Seasonal Restoration Crew Leader

As a member of the Greenway Trust’s Field Program, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a team in an energetic, productive, and collaborative environment. The Restoration Crew identifies, surveys for, and controls invasive plants; installs native trees and shrubs; collects monitoring data; and maintains ecological restoration projects in partnership with public land management agencies throughout the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. The Crew Leader is responsible for the safety and oversight of the restoration crew and works closely with the Greenway Trust restoration coordinators to develop and effectively communicate project plans and expectations to crew members.  

This is a full-time 9-month seasonal position. Season Length: February 15 to November 22, 2024. The Restoration Crew will also periodically support Greenway Trust volunteer and education events and will work regularly with Greenway Trust staff and occasionally with partner agency and nonprofit staff, sponsored AmeriCorps members, and volunteers.  

This position is contingent upon funding from outside sources secured by the Greenway Trust. 

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust works to steward a landscape that stretches 100 miles from the shores of Puget Sound, across the Cascade Mountains, to Central Washington. The Greenway Trust also coordinates the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area (NHA), which honors the historical and cultural significance of this place and helps to preserve and celebrate its living heritage. The Restoration Crew contributes to the goals of the NHA by implementing ecological restoration projects that focus on riparian restoration to improve habitat for threatened Chinook salmon, community restoration projects that focus on restoring open spaces in neighborhoods with less access to healthy green spaces, and supports agency efforts to minimize the impacts of noxious weeds on public and private lands. 

EXPECTATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES 

The position expectations listed below are representative of the demeanor, knowledge, and ability of the applicant necessary to successfully carry out the essential duties and responsibilities of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made as possible. 

Leadership  

  • Professionally represent the Greenway Trust while interacting with the public. 
  • Model a high standard of courtesy, selflessness, tolerance, hard work, adaptability, and flexibility. 
  • Engage with, listen to, and learn from people with diverse perspectives and experiences. 
  • Demonstrate strong communication skills and ability to motivate a team. 
  • Act as liaison between the Restoration Crew and Restoration Projects Manager. 

Project Implementation 

  • Lead crews in proper ecological restoration best management practices. 
  • Properly use tools and conduct routine maintenance of tools, including backpack sprayers, EZ-Ject lances, brush cutters, and other restoration related equipment. 
  • Work long days in variable weather, walk on uneven terrain, and wear a 30-pound backpack to apply herbicide. 

Safety and Risk Management  

  • Monitor and advocate for the crew’s physical safety and emotional well-being. 
  • Establish and maintain a culture of safety on the crew during all Greenway Trust projects. 

Administrative 

  • Support professional documentation of project metrics, recordkeeping of herbicide forms, data entry with online ArcGIS apps, vehicle mileage logs, project reports, and incident reports as needed. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

 A successful applicant brings a combination of the following certifications, knowledge, and experiences. Reasonable accommodations are possible. 

Required 

  • Demonstrated leadership experience.  
  • One season of experience with safe herbicide application. 
  • Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License with an aquatic endorsement. The Greenway Trust will provide if needed. 
  • Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. The Greenway Trust will provide WFA if needed. 

Desired 

  • Two plus seasons of experience with safe pesticide application. 
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Experience with Pacific Northwest native and non-native plant identification. 
  • Experience using and maintaining small motor tools (i.e., brush cutters). 
  • Familiarity using ArcGIS mobile applications like Field Maps, QuickCapture, and Survey 123. 
  • Insurable driving record and ability to drive full-sized trucks on rough terrain.  
  • Relevant education and/or experience in a natural resource field. 

REPORTS TO 

The Restoration Crew Leader reports to the Restoration Projects Manager. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

Compensation is $24.00 per hour.  

Benefits for full-time seasonal employees include a $250 gear stipend, paid time off (accruing at 1.5 hours per 40 hours worked), worker’s compensation coverage, optional participation in an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) ($200 monthly contributed by the Greenway Trust), participation in HealthiestYou program, and optional participation in a 403(b)-retirement plan. This position is not eligible for paid time off including holiday pay. There may be a possibility of unpaid days off due to extenuating circumstances. 

 GEAR LOANED BY THE GREENWAY TRUST 

  • Long sleeve and short sleeve shirts (you get to keep) 
  • Rain gear (overalls and jacket) 
  • Tools and gloves 
  • Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

REQUIRED GEAR  

  • Sturdy, above the ankle work or hiking boots 
  • Rain boots  
  • Durable work pants 

To help seasonal crew members purchase or replace personal gear needed to be successful in the field, the Greenway Trust provides a $250 gear stipend. This allows individual seasonal staff members to prioritize what they want to purchase based on the gear they already have. 

LOCATION AND SCHEDULE 

The Restoration Crew is based out of the Greenway Trust Field Office at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, WA and will work on surrounding public lands. The Restoration Crew works a 10-hour workday (7am to 5:30pm), on a Tuesday-Friday schedule, with occasional Saturday volunteer events.  

TO APPLY 

Please send in a cover letter, resume, three references to: apply@mtsgreenway.org   

Indicate which position you are applying to in the email subject line. In the cover letter, please describe your leadership style, including successes or failures that have shaped you as a leader and how you would combine soft skills necessary for good leadership with technical knowledge related to ecological restoration. 

Applicants for the Crew Leader position may be considered for the Assistant Leader and Crew Member positions.  

References will not be contacted until after interviews. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION  

We believe that when we are connected to nature, our lives are better. We are healthier, happier, and our communities are stronger. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Greenway Trust because we want to better reflect the diverse communities that make up the Greenway NHA, because we believe that equity and inclusion are vital to our mission, and because we want to do our part to create a more just society. We are committed to creating lasting structural changes internally in our workplace and externally in the communities we serve. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER 

The Greenway Trust is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, ancestry, genetic information, use of a service animal, honorably discharged veteran, military status, political ideology, personal appearance, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. Each person is evaluated on the basis of personal aptitude and merit.