Botanic Specialist II - Generalist

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is hiring two Botanic Specialist II - Generalists to join the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Section of the Watershed O&M Division. The GSI O&M Section manages BES's vegetated stormwater facilities throughout the city and supports Capital Improvement projects, City Bureaus, outside partners, and customers. The GSI O&M team is primarily responsible for operating and maintaining green street facilities (roadway stormwater planters and swales) and larger, neighborhood-scale water quality facilities, applying principles of adaptive management to optimize green infrastructure condition and function within resource constraints. The program's work includes maintaining the large portfolio of stormwater assets, reviewing project plans and specifications, planting and establishing vegetation in new facilities, repairing and rehabilitating damaged or failing facilities, and responding to community member service requests.
This position is responsible for operations and maintenance of a large portfolio of green stormwater infrastructure assets, including approximately 500 green streets in addition to multiple larger, neighborhood-scale stormwater facilities. The Botanic Specialist II inspects and assesses the condition of green stormwater assets, issues work orders to maintenance contractors and in-house technicians, coordinates and oversees all planting and maintenance activities, and tracks asset data in Infor Public Sector (Hansen, the Bureau's enterprise asset management system) and other databases. The position reviews plan sets and specifications for new Capital, Interagency, and Public Works Permit projects, inspects facilities during construction, and coordinates planting and establishment maintenance. The position works with other site managers and bureau staff to develop improved maintenance strategies and business processes to more efficiently and effectively meet the Bureau's goals of protecting public health, water quality, and the environment. The Botanic Specialist is expected to carry out the position's responsibilities with initiative and independence while exercising sound professional judgment and collaborating with other section, division, and bureau staff.
The Botanic Specialist will have some or all of the following duties and responsibilities:

• Manage a large portfolio of green stormwater infrastructure assets, including green streets and parcel-based stormwater facilities.
• Keep accurate and detailed records; enter and manage asset data in Infor Public Sector asset management system and other databases.
• Follow established program procedures and business processes.
• Perform annual inspections and condition assessment for all assets.
• Plan and prescribe maintenance and irrigation treatments; issue work orders to contractors and Botanic Technicians; coordinate, inspect, and oversee contractor activities; process invoices and enter resource usage (cost) data.
• Participate in bureau efforts to apply asset management framework to green and natural assets.
• Review new Capital, Interagency, and Public Works Permit project plan sets and specifications during design phase.
• Coordinate with construction managers and inspectors, inspect new facilities, review submittals, and address warranty issues during construction phase.
• Develop planting plans, procure plants, and coordinate plant installation for both new projects and interplanting/replanting of existing projects.
• Develop cost estimates for planting and establishment agreements with interagency partners and public works permittees.
• Perform maintenance activities, such as weeding, sediment removal, and inlet cleaning, using hand tools; apply herbicides to control nuisance plants (infrequent, limited circumstances).
• Plan and implement special projects, including soil amendment and rehabilitation projects.
• Review plans, specifications, policies, manuals, and codes to ensure green infrastructure issues and maintenance are adequately considered and addressed.
• Coordinate and implement communication and outreach efforts related to green stormwater assets or issues, alone or in collaboration with Green Street Stewards program.
• Respond to Customer Service Requests and other maintenance concerns submitted by members of the public.
• Work collaboratively in a team environment; establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, other bureau and agency staff, and members of the public.
• Fully participate in dismantling institutional racism at the Bureau and the City, foster an inclusive workplace environment, and apply equity lens to all activities and decisions.
• Manage workflow to stay organized, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.

Work Location

Most hybrid employees will be expected to perform at least half of their work in person. City Council approved a human resources administrative rule in January 2023, HRAR - 4.045, requiring employees, including those who are fully remote and hybrid, to perform work within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of green stormwater infrastructure and/or fields related to the mission and purpose of the organizational unit and Bureau, such as botany, horticulture, landscape maintenance, natural resource management, ecology, urban watershed management, stormwater management, or closely related fields.
2. Knowledge of horticultural principles and experience with vegetation maintenance.
3. Knowledge of and ability to identify native and desirable plant species typically planted in green stormwater facilities as well as invasive/nuisance plants and weeds commonly found in the Portland-metro area.
4. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, co-workers, the public and others encountered in the course of work.
5. Ability to apply an equity lens in project and program implementation by considering impacts to diverse communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color who have experienced disproportionate environmental impacts and unequal access to government services and benefits.
6. Ability to use modern software applications to accurately record data and manage workflow; ability to quickly become proficient with Infor Public Sector enterprise asset management software.

A combination of the following education and experience is also required.
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in biology, botany, horticulture, ecology or natural resource science; and three years of progressively responsible experience in horticultural or natural resource development activities; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.
Applicants must also possess:

• A valid state driver's license and an acceptable driving record at the time of hire.
• Ability to obtain an Oregon Department of Agriculture Public Pesticide Applicator License within six months of appointment.

An evaluation of each applicant's training and experience to meet the minimum qualifications listed above (under To Qualify), as demonstrated in their cover letter and resume, is weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not requested. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Job Posting Closes: 12/18/2023
• Applications Reviewed: week of 1/01/2024
• Eligible List Created: week of 1/08/2024
• First Round Interview: TBD
• Job Offer: TBD

Applicants must submit a cover letter and professional resume online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

• Your résumé and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in the cover letter.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, as identified below, please describe in your cover letter any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the "To Qualify" section above.

All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.