Salary: $2,827.00 – $4,216.00 Monthly
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Non-Permanent
Job Number: 23DOT-HQ-04066m
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 05/11/2023
Closing Date: 5/28/2023 2:18 PM Pacific

About WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world’s longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world’s widest tunneling project. 

The Opportunity
WSDOT Environmental Services Office is currently seeking to fill three non-permanent Natural Resource Technician positions on the Environmental Restoration Crew in Olympia, WA. These are non-permanent positions that are expected to last through January 2024. These positions provide technical support to HQ Restoration Crew, a functional work group in the HQ Environmental Services Office Wetlands Program. The Restoration Crew provides ongoing management, development, and maintenance needs to habitat restoration, fish passage, and wetland mitigation sites on public lands throughout Washington state.

What to Expect
These positions primarily perform outdoor physical work. This includes exposure to hazardous conditions such as working alongside traffic, in dense vegetation, streams, and wet areas, outdoor weather exposure, exposure to hazardous materials and working from heights utilizing a fall protection harness.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

  • Act as a technical support specialist to implement adaptive management plans to maintain environmental compensatory mitigation areas and roadside restoration areas.
  • Apply herbicides on restoration and mitigation sites to control and eradicate noxious weeds.
  • Interpret plans and maps for native plant installation; fence construction and maintenance; irrigation maintenance; wildlife habitat structure construction; brush cutting, and erosion control device installation.
  • Ensure that Invasive Aquatic Species National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit, DOE, and WSDA regulations are followed during all aquatic or non-aquatic pesticide applications.
  • Assist in developing projects including determining materials, equipment, and personnel needs.
  • Operate, clean, maintain and store hand tools and power equipment. Assist with the arrangement of the purchase or repair of tools and equipment.
  • Load and unload equipment, materials, and supplies. Transport materials and supplies by use of motor vehicle and trailer.
  • Maintain positive relations with surrounding landowners and the general public.

Qualifications
Qualifications for the Natural Resource Technician 2 are:

  • Must obtain a valid WSDA pesticide applicators license with public operator and aquatic certifications within 3 months of employment.

Qualifications for the Natural Resource Technician 3 are:

  • Must obtain a valid WSDA pesticide applicators license with public operator and aquatic certifications within 3 months of employment.
  • One (1) year of experience as a Natural Resource Technician 2 or equivalent restoration or environmental experience

Qualifications at both levels include:

  • A driver’s license. 
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent. 
  • Ability to read maps and plan sheets.
  • Ability to perform heavy manual labor, including lifting and manipulating up to 50 pounds. 
  • Ability to drive long distances and be available for overnight travel. 
  • Ability to work in dense vegetation, streams, and wet areas; with exposure to insects, heat, plant toxins, heavy traffic, construction equipment, and other hazards. 
  • Ability to traverse uneven, unstable, and/ or slippery terrain commonly encountered at field sites; and traverse up, down, and across steep slopes. 
  • Ability to work in high places, wearing a fall protection harness. 
  • Ability to operate and maintain small gas-powered equipment. 

It is preferred that qualified NRT3 candidates have:

  • One (1) year of experience visually identifying native upland and wetland plant species.
  • One (1) year of experience visually identifying nuisance and noxious weed species.
  • One (1) year of experience performing aquatic and non-aquatic herbicide applications.

Important Notes 

  • In additional to the salary range listed, a general wage increase of 4% will be applied for all state employees on July 1, 2023.
  • This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
  • This recruitment will be used to fill two (3) vacancies. Final applicants may be offered positions at either the NRT2 or NRT3 level, depending upon qualifications. The salary levels for each are:   
    • Natural Resource Technician 2: $16.25 – $21.46 Hourly
    • Natural Resource Technician 3: $18.20 – $24.23 Hourly
  • In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code. 
  • This is a non-permanent opportunity, expected to last through January 2024.
  • In accordance with our collective bargaining agreements, employees in represented positions must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Exemption may be granted for religious or medical purposes; however, accommodations will be subject to approval based on the essential functions required of the position. 
  • WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov 

How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. 

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:  

  • An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
  • An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications, and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
  • Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment. 

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/wsdot/jobs/4039554/natural-resource-technician-2-3-restoration-crew. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in, or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

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