Seasonal Restoration Technician — Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group

Job Description: This is an exciting opportunity for individuals eager to develop and apply habitat restoration skills. Mid-Columbia Fisheries (MCF) seeks adaptable, enthusiastic, and hard-working individuals, both new to the field and experienced, who are passionate about salmon recovery and habitat restoration.

The ideal candidates will be prepared to work in diverse and challenging conditions, performing strenuous, sustained manual labor as a member of Mid-Columbia Fisheries’ Restoration Crew. The Restoration Crew is based out of Ellensburg, and completes projects throughout Central Washington, particularly within the Yakima Basin watershed. Crew members will assist with habitat restoration and salmon recovery projects from implementation through stewardship.

The Crew will work as a team, sometimes in small groups based on work task requirements. Crew members will be supervised in the field by a designated Crew Lead, who will provide leadership to complete project tasks.

Pay: Pay range is $19.33 to $20.61, dependent on experience.

Position Duration, Schedule, & Benefits: Position start date is April 7, 2025. The position duration is subject to change based on weather and work availability; anticipated season end will be between November and December. Technicians work full-time, Monday through Thursday, 10 hours per day. Candidates should anticipate some flexibility in their work schedule, including changing to Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day in November, early starts during especially hot weather, and occasional extended days.

Whenever possible, the Crew Supervisor will provide ample notice before schedule changes are enacted. The position includes accrual of sick and vacation leave (one day per month each) and holidays. Unpaid leave may be granted at the discretion of the Crew Supervisor and must be requested in advance. New technicians will be hired with a 90-day probationary period. Staff offered positions to return for a second field season will be offered career-seasonal status, which includes health and retirement benefits.

Additional Information:
Most MCF work sites are in Kittitas and Yakima Counties in Washington; however, the work region also includes Benton and Klickitat Counties. A typical year consists of one to three weeks of travel, with the rest of the work being commutable from Ellensburg. For work requiring travel, the Crew will typically be away for 3 nights during a 4-day work week.

MCF Restoration Technicians are responsible for providing their own personal work clothes, boots, and backpacks for daily personal items, such as lunch and water bottles. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided by MCF as required for work tasks and safety.

Supervisor: All Restoration Technicians are supervised by the Restoration Crew Supervisor. Restoration Crew Leads and Project Managers will provide leadership and direction with field tasks to Restoration Technicians.

To Apply: A complete application should include a cover letter, resume, and three references. MCF will check references of top candidates after interviews. We may talk to other staff at the listed organizations if we cannot reach the individual reference included in the application.

Applicants are encouraged to send a follow-up email addressed to Aaron Balagot to confirm that we have received your application materials.

Application Closes: Positions are open until they are filled. We will begin reviewing applications on February 24, 2025.

Primary Responsibilities for all Restoration Technicians:

• Restoring and enhancing salmonid habitat through planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses.
• Controlling invasive weeds (mowing, brush cutting, manual removal, pesticide application and application of mulch).
• Constructing and repairing fences.
• Assembly of irrigation systems and running regular irrigation for restoration plantings during the summer dry period.
• Constructing large wood debris and beaver dam analogs (BDAs) into floodplains and channels.
• Maintaining tools and equipment, including orderly tool and plant materials storage, and vehicle maintenance.
• Interact with colleagues, landowners, partners, and the public in a professional manner.
• Safely and properly use, maintain, and manage tools, equipment, materials and vehicles on and off work sites.
• Assisting staff with educational outreach in classroom and outdoor settings.
• Providing limited training and additional work experiences, such as fish surveys, fish rescues, vegetation monitoring, seed collection and other tasks to support MCF mission and goals.

Additional Responsibilities for Experienced technicians:

• Operate power tools and heavy equipment, and train junior technicians on their safe and proper use.
• Effectively identify work tasks and delegate tasks to Crew Members in the preparation and completion of project work.
• Perform site visits with Project Managers to ensure clear communication and to effectively manage…