Botanic Technician II - Vegetation Management

About the position:

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) seeks to fill a Botanic Technician II – Vegetation Management position that supports Portland Parks & Recreation’s City Nature West Natural Areas unit and it’s 5,000 acre portfolio. The Botanic Technician II - Vegetation Management position will focus on vegetation management, addressing invasive species control utilizing a variety of manual, mechanical, chemical, and cultural tools and following the City of Portland’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.  In addition to invasive species control, the Botanic Technician II will be responsible for carrying out restoration activities that involve revegetation with native plants, wildfire risk reduction, downed tree removal, habitat creation and monitoring and maintenance of natural area assets.  This position works in a team-based environment and collaborates with site ecologists (Botanic Specialists II and III) and other Botanic Technicians I and II.  The geographic focus is PP&R natural areas on the west side of the Willamette River, including Forest Park, Marquam Nature Park, and 34 other Natural Areas. In addition to natural area restoration, this position will provide partnership and leadership to community-based stewardship events to accomplish natural area restoration activities. It will also advance the work of the PP&R City Nature West natural areas team by improving the overall ecological conditions of westside Natural Areas.    

As the Botanic Technician II-Vegetation Management, you will be responsible for the following: 

About Portland Parks & Recreation
The City of Portland, Oregon is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. PP&R encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their resume. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

City of Portland Core Values:
Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility
These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City's core values, please click here.
 
Why work at the City of Portland?
The City of Portland workforce serves a population of over 650,000. We are culture- and solutions-driven, viewing every challenge as an opportunity to learn, improve, and share our expertise. We are committed to removing systemic barriers to resources, access, and opportunity. The City is a believer in ALL people and continues to actively recruit and retain diverse top talent every day. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, healthcare flexible and/or dependent care spending accounts, Carrot Fertility, basic life, short- and long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families. If you are open-minded, motivated, community-focused, and self-aware, please apply yourself at the City of Portland today.
 
The City of Portland also participates in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). For more information on the City of Portland's benefits please click here. 

For more information, please attend the optional information session listed at the end of this announcement.   

While this recruitment is focused on hiring a Botanic Technician II - Vegetation Management, there will be an opportunity coming Fall 2023 for a Botanic Technician II focusing on Trails. The job duties associated with this future soft-surface trails recruitment include the following:

• Performing trail project work as assigned; performing soft surface trail construction and maintenance; analyzing trail conditions; grading and rerouting soft surface trails as directed; utilizing landscaping hand tools and power tools; maintaining bridges, crib walls, drainage features, rock walls, turnpikes and other infrastructure; transporting supplies and equipment to remote locations. 

• Performing basic maintenance on fences, bridges, and other infrastructure as assigned utilizing hand and power tools. 

• Organizing, training, and leading Botanic Technician I staff, seasonal staff, volunteer, youth and community nonprofit work partners and projects; conducting safety demonstrations and presenting information to these staff, volunteers and community groups; determining and securing supplies for the group; monitoring the health and well-being of crew members during the workday and responding to any emergency situations as needed. 

• Conducting trails surveys including slope, length, condition and accessibility; recording field conditions; gathering and compiling information. 

• Responding to emergency situations regarding trails as access points to natural areas, including tree removal and emergency trail stabilization. 

• Inputting information into inventory databases (including GIS), tracking and reporting  on conditions and using data to make informed recommendations on work priorities. 

• Removal of illegally dumped debris and transient camps. 

If you are interested in applying for this future recruitment, then please answer question #15 in the Supplemental Questions section. We will notify you when the recruitment becomes active this Fall 2023.Applicants for the Botanic II - Vegetation Management position must meet each of the following minimum qualifications.  Describe in their responses to the supplemental questions and resume how their education, training and/or experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of natural area restoration work, including IPM (Integrated Pest Management), utilizing manual, mechanical, cultural and chemical means to remove invasive species and revegetate with native plants;
2. Knowledge of and experience in one or more of the following: habitat creation, erosion control, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) or wildfire risk reduction;
3. Ability to utilize best practices in anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion to create an inclusive team environment with staff and volunteers;
4. Ability to operate specialty equipment such as chainsaws, pruners, chippers and power wheelbarrows;
5. Ability to plan, organize, implement, and provide leadership and direction to staff and volunteers to accomplish natural area maintenance and restoration activities.      

An evaluation of each applicant’s training and experience, as demonstrated in their responses to the supplemental questions and resume, are weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not requested. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

**PLEASE NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies**
 
 Recruitment Timeline:

• Job Posting Closes:  Monday 7/31/23
• Applications Reviewed:   Monday 7/24/23 - Friday 8/4/23
• Eligible List Created:   week of 8/7/23
• Selection Phase Begins:   Tentatively week of 8/14/23
• Job Offer:   Tentatively September 2023

 
**Timeline is approximate and subject to change without notice**

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit responses to the supplemental questions and a professional resume online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

• Your responses to the supplemental questions and résumé will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé  should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis:  Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application.   It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, as identified below, please describe in your responses to the supplemental questions and resume any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the "To Qualify" section above.

All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.  E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Work Status: Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.
 
Veterans' Preference: If you are requesting Veterans' Preference, attach a copy of your DD214/DD215 and/or Veterans Administration letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veterans' Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment to which you apply. Veterans' Preference documentation must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.
 
ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability, are pregnant or nursing, or observe a religious practice(s), and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please contact the Recruiter below for assistance.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply.
 
Language Pay Differential
City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a “language pay differential.” This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skill to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here.
 
Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes. If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement or starting in April 2023 you are invited to attend the Question and Answers session.   If you prefer to attend a virtual class, they are also available once a month.
 
Questions?   
Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Anna.Morgan@portlandoregon.gov

Salary : $31 - $41