Public Works Weed Landowner Specialist III

Compensation Range

$27.62 - $35.90

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Job Description Summary

Serve as a liaison between landowners and Weld County to support land stewardship goals while ensuring compliance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and Weld County Code. This role involves providing education and guidance to landowners, carrying out enforcement activities, managing grant-funded projects, and administering cost-share programs aimed at effective weed management and habitat restoration.

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Job Description

Field Work - 55%

• Identify 100 plus noxious weeds, weedy species, and native plants while understanding appropriate Integrated Weed Management (IWM) practices to support effective and sustainable weed control.
• Oversee and coordinate operational activities to ensure all procedures, policies, and regulatory requirements are followed accurately and within required timeframes for each property.
• Coordinate spraying operation with contractors and landowners when enforcement action is required on private property.
• Read and interpret maps, drawings, and land ownership documents as needed to identify property boundaries.
• Accurately map and document weed infestations using GPS-enabled devices with field mapping software.
• Walk long distances in pastures, river bottoms, along railroad tracks, or other areas as needed to identify noxious weed infestations and to work with landowners.
• Assist sprayers with bare-ground treatments.
• Operate a string trimmer when needed.
• Work with chemicals to make spot treatment applications on noxious weeds on Weld County managed land.
• Assist with boom mowing as assigned.
• Drive a pick-up for multiple hours a day at a slow speed while accomplishing all position field functions.

Administration - 40%

• Operate a variety of office equipment including computers, specialized computer programs beyond Microsoft Office suite, copiers and GPS units.
• Maintain up-to-date records in a database program, ensuring accurate ownership, contact information, and historical data are consistently recorded and preserved.
• Determine and coordinate with the Supervisor action required to gain landowner compliance to the Weld County Code, Chapter 15 and the State Noxious Weed Act.
• Prepare and send correspondence via phone, email, and mail to landowners regarding noxious weed infestations, requesting compliance.
• Work on grant applications and implementation.
• Communicate professionally, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with your Supervisor, Foreman, co-workers, and landowners.
• Coordinate on educational outreach programs and give presentations to various sized audiences, and age groups with differing background experiences/knowledge as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees and the public.
• Assume complete responsibility of valuable equipment including county owned assets as assigned, such as truck, laptop, iPad, phone, and any other equipment, ensuring that they are locked and secure.

Other Duties as assigned - 5%

• Assist Supervisor, Foreman, and co-workers with assignments and tasks requiring independent individual contribution as well as team work.
• Assist with snow desk, emergency operation responsibilities, and work extraordinary hours in such cases, including night-time hours, weekend and/or holidays.
• Not all duties mentioned may be applicable to every position, and the examples provided do not encompass all possible duties that may exist within this job classification.
• Percentages of time in the above job duty categories may fluctuate.

Required for All Jobs

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

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Required Qualifications

Required Education                                    

• High School Diploma/GED

Preferred Education

• College degree in agriculture, natural resource management, education or similar program.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid regular Colorado driver’s license by the employment start date and maintain a valid license for the duration of employment with the ability to drive a ½ ton to 1 ton pickup.
• Must obtain a Colorado Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicators Certified Operator license in industrial and rights-of-way control (109) and range pest control (107) categories within one year required.
• Ability to be MSHA certified.      

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of biology sufficient to identify various species of plants.

Knowledge of plant control techniques, including spray applications, mowing, chemicals or the ability to acquire and utilize this knowledge.

Knowledge of typical farming practices and crops grown in Weld County.

Ability to help with purple loosestrife treatments, including kayaking down the South Platte River each summer.

Must be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.

Candidate must pass background check prior to employment start date.

Candidate must pass a substance use screening prior to employment start date.

This position will participate in random substance use screening.

Candidate must pass a physical demands evaluation post offer screen compatible to this position.

Physical Requirements:

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must frequently stand and walk including walking on uneven terrain and through range land. The employee must occasionally climb, squat, crawl, stoop, kneel, carry, and reach overhead. Employee will regularly perform the following: sit, angular reaching, wrist flexion/extension, elbow flexion/extension, supination/pronation, and grasp. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance 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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to hazards, temperature changes, fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to extreme heat and cold temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

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Use the link below to get a closer look at the generous benefits offered:

https://www.weld.gov/Government/County-Information/Join-Our-Team/Employee-Benefits

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Weld County is an equal employment opportunity employer. We ensure that all employment practices are conducted without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Weld County pledges to uphold a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, promoting fairness and dignity for all employees. We actively take affirmative action to comply with nondiscrimination policies and invite qualified individuals in need of reasonable accommodations to contact our Human Resources Department at [email protected] or (970) 400-4234.