Position Description

Table of Contents

_________ COUNTY, IOWA

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Roadside Vegetation Manager

Department: County Engineer or County Conservation or Independent

Supervisor: County Engineer or Conservation Director or County Supervisors

Salary Range: $35,000–$45,000

Definition

A permanent, full-time position for the general implementation of the county’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) program and duties associated with all aspects of vegetation management within county secondary road right-of-way (ROW) corridors. Primary work activities are focused on the continued maintenance and development of safe travel corridors for vehicles and the application of sound ecological principles to manage desired vegetation types along those corridors.

Optional:

  • Will perform related duties as required by the county engineer.
  • Will work directly with parks and wildlife area managers to assist them with routine public land and facility management goals and objectives.

 Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Direct the assigned staff in the design and implementation of the county’s IRVM plan.
  2. Control noxious weeds in road rights-of-way, particularly those species identified by the county IRVM committee.
  3. Coordinate and assist with control and removal of woody vegetation along county roadways.
  4. Establish vegetation, primarily native, in cleaned, regraded and newly created ROW.
  5. Conduct prescribed burns in selected county road ROW.
  6. Conduct safety training for assigned staff.
  7. Perform all duties and responsibilities of the County Weed Commissioner.
  8. Develop a program of public information and education to promote public understanding of IRVM and wise land use practices that support IRVM objectives.
  9. Inventory and document plant communities and related conditions along county ROW.
  10. Manage those areas of native vegetation identified by the inventory process to improve diversity and overall health.
  11. Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of the following activities: herbicide application, seeding and reseeding, prescribed burning, tree and brush removal and timely handling of complaints from county residents and other government agencies.
  12. Assist with and perform scheduled and non-scheduled routine equipment maintenance and arrange with supervisor for non-routine work to be completed by private vendors.
  13. Direct and assist with production, harvest and processing of native seed for use in ROW seeding projects.
  14. Compile monthly individual and supervised staff work activity reports for all tasks completed.
  15. Keep records of maintenance performed on assigned equipment and facilities.
  16. Assist supervisor with annual budget preparation and expense tracking for ROW management operations.
  17. Submit applications to the Living Roadway Trust Fund and other funding opportunities.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed as follows are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required.

  1. Ability to operate and maintain the necessary tools and equipment.
  2. Ability to identify native and introduced plant species, including noxious weeds.
  3. Ability to organize assigned work and develop efficient strategies to accomplish said work.
  4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, the general public, special interest groups and individuals from other agencies.
  5. Ability to operate personal computers and demonstrate or attain proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and the internet.
  6. Ability to continue professional training to remain knowledgeable of current issues, trends and management techniques.
  7. Ability to make minor repairs on equipment and facilities not requiring a trained, professional repair person.
  8. Ability to work a non-standard work week, including nights and weekends to accomplish the objectives of the position. 
  9. Ability to maintain accurate safety, work and equipment maintenance records.

The requirements and duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Education and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in a natural resource-related field and a minimum of two years practical work experience in natural resource/vegetation management or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.

Knowledge of the tools and equipment required to perform the job.

Language Skills

  1. The ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and the general public.
  2. Ability to deal with the general public in a tactful and courteous manner.
  3. Ability to properly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

Reasoning Ability

  1. Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral or diagram form.
  2. Ability to apply common sense to solve problems or achieve work objectives.
  3. Ability to recognize work situations that require special attention.
  4. Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

  1. Valid Iowa Commercial Drivers License (within 60 days of hire date).
  2. Valid Iowa Pesticide Applicator License in category 6, Right-of-way and category 1A, Agriculture.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

  1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to stand, walk, sit, operate hand tools, kneel, stoop, balance and climb ladders and equipment. These activities may be required for two or more hours at a time during an 8–10 hour work day.
  2. The employee must routinely lift 50-pound objects 40 inches high and carry them for 15 yards.
  3. The specific vision abilities required for this job include: close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

  1. While performing the duties of this job the employee may work around moving parts/equipment.
  2. The employee may work outdoors in extreme hot, cold, rainy, snowy and windy weather conditions.
  3. The employee may be exposed to dust, fumes and loud noises.

Comments

Must be insurable for driving under county insurance company policies.

Applicant will be subject to post-offer, pre-employment drug and physical testing.

 

The county is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.