Vegetation Management Aide

Two positions are available for the summer of 2020. The positions offer opportunities to assist in implementing Story County's Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program. Major emphasis is on native vegetation management, reconstruction in roadsides, and restoration in roadsides, prairie remnants, open ditches, and natural areas. Assigned tasks will utilize the latest trends in natural resource and vegetation management focusing on invasive species and brush control. 

The positions start May 18, 2020 and end approximately August 21, 2020. Fall employment opportunities may be available for qualified applicants. 

Duties include, but are not limited to: planting native vegetation, conducting prescribed burns, controlling brush, mowing, and applying herbicide. Other tasks include harvesting, cleaning, and mixing prairie seed; maintaining tools, equipment, and facilities; and documenting, mapping, and assessing projects utilizing ArcMap GIS software. Vegetation management aides must maintain working relationships with the public and other employees. Various types of equipment utilized in these operations include: tractors, heavy duty trucks, UTVs, boom mowers, hydroseeders, chemical sprayers, chainsaws, and other related equipment.

Opportunities exist for aides to interact with private landowners and other conservation departments and attend workshops and seminars as assigned.

Hours will average 40 hours per week. The standard work week is Monday - Friday. Work hours may vary depending on weather conditions, and some evening or early morning work may be necessary.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a current, valid driver's license. Applicants with a desire to understand and recognize Iowa's native flora and fauna are preferred. Applicants must have the ability to obtain a category 6 pesticide applicator certification within the first two weeks of employment. Opportunities to obtain additional pesticide certifications or a commercial driver's license may exist.

Employees will undergo post-offer, pre-employment background checks and a drug screening.

Mandatory safety training is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2020.

A cover letter and resume must accompany the online application.

Story County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered a position with Story County must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity. Please be prepared to provide required documents on the first day of employment. For additional information regarding acceptable documents for this purpose, please contact Human Resources at 515-382-7200 or go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services web page at: http://www.uscis.gov.

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, climbing or balancing and lifting and occasionally requires stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and pushing or pulling; work requires distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts and exposure to outdoor weather conditions, frequently requires working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and occasionally requires exposure to vibration exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).