Assistant Ecological Restoration Technician Lakes & Shorelines

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Natural Areas

Reports to: Managing Ecologist, Lakes and Shorelines and Woman's Board Curator of Aquatics

Seasonal Full-time: The employment term for these positions begins in April/May and continues through at least August, with several workers’ schedules expected to extend until late November/December. The normal work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

About the Garden: The Garden’s mission is grounded in the belief that caring for gardens and natural areas is fundamentally important to the well-being of everyone. We strive to make our campuses and programs available and accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We value diversity in all its forms and at every level of our organization—board, staff, volunteers, and vendors. Through the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, the Garden is more effectively able to create extraordinary and welcoming experiences for our increasingly diverse audiences.

About our natural areas: The Garden’s natural areas encompass 60 percent of our 385-acre campus in Glencoe (located 25 miles north of Chicago). They represent prairie, woodland, and aquatic habitats, and are stewarded by a team of ecologists to support, showcase, and better understand the unique and diverse natural history of our region. We use stewardship techniques like prescribed burning and invasive species control to support the widest diversity of appropriate native species in each habitat type. We also encourage and support research, conducted in partnership with other staff in the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, and are dedicated to monitoring to assess long-term change and impacts of our stewardship efforts. The person in this role will spend a majority of their time in our shorelines, which weave our natural areas and formal gardens together. Five of our six miles of shorelines have been restored using bioengineering techniques and more than half a million native wetland plants (representing 240-plus species) to stabilize shoreline soils, increase resilience to flooding, improve water quality in our six lakes, and provide habitat for wildlife.

Position Overview: This 13- to 16-week-long seasonal position begins in mid-May. Individuals in this role help to maintain the lakes and shorelines through removal of submerged nuisance aquatic plant and algae growth. They will also be part of our new career pathway program called the Stewardship and Ecology of Natural Areas (SENA) internship program that launched in 2023. As participants in our SENA program, individuals in this role will spend the equivalent of 4 days a week conducting stewardship-related activities primarily in our lakes and shorelines with Garden ecologists. The equivalent of 1 day a week will be dedicated to training in understanding and caring for natural areas, as well as inclusive leadership and other career development opportunities. Depending upon the weekly stewardship needs, these 8 hours will at times be non-consecutive and distributed throughout the week. The employment term for these seasonal positions begins in May and continues through August/September. The normal work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

Natural areas stewardship, 4 days per week:

• Maintaining aesthetic shoreline conditions throughout the Garden’s lake system
• 80 percent of your stewardship responsibilities will be spent removing submerged nuisance plant and algae growth as well as litter, debris, and occasional nuisance fish/wildlife from the lakes
• 20 percent will be spent working in the upslope area of the shorelines to gain plant community exposure and management strategies
• Wearing waders (provided by the Garden) and accessing the shoreline via rowboats and/or walking along the shoreline edge
• Operating gas-powered weed trimmers

Training and career development, 1 day or 8 nonconsecutive hours per week:

• Work with SENA program manager and Garden staff to set and work toward learning goals that will support continued career development.
• With other SENA participants and Garden staff as well as other external partners, participate in workshops, training sessions, and one-on-one or team-based projects to enhance skills and expertise in target areas.

Chicago Botanic Garden Values & Behaviors

VALUES

As an organization, we…

BEHAVIORS

As an organization, we…

Prioritize a culture of GROWTH.

We commit to remaining curious in how we approach our work.

• Create and maintain spaces for learning.
• Test new ideas and are willing to take risks to achieve our vision.
• Collaborate to strengthen our skills and impact.
• Demonstrate perseverance and humility as we work toward our long-term impact.

Seek to UNDERSTAND.

We seek to understand others from their perspective.

• Provide opportunities for input and feedback from others.
• Actively listen to all points of view.
• Consider individuals’ lived experiences.
• Advocate for and protect time for reflection especially during times of conflict or confusion.

See one another through a lens of RESILIENCE.

We believe that all individuals can experience good outcomes with support.

• Give others the space to balance work and personal needs.
• Support others and demonstrate empathy especially during challenging and stressful times.
• Seek opportunities to learn from and about one another.
• Ask questions about and anticipate the needs of others.

Build TRUST through TRANSPARENCY.

We hold ourselves and others accountable by centering decision making that honors all people.

• Communicate information in a timely manner.
• Provide clarity in complex situations with the goal of common understanding.
• Discuss both positive and negative outcomes openly.
• Evaluate the impacts of our actions.

Qualifications:

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Exceptional work ethic
• Function well within both team and individual work assignments (sometimes with minimal supervision)
• Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment
• Possess a high comfort level being in and around water along with an ability to swim should the need arise in an emergency
• A valid driver’s license and a good driving record

Physical Demands:

Standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, lifting, and pushing, including outdoors in inclement weather. Exposure to poison ivy, bees, ticks, mosquitoes, pollen, other potential allergens, and wildlife. Must be able lift and carry up to 60 pounds.

To Apply: To apply, submit an application and upload a resume. Please do not submit a cover letter; instead, complete the 3 questions provided in the application process. For questions about the role, completing the application, or the Stewardship and Ecology of Natural Areas internship program, please contact Tatiana Guider (tguider@chicagobotanic.org). Application reviews will begin on January 22, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. This job posting will close on January 21, 2024.

Why Apply? Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.