Natural Resources Technician

The Natural Resource Technician will assist in conducting land and wildlife management activities on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and other Travis County-managed lands. Land management duties include invasive plant control, habitat management, boundary inspections, road and trail maintenance, wildfire fuel reduction activities, grounds keeping, and general maintenance. Wildlife management duties include feral hog trapping, cowbird trapping, fire ant control, deer surveys, and endangered species monitoring.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the first in a series of three natural resources-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family. This classification is distinguished from other classifications by entry level of work required. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

• Assists in planning and conducting natural resources management protection and enhancement projects on lands owned or managed by Travis County, including monitoring and maintaining projects, conducting biological rare species monitoring, directing and implementing problem species control programs, collecting base line survey data on plant and animal species, coordinating habitat restoration for endangered species, and maintaining preserve infrastructure.
• Assists in providing geographic information system (GIS) mapping support for management and maintaining GIS databases for land management activities. Maintains and updates maps.
• Assists in researching and developing methods and protocols, or improves methods for natural resources management. Researches issues pertaining to natural resource protection and coordinates or works with other agencies or professionals to improve methods and project management for development and enforcement of statewide regulations.
• Assists in compiling and analyzing field data in the form of public presentations, technical written reports, special materials, annual reports, land management plans, protocols and checklists for the general public. Evaluates data results with regard to impact on natural resources management.
• Assists in conducting education and outreach to the general public. Provides public with in information on natural resources protection and preserves. Disseminates information to landowners, managers, and other public agencies that uses the preserves and parks as research sites.
• Assists in serving as an advisor and consultant for County parks and staff on a variety of natural resources issues.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology or a directly related field or directly related increasingly responsible demonstrated experience in natural resource management;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:
Pesticide Applicator License.
Wildland Firefighter Certification (Red Card Certification).
ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) geoprocessing experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of land management protection and enhancement projects.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology related to land management protection.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, windows, spreadsheets and databases, ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) hardware and software, and related applications.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

• Using ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS).
• Using biological monitoring and censusing, and wildlife control equipment.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, and implement environmental research and projects.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Managing data in geodatabases.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Use hand and power tools.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), good vision and hearing, sitting, repetitive motion, carrying, lifting, crouching/crawling, vision to monitor, pushing, reaching, and stooping, kneeling to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke on prescribed or wild fires. Maybe subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM; Monday through Friday.

Location: Natural Resource Field Office, 9512 N. 620, Austin, TX

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal Background Check, Driving Record, and Education History Required.