Greenway Vegetation Coordinator

Job Summary:

This position consists of program coordination, project work, and specialized field work relating to the management of City of Madison Engineering and Stormwater Utility lands.  The work involves direct responsibility for specialized programs and activities pertaining to vegetation maintenance around ponds and within greenways, which are lands dedicated to the passage of water.  The Stormwater Utility manages approximately 1200 acres.  Positions at this level perform technical and quasi-professional functions, such as conducting field inspections and condition assessments, preparing work plans, and coordinating noxious weed and invasive species removal and control activities.  Under the limited supervision of a professional engineer or manager, positions such as this function independently in area(s) of responsibility.  The work may involve leading other staff on a temporary or permanent basis.

Duties:

Madison Stormwater Utility’s Greenway and Pond Condition Assessments

• Perform inspections and condition assessments to rate greenways and ponds on a 5 year cycle. This work is done to assist in the identification and prioritization of restoration projects necessary to maintain design functionality, improve water quality and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
• Identify and prioritize required maintenance activities on greenways and ponds in conjunction with other Engineering staff. Work to be performed could include work by Engineering Operations crews, or via the creation of a Public Works construction project. For those projects to be completed by Engineering Operations, create work orders in Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and coordinate work with Engineering Operations Building and Grounds Supervisor.
• Perform data collection activities to enhance existing GIS records. Maintain related records, files and reference materials.
• Assist in the preparation of narrative and statistical reports, drawings and other materials as necessary using ArcGIS.

• Coordinate the Madison Stormwater Utility’s selective Prairie Management Program to eliminate or reduce noxious weeds/invasive species and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
• Perform field inspections of greenway and pond vegetation on a scheduled basis and in response to citizen complaints. Locate and map noxious weed and invasive species patches to facilitate selective removal.
• Create and coordinate implementation of a work plan for seasonal, volunteer or other crews to implement the Selective Prairie Management plan. Identify appropriate control strategy (i.e. hand and/or mechanical removal, burning, chemical treatment, etc.) and who should perform specified activities (i.e. Engineering Operations staff. Operation Fresh Start crew, volunteers, contractor, etc.). Communicate work to be performed including required timeline to avoid spreading seed of non-desirable species.
• Review the list of greenway/pond management plans. Consult with supervising engineer to recommend changes to the plan to either include additional greenways and ponds in the Selective Prairie Management strategy or to remove from same.
• Communicate with neighboring residents and other interested parties as to changes in maintenance strategies and frequencies and the long-term benefits of the program.

• Perform scheduled inspections of other greenway and pond areas for noxious weed/invasive species infestation and for general maintenance requirements.
• Create work orders and timeline for Operations to spot mow weed infestations.
• Coordinate changes to maintenance activities to remedy weed infestation.
• Review infested areas to assess progress and determine next required action

• In coordination with other Engineering staff, as part of new development, inspect newly seeded prairie channels and basins to assure proper establishment prior to acceptance.
• Assure that prairie channels and basins are correctly mapped in GIS and that correct maintenance activities and schedules have been created and assigned in CMMS.
• Inform responsible agencies when new areas are added to their maintenance lists and provide information on required maintenance activities/frequencies.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Four (4) years progressively responsible technical experience in vegetative management with invasive species/pest controls.  Such experience would normally be gained from working at arboretums, performing native restoration, management and/or plantings.  Traditional landscaping experience will not be considered sufficient experience unless it involved the above mentioned activities.

• Two (2) years of professional and/or technical experience in vegetative management with invasive species/pest controls; AND
• Associate’s degree in biological systems engineering, landscape architecture, landscape management, conservation resources, natural resources, ecology, horticulture, agronomy or a closely related field.

• Bachelor’ degree in biological systems engineering, landscape architecture, landscape management, conservation resources/biology, natural resources, ecology, horticulture, agronomy or a closely related field, AND
• Two (2) summers or six (6) months of field internships, labs, and/or volunteer work primarily with a field component and increasing responsibility.

• Principles, theories, and practices of landscaping, plant/forbs and tree biology.
• Policies, practices, procedures, and governing laws, ordinances, and/or regulations pertaining to native vegetation management.
• Computers and computer software applicable to the duties of the position, including engineering/GIS software and Microsoft Office suite.