The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks an Open Space Technician II to join our Field Operations team in the work to steward our protected lands and foster positive visitor experiences by maintaining a high standard of care in our open space preserves. This position also serves as a bridge to the authority’s volunteer program ensuring the successful completion of stewardship projects.
Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture, and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. Since 1993 the Open Space Authority has protected almost 30,000 acres of natural and working lands across the Santa Clara Valley. Our agency manages and conserves a network of open space lands and natural resources, while providing compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses, with a focus on increasing equity of access to the outdoors for all our constituents.
We know our continued success depends on our employees and the work they do. We are committed to providing a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages growth and development; and acknowledges individual and team achievements.
The Ideal Candidate
You are a hard-working and motivated individual with construction and maintenance experience in parks and open space. You enjoy being outdoors, working with your hands, and take pride in providing an excellent user experiences on our open space lands. You can perform a wide variety of semi-skilled carpentry, building and field maintenance duties using hand and power tools such as chain saws, mowers, sprayers and similar equipment; as well as performing routine maintenance and repair of assigned tools and equipment facilities.
We are seeking qualified technicians to take responsibility for routine maintenance of Authority lands including trails, roads, buildings, and other facilities. Candidates need to have skilled knowledge of operations, services, and activities of an open space maintenance and construction program; principles and practices of maintenance, construction and resource management; standard safety practices; and trade skills in plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.
Your experience in open space maintenance and resource management enables you to perform well while working independently under general supervision. You enjoy engaging members of the public by communicating the mission, vision and goals of the Authority by answering basic questions and interacting with visitors and neighbors in a friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful manner.
As the bridge to the Authority’s volunteer Trail Masters program, this position will identify stewardship projects and coordinate with other staff to engage Trail Masters in completing these projects. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for ensuring that projects are planned and delivered successfully, creating positive experiences for volunteers and delivering needed stewardship work at the Authority’s preserves.
This position will have both opening and closing shifts with a work week that includes weekdays and weekends, exact hours will vary throughout the year, based on seasonal changes and sunset times. Weekend work is required, and this position will be required to work some holidays each year
Please review the complete position classification here: https://bit.ly/3zjoZZR
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- High school diploma or the equivalent, supplemented by college-level coursework in park maintenance, resource management, or a related field;
- Three years of experience in open space land management;
- Ability to lift and carry materials and objects weighing up to 60 pounds;
- Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid California Driver’s license, with a satisfactory driving record;
- Possession of, or ability to obtain certificates for First Aid and CPR, First Responder, Chainsaw Operator, 4-Wheel drive and ATV Safety;
- Ability to work independently.
Note: This position is required to take and pass a pre-employment background check.
If you are excited by the opportunities and challenges offered in this position, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience is non-typical or if you are not sure you meet every one of the qualifications described.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this full-time, non-exempt position is $39.39 to $47.88 hourly, depending on experience and qualifications. To complement this salary, we offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents – we cover 100% of the cost for these premiums. We participate in CalPERS retirement programs as well as offering a separate 457 Plan for tax deferred retirement savings. A basic life insurance policy is provided to all eligible employees with the option to purchase additional personal insurance benefits.
Application and Selection
All application materials must be received prior to October 7, 2024, at 5:00 PM. To be considered for this opportunity, submit your application materials including cover letter and a self-prepared resume at the application link provided below. The Open Space Authority utilizes a robust process that will ask qualified candidates to engage in multiple steps leading up to a final panel interview. We encourage applicants to closely monitor email communication from the Authority’s hiring team.
Go here to apply for the job: https://bit.ly/4efXmj8
Workplace Culture Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
The staff of the Open Space Authority are passionate about conservation and driven to make an impact in the community through their work. Everyone brings a unique skillset to their role and the creative collaboration of all staff maximizes talent to realize the Authority's mission. We have established values and defined supporting behaviors that are shared and demonstrated by every employee at the Authority. Together all of these reflect the culture that makes the Authority the high performing agency that it is. We are Intentional, Respectful, Accountable, Empowering, Innovative, Collaborative, and Inclusive. You can learn more about the staff of the Authority and how everyone works together on our website here.
The Open Space Authority envisions the Santa Clara Valley as a region dense with beautiful natural areas, where a vibrant network of interconnected open spaces, trails, wildlife habitats, and thriving agricultural lands enrich our communities. Learn more about the Authority tackles these goals.
The Authority values Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access in our work to preserve the natural environment, support agriculture, and connect people to nature:
- We have Accessible, Collaborative, and Accountable processes to engage the diverse communities we serve in our programs, projects, careers, and governance opportunities.
- We have Respect for the land and all people in our community.
- We are Inclusive and acknowledge current and historic land stewards.
- We Empower future generations of conservation leaders.
- We invite everyone to join and connect to nature with us.
The Authority is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are earnest in our efforts to comply with all state and federal laws providing Equal Employment Opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or physical disability. We are committed to creating a safe environment where people are treated with respect and appreciated for their unique differences, where issues are promptly raised and resolved and where communication flows across all levels of the agency.
