Seasonal Natural Resources Maintenance

at Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in West Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County provides opportunities for people to connect with nature. We offer to the public 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, 47 miles of rivers and streams, and 6 nature and cultural centers. We have 6 million visitors each year.

The District's mission is, "to acquire and hold lands containing forests, prairies, wetlands and associated plant communities or lands capable of being restored to such natural conditions for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauty for the education, pleasure and recreation of its citizens.

Job Summary

This position assists in the maintenance and restoration of the District's natural areas, including forests, prairies, wetlands, and plant communities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in identifying and removing invasive species using pesticides and other equipment.
• Operate motorized equipment including line trimmers, brush saws, hedge trimmers, and planting drills, and hand tools including shovels, rakes, trowels, screwdrivers, and hammers.
• Perform manual labor including digging, brush clearing, and moving heavy equipment.
• Operate District motor vehicles including pickup trucks and ATVs.
• Collect and process seeds of native flora.
• Keep neat and accurate records, including departmental time tracking and tracking of herbicide use.
• Foster a working environment that promotes safe work habits; Become familiar with and observe all applicable safety rules, policies, and work procedures; Follow all safety rules that pertain to the duties performed and support all aspects of the District's safety and risk management program; Keep work area clean, orderly, and free of hazards; Immediately report all unsafe conditions and incidents.
• Maintain a supportive working environment and demonstrate a desire to exceed the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements:

• 18 years of age or older.
• Valid Driver's License in good standing.
• Must be able to obtain an IL Department of Agriculture Pesticide Operator's license within 1 month of employment.
• Basic knowledge of native and non-native plant and animal species.
• Comfortable working in wilderness and in remote areas.

Schedule: Position starts in mid-May. Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

Pay: $16/hour.

Work Environment: Outdoors in all types of weather conditions in wilderness and remote areas.

Location: Reports to Blackwell Nursery in West Chicago, IL. Work will be conducted at multiple sites across DuPage County.

Other Information: Long pants and work boots are required.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace built on a foundation of respect, integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Our organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.