Restoration Field Specialist II (20325489)

The Restoration Field Specialist II (RFSP II) position performs a wide variety of skilled landscape and maintenance work in the creation and management of habitat restoration sites and the improvement of park visitor use areas at various locations within Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.  The RFSP II position reports to, and takes direction from, Restoration Field Supervisors, the Restoration Program Manager, and the Chief of Natural Resources and Planning.

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This position requires demonstrated three (3) years of experience in plant nursery or grounds maintenance or other relevant field work to demonstrate sufficient expertise with plant identification, installation, monitoring, and maintenance.

Supervision

This position reports to, and takes direction from, Restoration Field Supervisors, Restoration Program Manager, and the Chief of Natural Resources and Planning. This position supervises no other staff and generally works as part of a team of three to four (3 to 4) coworkers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Follow written and verbal directions from Division supervisors to efficiently and independently conduct habitat restoration, landscape, and clean up assignments.
• Install and maintain native plants and trees with caging protection and mulch as directed.
• Install and maintain various park features including landscaping, irrigation, fencing, signs, and site  furnishings.
• Assume full responsibility for the adequate dry season watering of plantings in restoration sites as assigned.
• Properly operate and care for power equipment including jackhammers, generators, weed whips, blowers, augers, and related equipment.
• Fill, operate, and drive (within agency property) both agency-owned and rented water trucks.
• Maintain assigned MRCA fleet vehicle.
• Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between a majority of native and non-native invasive plants on all work sites.
• Demonstrate an absolute ability to recognize key desired or legally protected plant species on all relevant job sites.
• Demonstrate continuous interest in learning about both native and non-native plant growth characteristics.
• Purchase materials and tools as directed.
• Apply herbicides via backpack or hand sprayers as directed.
• Refine skills to conduct nursery plant propagation and maintenance.
• Conduct site clean ups with hazardous and heavy debris.
• Work in remote areas alone for an entire workday.
• Work cooperatively with other crew members and contractors.
• Maintain assigned inventory of hand and power tools.
• Assist field data collection for annual monitoring reports.
• Perform physical labor including the ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 90 pounds for 75 feet over rough terrain multiple times per day.
• Perform related duties as required.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Outgoing individual with experience dealing with the public.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to life and carry items weighing up to 90 pounds for 75 feet over rough terrain multiple times per day, frequently operate light- and medium-duty equipment, work in outdoor weather conditions, frequently move about work sites, communicate and exchange information, observe site conditions, transport equipment, materials, and tools between vehicle and work sites on a daily basis, and occasionally ascend/descend a ladder to access areas of work.

Required Hours and Location

Tuesday through Friday, 10 hours per day, 40 hours per week. Occasionally start/end times may vary. Occasional overtime work upon prior approval by Supervisors. The position requires daily travel to various agency locations. The work is spread over numerous job sites from the Santa Clarita Valley, the full length of the Santa Monica Mountains, Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains, and the western San Gabriel Mountains. The headquarters of the MRCA Restoration Division is in the Calabasas area at King Gillette Ranch; however, most days employees drive directly to a different job site. Based on vehicle availability, most crew members are assigned a truck and gas card soon after a probationary period.

Public Contact

The majority of MRCA properties are open to the general public. Parking lots, shared public/office restrooms and in-person meeting rooms are open during regular business hours. The MRCA is committed to protecting its staff by ensuring appropriate physical distancing and proper infection control while supporting equitable access to services. Our requirements are based on the current County of Los Angeles guidance and are subject to change as the County updates their policies. This position is likely to have limited physical contact with members of the public in public areas such as parking lots, parklands, and vendor locations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma
• Three (3) years of demonstrated full time experience in landscape, nursery, or grounds maintenance with southern California native plant experience being a plus or equivalent..
• Ability to speak Spanish is highly desired.

Training and Certification

• Must have a valid California driver’s license in good standing with a satisfactory driving record at the time of hire.
• CPR and First Aid Certificate within three months of hire.

Knowledge of:

• Common Windows-based programs including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and remote meeting software.
• Southern California native plants and invasive, non-native plants.

Ability to:

• Absorb instructions and work independently.
• Perform heavy physical labor, including lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 90 pounds for 75 feet over rough terrain multiple times a day.
• Perform demanding labor on multiple consecutive days outdoors in hot weather.
• Follow proper safety practices and procedures necessary to operate various types of equipment.
• Work for an entire day in a remote area.
• Work independently or as part of a team.
• Prioritize various tasks and projects and revise work approach to address changed conditions.
• Read maps and navigate through greater Los Angeles in both urban and undeveloped open space areas.
• Interface on a limited basis with the public.

Competencies:

• Effective oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker but fluency in English is required.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including vendors, contractors, and the public.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish are highly desired.

This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.

Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.