Forest Health Invasive Species Strike Team Specialist, Avon/Rochester NY

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Agency

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Location

Avon NY (near Rochester)

Job Category

Temporary/Seasonal Positions

Salary

17.00 per hour

Start Date

01/31/2022

Last Date to Apply

01/18/2022

Website

https://statejobs.ny.gov/public/vacancyDetailsView.cfm?id=96745

Description

This is a great position for someone who enjoys working as part of a team, exploring new places, being outside doing physical work, and who wants to spend time implementing manual and chemical control of invasive species, improving their GIS, furthering their forest health pest and plant identification skills, and getting professional experience interacting with the public. DEC Division of Lands & Forests, Forest Health, has statewide invasive species control programs for giant hogweed, kudzu, southern pine beetle, hemlock wooly adelgid and other target species. This position will move between control programs based on the seasonality of treatment for each species. The position’s duties involve fieldwork throughout NY on both public and private lands; mapping infestations, collecting site information, surveying for plants and implementing control of giant hogweed, kudzu, southern pine beetle, hemlock wooly adelgid and other target species. Appropriate safety equipment and safety training will be provided at the outset of employment. Principal Duties • Contact property owners to obtain permission to enter property for survey and/or control. • Locate specific control sites using maps and GIS products. • Implement manual and chemical control of giant hogweed, kudzu and other target plant, insect or disease. Pesticide will be applied under the supervision of a certified commercial pesticide applicator using an appropriate backpack sprayer and nozzle to minimize non-target effects, according to the product label and manufacturer’s safety instructions. All necessary equipment will be provided. Landowners will be notified prior to herbicide application and provided with a copy of the herbicide label. • Use equipment such as a compact tracked loader or a tracked aerial lift and power tools such as chainsaws or brush saws access and treat southern pine beetle and other target species. • Conduct field surveys with the use of a hand-held GPS and mobile mapping unit and plot target species location polygons and records on digital maps. • Acquire and inventory digital photographs of specific control sites to monitor yearly progress. • Maintain detailed records of the control activities and site information for each site. Duration of Employment This is a seasonal, year-round position with an anticipated start date of January 31, 2022. Successful applicants will be required to take a 4-day training course, included in the duration of employment, designed and presented by the Division of Lands & Forests. Primary Work Location Avon is the primary work location. Room and board is the responsibility of the employee. Travel and overnight travel may be required. Accommodation and living expenses for work outside the primary area will be reimbursed at the standard State rates prescribed for the area. Standard Work Week & Salary The typical workweek is four 10-hour days per week (Monday to Thursday). Actual work schedule may vary and will be discussed at the interview. The compensation rate is $17.00. Position includes health benefits. Personal, vacation and holiday accruals will be earned after 38 weeks.

Qualifications

Required knowledge and skills • Coursework related to forestry, environmental studies, ecology, natural resource management, conservation biology, wildlife biology, etc. • Experience identifying and controlling invasive plants using manual and chemical control methods. Ability to identify giant hogweed, kudzu and associated plants with minimal training. • Experience identifying common tree species of New York and the pests that impact them. • Skill in using maps, GPS and GIS to assist in locating and recording survey sites. Experience creating GIS polygons using ArcMap or ArcGIS. • Must be able to lift and move objects up to 45 pounds. Physical ability to dig, cut and/or use a pesticide backpack, or use a chainsaw to control invasive species for long hours in hot and cold weather in a variety of terrains while maintaining a good attitude. • Excellent organizational skills • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to interact well with the public and provide accurate information about giant hogweed, kudzu, hemlock wooly adelgid, southern pine beetle and other target species to interested persons. • Self-motivated, work well both independently and in a collaborative setting. • Must be a NY State Certified Category 3A Pesticide Technician/Applicator or able to pass pesticide exams. Ability to follow direction regarding safe pesticide application. • Required to have or ability to pass Game of Logging Levels 1 & 2 or equivalent • Candidates must possess a valid New York State driver’s license at the time of appointment. • Must be physically able to perform the duties assigned. Minimum Qualifications • Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of appointment. • Must be physically able to perform the duties assigned. • Must meet forest technician qualifications: a. Thirty (30) semester credit hours, including twelve (12) semester credit hours in forestry, which must include at least one course in three or more of the following areas: botany, dendrology, forest biology, forest ecology, forest ecosystem management, forest entomology, forest health, forest mensuration, forest pathology, forest protection, forest soils, general soils, geographic information systems, land surveying and silviculture OR b. One (1) year of technical forestry experience in one (1) or more of the following areas: forest management, including sale and removal of timber products; nursery management, including the transplanting of tree or shrub seedlings; forest pest management, including control of diseases and insect pests. To Apply https://statejobs.ny.gov/public/vacancyDetailsView.cfm?id=96745 Applicants should supply a copy of their college transcript of qualifying courses (unofficial copy is acceptable), letter of intent, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Heath Boomhower [email protected]. Be sure to include Posting #22-009 on your resume and also in the subject line of your email or it may not be accepted. Application deadline is 1/18/22. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Person

Heath Boomhower

Contact Phone

518-402-9273

Contact eMail

[email protected]

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