Crew Leader, Natural Resources

Advance Metroparks Toledo’s core conservation mission by leading natural resources management activities. The Crew Leader, Natural Resources promotes high levels of natural area conservation through the restoration and management of natural resources on priority sites within their region of Metroparks. They ensure Metroparks is a community leader in natural areas management and conservation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee and actively conduct conservation management of assigned natural areas.
• Coordinate land management and maintenance activities and resolve problems. 
• Maintain equipment, fleet, and other natural and developed infrastructure within assigned areas to the highest professional standards.
• Record daily work activities data, edit, as needed, and create reports pertaining to land management activities. 
• Maintain data on park district resources including fleet and equipment inventory. 
• Serve as squad command or single resource command on prescription burns. Apply ignition/ suppression techniques and direct other firefighters in these tasks. Maintain and communicate situational awareness. Prepare burn breaks and maintain burn equipment. Participate in regional prescription fire program. Assume burn boss command, when needed.
• Perform natural resources assessments such as OORAM, oak wilt monitoring, deer browse assessments, log jam surveys, and invasive species assessments.
• Perform purchasing activities to complete tasks. Obtain necessary quotes and maintain established budget. Give input to departmental budget.
• Participate in wildlife management programs including assisting with culling operations and public hunts. 
• Cooperate with Safety and Quality Coordinator to ensure effective risk management within natural areas for park visitors, staff, and volunteers.
• Promote and sustain a high level of productivity and safety in the workplace using 6S principles. 
• Effectively supervise and direct the work of seasonal staff, assign duties to staff and prioritize work for the effective delivery of natural resources management and restoration activities. Support training and development of seasonal staff including general orientation and core training.
• Assist with oversight of contractors on various natural resource management projects.
• Utilize and train staff on HACCP protocols to prevent spread of invasive species.
• Other park district duties as assigned.

Equipment Used

• General office equipment 
• Software & Apps: Microsoft Office Suite, Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Maintenance Equipment: chain saws, chippers, brush saws, power tools 
• Vehicles: on & off road trucks, ATVs, tractors, dump trucks, kayaks, power boat
• Firefighting equipment, high and low volume chemical dispensing systems, GPS devices and mapping tools

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Schedule: Generally Monday-Friday, 7:00am -3:00pm. May include nights, weekends, and/or holidays based on departmental needs.
• Home Work Location: Secor Metropark
• May require business use of personal vehicle to travel between Metroparks locations.
• Limited (<10%) travel outside Lucas County. 
• Requires frequent lifting and carrying of up to 75 pounds; occasional lifting over 75 pounds with assistance; ability to walk and work outdoors for extended periods of time in all types of weather including extreme heat and cold.  

Job Requirements

1. Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
2. Education: Associate’s Degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Forest Management, Wildlife Resources Management, Ecology, or related field required or equivalent work experience.
3. Experience: 4 years’ experience in Natural Resources required. 1+ years of supervisory experience, a plus.
4. Certifications: Must obtain the following certifications within assigned timeline and fulfill requalification and recertification requirements: (Internal Candidates: Certifications already achieved, preferred).
5. Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License – Core, 3A, 4A, 5 (within 90 days)
6. Boater Safety Course (within 6 months)
7. OSHA 10-hour training (within 1 year)
8. Red Card Certification FFT2 Firefighter & pass moderate work capacity test (2 miles, 30 minutes, 30 pounds (with 1year)
9. Ohio State Burn Boss Certification (within 2 years)
10. Qualified Sawyer (within 6 months)
11. First Aid / CPR (within 1 year)
12. CDL-A with 5th wheel endorsement (within 1 year)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated appreciation for enhancing quality of life and conserving the region’s natural resources through clean, safe and natural parks and open spaces.  

Knowledge

• Knowledge of procedures, techniques and best practices in management of natural resources.
• Knowledge of herbicides and pesticides regulations and application techniques. 
• Knowledge of prescribed burning regulations and application techniques.
• Knowledge of tree cutting and felling techniques using chain saws.
• Knowledge of resource management principles involved in prescribing, planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and managing priorities.
• Knowledge of PERRP and OSHA compliance requirements and ability to promote a safe work environment.

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to monitor, assess, and coach performance to motivate team, make improvements, and/or take corrective action. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to speak and write clearly, concisely and persuasively with ability to communicate one-on-one or in group settings in a way that inspires confidence and motivates engagement with the Metroparks.
• Problem Solving skills; ability to gather, organize and evaluate data; formulate recommendations and develop successful strategies. 

Abilities

• Ability to identify woody and herbaceous plant species of northwest Ohio.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with all stakeholders, including employees, volunteers and the general public.
• Ability to manage finances and budgets.