POSITION OVERVIEW

Oxbow’s Native Plant Nursery (NPN) and Conservation Teams work to support conservation and restoration of our region’s native flora. The Native Plant Team produces about 60,000 high-quality, locally adapted and genetically diverse plants each season, which increase habitat quantity and quality, while also acting as a vehicle for knowledge growth, empowering restoration project managers, landscape architects, and household and community gardeners to learn the importance of native plants and local landscapes. The Conservation Team plans and implements ecological restoration projects and ecological research to improve ecosystem health and contribute to our understanding of the species and processes that make up natural systems.

The Native Plant/Restoration Technician role is a permanent position that splits time between the NPN and the Conservation Team. From roughly March to October each year, the Technician will assist NPN staff in all plant production tasks, and from November to February, the Technician will assist the Conservation team in invasive plant removal, planting native plants, volunteer management, and various ecological research tasks.

While working with the NPN team, the Technician will work M-F, 8-4. While working with the Conservation team, the Technician will work M-F, 8-4:30. Throughout the season, occasional weekend work will be required to support native plant sales and other public events.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

While working with the NPN Team, the Technician will assist with the following tasks:

• Assist with sowing, propagation, transplanting, seed collection and cleaning.

• Schedule and perform irrigation and fertilization.

• Assist with implementing the IPM program through organic pesticide applications, beneficial insect releases, monitoring, record keeping and sanitation procedures.

• Maintain plant quality, including pruning, weeding, trimming, and thinning.
• Assist with optimizing nursery space throughout the year.

• Perform timely maintenance, safe use, and inventory tracking of nursery equipment and tools.

• Assist with the maintenance and installation of native plantings on the property.
• Assist with inclement weather/flood preparation and clean up.
• Assist with preparing and delivering plant orders.
• Assist with leading tours of the nursery and speaking with visitors about the NPN program and Oxbow in general.

While working with the Conservation Team, the Technician will assist in the following tasks:

• Control invasive species and prepare planting sites safely, using hand tools and gas-powered equipment.
• Stage plants, equipment, and materials for planting.
• Install and maintain native plantings according to restoration plans.
• Prepare for and oversee volunteer restoration events at Oxbow and in other locations (as allowed by public safety guidelines and following Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center COVID-19 safety guidelines).
• Carry out amphibian and other wildlife and habitat-focused field research, including vegetation surveys, installation and maintenance of cameras and dataloggers, and amphibian egg mass surveys.
• Work safely in forested, wetland and aquatic environments using associated gear (waders) and transportation (4WD truck, boats) on and off Oxbow property.
• Perform outreach and education tasks, including speaking to Oxbow visitors about Conservation Program work, working with staff of partner organizations, assisting in creation of outreach materials, and collaborating with other Oxbow program areas to meet outreach objectives.
• Perform data entry tasks.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Background and interest in restoration, nursery science, botany, horticulture, and/or an enthusiasm for native plants and their production
• Experience with identification of Pacific Northwest native and invasive plants
• Experience leading volunteers in outdoor work or other experience professionally interfacing with the public
• Experience using and maintaining hand tools and mechanized equipment (string-trimmers, chainsaws, etc.)
• Positive approach to work tasks, problem-solving, and teamwork

• Ability to stay organized while juggling multiple projects; consistent attention to detail

• Ability to take direction, ask for help/clarity when necessary, and accept constructive feedback
• Ability to work standing, sitting, bending over or kneeling, to lift heavy and awkward objects, up to 50 lbs., to perform physical work, and to work in inclement weather

• Desired: Experience with wildlife studies or monitoring

• Desired: possession of a personal vehicle that can be used to move between Oxbow and off-site work locations (mileage reimbursed)

• Fluent working in Microsoft suite (Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• This position is required to occasionally work weekends, overtime, and public facing events

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT

Oxbow is committed to cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion. We value the individual differences, life experiences, and knowledge that our staff bring to their work and their communities. Valuing diversity is a significant part of our culture, our values, and the success of Oxbow’s mission.

Oxbow provides equal employment opportunities to all staff members and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Oxbow is committed to fostering a racially diverse team. People of color are encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION

This is a regular, full-time position, with benefits that include 100% employer paid healthcare, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, retirement contribution match, and competitive paid time off. Additional benefit information is available upon request.