Noxious Weeds Control Specialist II

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

County-issued laptop

Job summary

King County in Seattle is seeking a Noxious Weed Control Specialist II to support regional weed management and reduce environmental impacts through integrated weed control strategies.

You will join the Noxious Weed Control Program, working under supervision to survey, map, and coordinate control efforts with land managers, communities, and partners in a defined region.

Qualifications

• Subject matter expert in noxious weed identification, biology, control, and impacts.
• Demonstrated field experience and expertise in managing noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resources.
• Demonstrated ability to do field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including urban areas, wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with the public on difficult, sensitive, and technical issues, both verbally and in writing.
• Familiarity with integrated pest management and weed control methods including cultural, chemical, biocontrol, and manual methods.
• Ability to successfully plan and manage complex weed control projects across multiple species and timelines. Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines, prioritizing work and managing own time.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field surveys to identify, document and map noxious weed infestations.
• Coordinate rapid response weed control protocols for high-priority infestations.
• Engage land managers regarding regulatory compliance requirements and provide educational and technical assistance.
• Enter and maintain data in program databases (spatial and relational databases).
• Conduct municipal partner and community outreach, public presentations, trainings and educational events.

Skills

Noxious weed expertise

Field experience

Terrain adaptability

Public communication

IPM familiarity

Project management

Education

WSDA Pesticide Applications License

WA Driver's License

Job description

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future vacancies within the Water and Land Resources Division or throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months.

Join Our Team

This position is a unique opportunity for a knowledgeable and motivated environmental professional to make tangible and substantial positive impacts to significant environmental outcomes through noxious weed control in a designated region of King County. This position joins a dynamic team that seeks to reduce the impacts of Noxious Weeds throughout King County through collaborative and innovative approaches to noxious weed control on a landscape scale. These outcomes contribute to King County environmental initiatives including the Healthy Lands Project, the Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) and the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative.

About the Role

The Noxious Weed Control Program employs 14 Noxious Weed Specialists to survey and ensure control of noxious weeds throughout King County. This successful candidate will be assigned to one region, supporting the residents and landowners of this region with technical assistance to control noxious weeds and reduce their impacts. The person hired for this position will work under the direction of the County Lands and Regional Specialist Supervisor.

About the Team

The Noxious Weed Control Program is a national leader in the early detection of noxious weeds, integrated pest management, community engagement, and rapid response to high impact weed concerns. We work throughout King County to prevent and reduce the economic, environmental, and social impacts of noxious weeds in King County, Washington.

Our mission is to provide benefits to the environment, recreation, public health, and economic resources of King County by preventing and minimizing harmful impacts of noxious weeds. We do this through education and technical assistance to landowners and public agencies to help everyone find the best control options for noxious weeds on each site and to reduce the overall impact of noxious weeds throughout the county.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Noxious Weed Control Specialist II you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing

• Conduct field surveys to identify, document and map noxious weed infestations.
• Coordinate rapid response weed control protocols for high-priority infestations.
• Engage land managers regarding regulatory compliance requirements and provide educational and technical assistance.
• Enter and maintain data in program databases (spatial and relational databases).
• Conduct municipal partner and community outreach, public presentations, trainings and educational events.

Qualifications You Bring

• Subject matter expert in noxious weed identification, biology, control, and impacts.
• Demonstrated field experience and expertise in managing noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resources.
• Demonstrated ability to do field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including urban areas, wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with the public on difficult, sensitive, and technical issues, both verbally and in writing.
• Familiarity with integrated pest management and weed control methods including cultural, chemical, biocontrol, and manual methods.
• Ability to successfully plan and manage complex weed control projects across multiple species and timelines. Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines, prioritizing work and managing own time.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to do field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes.
• Ability to carry heavy loads on back (up to 45 pounds) over very uneven terrain
• Ability to work in a range of difficult conditions including inclement weather – rain, heat, etc.
• Ability to drive/operate work vehicle in a range of difficult driving conditions ranging from dense urban to highway to unpaved off-road, and inclement weather.

Workplace Exposures

• Field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including dense forest, wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes
• Proximity to spiny poisonous plants
• Stinging insects
• Use of herbicides
• Driving a variety of vehicles

Competencies You Bring

• Customer Focus:Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Manages Complexity:Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Plans and Aligns:Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Ensures Accountability:Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Communicates Effectively:Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required Licenses

• Hold or able to obtain a WSDA Pesticide Applications License with Aquatic Endorsement within 30 days of hire.
• WA State Drivers License

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring

• Demonstrated success developing, managing, and expanding environmental services projects to improve ecological and social outcomes on a landscape scale.
• Demonstrated field experience and expertise in managing noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resoures.
• Familiarity with integrated pest management and weed control methods including chemical, biocontrol, and manual methods.

Onsite Work Details

The Noxious Weed Control team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule

This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.

Union Representation

This position is not represented by a union.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are