The Kankakee Sands Crew Leader is a full-time, short term position that works with and directs a crew of Field Technicians on a daily basis. This position is located at the Kankakee Sands office, located on the 8,300 acre Kankakee Sands preserve. The preserve is part of the larger Kankakee Sands Macrosite, a roughly 34,000-acre prairie and savanna complex in northwest Indiana and eastern Illinois. The Crew Leader will coordinate with Kankakee Sands staff to develop work plans and organize logistics for the crew. This position is expected to run from early February through the middle of November 2018 and optional, on-site housing is available.
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:
- Organize daily logistics, promote crew cohesion, and ensure a safe working environment for the crew.
- Control invasive species in tallgrass prairie and oak barrens ecosystems via herbicide application from UTVs and backpack sprayers.
- Control of woody invasive species using brush cutters and chainsaws.
- Perform as part of a burn crew to implement prescribed fire. In an average year the crew will help implement fire on approximately 2,300 acres.
- Clean and process native seed, primarily during the final weeks of the position.
- Daily maintenance and upkeep of equipment.
- Use GPS and GIS to record and map invasive species treatments on the preserve.
SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:
- Native seed harvest.
- Site maintenance (trails, infrastructure, etc.).
- Opening and closing the bison viewing area to the visiting public.
- Public outreach.
- Data entry and recording.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Will help in daily planning and direction for crew of 3 to 4 Field Technicians.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.
- Requires long hours in isolated settings.
- Makes day to day decisions as delegated by supervisor.
- May work under infrequent supervision.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience recognizing plant and animal species.
- Experience operating various types of equipment.
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Qualified at the Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2) standard set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and the TNC Fire Manual. The Fire Manual can be found at http://www.tncfiremanual.org/firefighter.htm
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1 - 2 years’ experience in land management.
- Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems.
- Ability to recognize plant and animal species to complete preserve management activities.
- Ability to operate various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g.; lawn mower, chainsaw, tractor, two-way radio, etc.).
- Ability to follow instructions from colleagues.
- PC familiarity, including database knowledge.
- Prior experience in leadership position(s).
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Qualified at the Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1) standard set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).