As an employee of the Washington State Department of Ecology and a member of the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), you will have the opportunity to work with a successful and passionate team in an energetic, highly productive and fast-paced work environment with the regionally-acclaimed Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Stewardship Program. Through extensive hands-on involvement in a variety of community partnerships, public interactions, and environmental education, you will learn about ecological and recreational use issues on public natural lands and build skills in public land management.
Temporary, full-time, 6-month AmeriCorps position with a possibility of extending another year based on performance.
Crew is based from Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, WA and works on surrounding public and private lands across the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
10 hour workdays (40 hours per week) with a Tuesday-Friday schedule.
Possible 4 and 8-day “spike camp” projects during the late spring and summer.
Physically demanding; must have the ability to hike to semi-remote worksites, carry heavy loads, move rocks, work in all weather and perform other tasks.
Responsibilities
Work with organization staff, the public and independently to complete environmental restoration including: tree planting, manual and chemical invasive weed control, logging road removal, erosion control/slope stabilization.
Work alongside staff, the public and independently to complete trail work including: trail maintenance (brushing, drainage, tread/structure repair) and trail construction (clear/excavate, structures, signage).
Occasionally work alongside volunteers on ecological restoration and trail oriented events.
Work with hand tools and power equipment.
Represent the Greenway Trust, DOE, AmeriCorps, and WCC by being the “face on the ground” that the public sees each day.
Qualifications
Familiarity with hand tools.
Must be between the ages of 18 to 25 on day of hire (no age restrictions for veterans).
Proven oral communication skills and ability to represent the program in a professional manner.
Provide daily, personal transportation to Lake Sammamish State Park.
Hike up to four hours carrying 50 pounds.
Desire to learn about the natural environment and a positive, can-do attitude.
Compensation/Benefits
Salary is $9.47 per hour in 2015.
$2,822 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of 6-month term.
One week of paid formal training on topics including Wildland Firefighter (Red Card), Ethnobotany, Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Hazardous Waste Operator (Hazwoper) and other topics.
Basic medical benefits are provided.
Educational loan forbearance is available on qualified loans while in the WCC.
Opportunity to strengthen skills relating to public natural lands management and leadership and interact with a wide variety of groups and individuals.
Opportunity to gain experience, work on, and complete projects on lands managed by multiple municipal, county, state, and federal agencies.
Opportunity to participate in crew exchanges for new experiences.
Paid job shadow days available.
Hands-on and formal training which include: trail maintenance and construction, ecological restoration, volunteer management and other topics related to conservation and public natural lands management.
Potential to participate in disaster and emergency response crew deployments.
About the Washington Conservation Corps
The WCC was established in 1983 as a job-training program for young adults from the ages of 18-25. The WCC is a continuation of the legacy left by the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. The program provides work experience and skills for projects that support conservation, rehabilitation and enhancement of the state natural, historic, environmental and recreational resources. This position is a signature partnership between WCC, DOE, and the Greenway Trust.
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/index.html.
About The Mountains to Sound Greenway and the Greenway Trust
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. Founded in 1991, the Greenway Trust works to promote public land acquisitions, connect a continuous regional trail system, teach people of all ages about the importance of conserving forests and wildlife, improve recreation access, create new parks and trails and mobilize thousands of volunteers.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway is the scenic landscape that stretches from Seattle to Central
Washington. The Greenway connects the working farms, forests, natural areas and communities that surround us. The Greenway Trust celebrates this heritage and brings people together to restore habitat, connect trails, and build a sustainable future.
For more information: http://mtsgreenway.org
How to apply
This position will be hired by the Washington State Department of Ecology. To apply, please submit an email of interest or a resume to Kevin Farrell at KFAR461@ECY.WA.GOV.