planting and care of landscape materials; drainage techniques
- Operation of light and heavy mechanical construction equipment
- Use of chain saws, clearing saws, snow blowers, power tools, hand sprayers and hand tools
- Herbicides and their proper uses, mixing, application, storage, and disposal
- Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel
- Use of floristic Quality Analysis software and other monitoring related computer programs.
- Basic construction methods
- American Red Cross CPR/AED Certification or ability to obtain
- Valid driver's license required.
- Must obtain and keep current with the State of Illinois Pesticide Operator License (be able to obtain within 6 months of hire)
- S-130 and S-190 Burn Certification or acceptable equivalent (be able to obtain within 6 months of hire)
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance; reach with hands and arms; use hands to finger, handle or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
The physical environment requires the employee to regularly work in outside weather conditions to be exposed to hot and humid weather, wet conditions, and cold temperatures. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electric shock. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud.
$28.37 per hour
Full‑time, non‑exempt
- Medical Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO or PPO)
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 4 Weeks Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Company Paid Group Term Life Insurance
- Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
- Pension/Benefit Plan (IMRF)
- Deferred Compensation Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts (Health and Dependent Care)
- Ten (10) Paid Federal Holidays
- Paid Vacation
- Three (3) Floating Holidays
- Twelve (12) Paid Sick Days
- Incentivized Wellness Program
- Health & Fitness Membership
- Outdoor Pool Membership and Seasonal Beach Access
- Program and Facility Discounts on a variety of recreational activities including Golf, Racquet Sports, and Ice Skating.
The Park District of Highland Park is an equal opportunity employer.
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
