Natural Resource Management Restoration Crew Leader - Volunteer Liaison

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESTORATION CREW LEADER – PART-TIME (VOLUNTEER LIAISON)

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is accepting resumes for a Natural Resource Management – Part-Time Restoration Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison). The permanent part-time Natural Resource Management Restoration Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison) is expected to lead, coordinate, and train seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers to implement annual management schedules, including invasive species control, seed collection and distribution, transplanting, fire management and monitoring to restore and maintain native species and habitat diversity within the District’s preserve system. Additionally, the permanent part-time Natural Resource Management – Restoration Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison) is expected to represent, promote, and grow the volunteer program through community outreach and recruitment. 

The Natural Resource Management Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison) is a permanent part-time position with a pay rate of $22.09 per hour. See the attached Job Description outlining duties, skills, abilities, training, experience, and working conditions, or visit ReconnectWithNature.org for more information. 

Resumes will be accepted until April 9th, 2025. 

Application Procedure: Send a cover letter describing interest and a resume to: 

Veronica Frausto-Sarwark, Director of Human Resources 

Forest Preserve District of Will County 

17540 W. Laraway Road Joliet, Illinois 60433 

815-722-5669 (desk) 

815-722-3608 (fax) 

Humanresources@fpdwc.org

The Forest Preserve District of Will County does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, or disability. In offering employment opportunities to the public, the Forest Preserve District will make reasonable modifications to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity. To request this document in large print, audio, or Braille, contact the Director of Marketing and Communications, Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433; comments@fpdwc.org; 815.722.9383 (voice); 800.526.0844 (TDD). Requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance. While the Forest Preserve District of Will County will make every effort to meet requests in a timely fashion, some requests may take longer than others to fulfill. Persons believing that they have been discriminated against by the Forest Preserve District of Will County may file a complaint alleging discrimination with the Forest Preserve District or the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.doi.gov

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF WILL COUNTY

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESTORATION CREW LEADER – PART-TIME (VOLUNTEER LIAISON)

DEPARTMENT: CONSERVATION

FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT

DATE:   March 2025

LOCATION: CHERRY HILL OPERATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY

BASIC FUNCTION

The Natural Resource Management – Part-Time Restoration Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison) is expected to lead, coordinate, and train seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers to implement annual management schedules, including invasive species control, seed collection and distribution, transplanting, fire management and monitoring to restore and maintain native species and habitat diversity within the District’s preserve system.  Additionally, the Natural Resource Management – Part-Time Restoration Crew Leader (Volunteer Liaison) is expected to represent, promote, and grow the volunteer program through community outreach and recruitment.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to:

• Natural Resource Management Coordinator
• Volunteer Supervisor 

Supervises:

• None

This position will require occasional coordination of Resource Management Crew and Operations Department Staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Coordinate with the Natural Resource Management Coordinator, Volunteer Supervisor, full-time NRM Volunteer Liaison, and volunteer stewards to develop, schedule, and advertise workdays.
2. Recruit and contact prescribed fire volunteers for assistance on District controlled burns.
3. Serve in a leadership role organizing and implementing special events such as volunteer meetings, trainings, and workdays on weekends and during the week as directed.
4. Recruit, train and, develop natural resource volunteers, with an emphasis on placing Regional Stewards, Site Stewards, Co-Stewards, and Administrative Assistants at all Illinois Nature Preserves and Land & Water Reserves that the District manages.
5. Responsible for the compilation and submission of statistical data in a timely manner, such as volunteer hours and the location, time, and extent of specific tasks performed by natural resource management volunteers.
6. Responsible for understanding, supporting, and promoting the complementary missions of the District and the Prairie People Volunteer Program. 
7. Represents and promotes the District and the Prairie People Volunteer Program at national, regional, state, and local meetings and conferences of land management and volunteer associations, organizations, and other collaborations outside of the District.
8. Contribute to the development of resource management planning initiatives, such as annual work plans, management schedules, summaries, and reports. 
9. Assist Stewards, Full-Time NRM Volunteer Liaison, and Administrative Assistants in organizing preserve workgroups to plan, schedule, and implement management work.
10. Assist, with the ability to lead Natural Resource Management crews on field duties as time permits.
11. Participate in the implementation of the District’s prescribed fire program with an emphasis on control line establishment, equipment preparation, and maintenance.
12. Other duties as assigned by supervisor or director.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Effective communication skills in written and oral formats.
• Experience participating in volunteer programs, preferably in a leadership role.
• Possession of basic computer skills in Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheet, and database) and ArcGIS mapping software.
• Have or be willing to develop skills operating and loading ATVS and UTVS, as well as attaching and driving equipment trailers not requiring a CDL.
• Competence and experience in using basic tools of natural area management in a safe and effective manner, including maintaining (cleaning & sharpening) chainsaws and cutting trees > 12” DBH, operating clearing saws, operating leaf blowers, and operating and maintaining loppers and pruning shears and saws.
• Be in good physical condition with the ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions and be physically capable of lifting and transporting 50-pound objects over uneven terrain.
• Knowledge of Midwest flora, including native and non-native species identification.
• Have or be willing to acquire an Illinois pesticide commercial applicator’s license with rights-of-way and aquatic categories.
• Must possess and maintain a current and valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Education:             Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, or related field with a specialization in ecology/resource management preferred (although see below). 

Experience:           Minimum two years of applied natural resource management experience with an appropriate Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years of applied natural resource management experience without an appropriate degree. 

Certifications:       Possession of, or willingness to procure, National Wildfire Coordinating Group S130/190, I-100 certificates, or Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescription Fire Crew Member training.  The District will provide training if needed.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS

Work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. This is an active job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to manipulate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, talk, and hear.
2. While performing the duties of this job the employee occasionally works near moving parts; works outside in extreme heat or cold weather conditions; lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds; is exposed to fumes, airborne particles, smoke, and toxic or caustic chemicals and potentially hazardous plants and animals.
3. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
4. The noise level in this job is usually moderate but can be high.

OTHER INFORMATION

This position includes working up to 28 hours/week on weekdays and weekends.  The Part-Time Restoration Crew Leader – Volunteer Liaison is responsible for coordinating with the Full-Time Restoration Crew Leader – Volunteer Liaison and Natural Resource Management Coordinator to establish which weekdays will be taken off in order to maintain a routine 28-hour work week.  Occasional extension of workday into nighttime and working up to 40 hours in a given week is possible.

PAY RANGE AND BENEFITS

Hourly Rate:          $22.09 (Grade 9)

Schedule:               Part-time – Flexible schedule with majority of volunteer days on Saturdays and/or Sundays, not exceeding 20 hours average per week over a twelve-month period and not more than 960 total hours in any twelve-month period.  A typical schedule will be agreed upon during the hiring process.

Benefits:                Sick time and vacation in accordance with the employee handbook, option to purchase supplemental life insurance, option to elect deferred compensation plans, employee assistance program.