The King County Noxious Weed Control Program works to prevent and reduce the economic, environmental and social impacts of noxious weeds in King County. The program’s focus is to achieve voluntary control of noxious weeds through education and technical assistance to landowners. Where this fails, regulatory compliance procedures may be used. The person hired for this position will work closely with the Riparian Team, the Healthy Lands Project Manager, Program Manager and other agencies and private landowners to develop and implement noxious weed control activities in a defined region of the county. The person will be responsible for the noxious weed control outputs in that region. For more information about the Program, please see: www.kingcounty.gov/weeds

ABOUT OUR DIVISION

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) safeguards King County’s water and land resources by providing services that protect public health and safety and yield significant environmental benefits. WLRD employs scientists, engineers, policy experts, ecologists, and project managers dedicated to protecting the health and integrity of King County’s natural resources, so that they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come.

WHO MAY APPLY:  This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Permanent Telecommuting Requirement

The work associated with this position will be performed remotely on a permanent basis. There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.
 
Work Location: Primarily teleworking and the King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104

Work Schedule: This position will work a 40-hour workweek, and is an hourly position governed by the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and/or the Washington State Minimum Wage Act, and is eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time accrual with prior approval.  The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday.

Job Duties

This position will be part of the Noxious Weed Control Program’s riparian team to reduce the impact of noxious weed populations along the major rivers and tributaries throughout King County by implementing on-the-ground management of targeted weed species and working with landowners to ensure control.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES INCLUDE: 

• Assist with implementation Noxious Weed Control Projects throughout King County. Conduct field surveys, mapping weed infestations using GPS/GIS equipment. Participate directly in weed control activities, including the use of herbicide, and physical removal. Carry out control of noxious weed infestations along river corridors and other locations. Hike on uneven terrain and work in inclement weather. (40%)
• Assist in the management of grants including planning and implementation of grant-funded activities, monitoring and reporting results. Develop stewardship plans in conjunction with the Healthy Lands Project. Assist Noxious Weed Specialists on special projects, surveys, and control efforts. (30%)
• Communications with landowners to notify them of weed infestations, and to provide educational and technical services regarding weed management. Respond to requests for weed management information from citizens and landowners. (15%)
• Enter, maintain and interpret data in program databases (spatial and relational databases). Conduct and or gather research on the best methods for control or eradication of noxious weeds. (5%)
• On-site supervision and orientation of contractors, AmeriCorps and other weed control crews. (5%)
• Assist with community outreach, public presentations training and educational events. Throughout the year, serve at public events and fairs to answer questions about noxious weeds. (5%)

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Science, Botany, Forestry, Agriculture, Horticulture, or related field, and two years’ practical experience (beyond fieldwork conducted through educational coursework) in invasive plant management.  Or any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the classification.
• Ability to identify noxious weeds found in Washington. Knowledge of noxious weed taxonomy, biology, and impacts.
• Ability to identify native plants as well as common ornamental plants found in western Washington.
• Ability to identify natural phenomena such as wetlands, floodplains, river corridors, soil types and other environmental conditions.
• Knowledge of integrated pest management and weed control methods.  Demonstrated field experience (beyond field work conducted through educational coursework) and expertise in managing noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resources (including the use of herbicides where appropriate).
• Working knowledge of restoration techniques and theories.
• Knowledge of field equipment including safe operation and field maintenance of equipment such as hand tools, chainsaws, brush cutters, backpack and power sprayers.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, coordinating with others to facilitate teamwork.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines, prioritizing work and managing own time.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and smartphone applications.
• Comfortable in and around moving water.  Ability to work from human and motor-powered watercraft.
• Ability to conduct noxious weed surveys from a car, and or foot over terrain of varying difficulty, including steep areas and dense vegetation
• Ability to carry a heavy backpack (up to 40lbs) in riparian backcountry for long periods during the day.
• Ability to control noxious weeds using Integrated Pest Management methods.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of noxious weed taxonomy, biology, and impacts
• Demonstrated field experience and in managing noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resources
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with the public on difficult, sensitive and technical issues, both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of Washington State Noxious Weed Control Law and other relevant local, state and federal laws.
• Experience with databases, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and applications handling large tabular and spatial data sets.
• The ideal candidate will be organized, adaptable, proactive, and have good attention to detail and problem solving skills.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Driver’s License or the ability to travel throughout the County.
• A final offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must be able to safely complete assigned tasks in and or around bodies of water that vary in size.
• Must be able to complete the Swift Water Safety Training course.
• Must be able to travel and work occasional evening and weekends.
• Must be able to obtain a Washington State Public Pesticide Operator license within 30 days of hire. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Travel throughout King County will be required to conduct physical site inspection of lands. Site inspections may include the need to walk on uneven terrain for extended periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments, farms, stream corridors, and slippery, uneven surfaces in the outdoors.  Exposure to inclement weather conditions expected.Supplemental Information

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be?considered for this position.

• King County Application Form (applying online satisfies this requirement)
• Resume
• Letter of interest that demonstrates your ability to meet or exceed the qualification requirements
• Response to the attached supplemental questions

UNION MEMBERSHIP: This is a non-represented position.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Calvin Rivers
Sr. Human Resource Analyst
206-263-1986
crivers@kingcounty.gov
 
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our “True North“, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request?accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.