Noxious Weeds Control Specialist II
King County, WA
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
King County seeks a Noxious Weed Control Specialist II to join the Noxious Weed Control Program and support residents and landowners across a region with technical assistance to curb noxious weeds. This is a field-heavy role anchored in equity and environmental stewardship.
You will conduct field surveys, map infestations, coordinate rapid response protocols, and engage land managers on regulatory requirements while maintaining program data. Hybrid onsite work in Seattle area.
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.
- 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.
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, trainings and educational events.
Skills
Education
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Hold or able to obtain a WSDA Pesticide Applications License with Aquatic Endorsement within 30 days of hire.
- WA State Drivers License
- 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.
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.
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.
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 action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page. This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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