The Lead Open Space Technician position is an excellent career opportunity for an experienced and motivated individual to enjoy the outdoors while building and maintaining trails, working on open space construction projects, and providing technical and functional supervision to assigned staff on open space preserves. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and communication skills, experienced in a broad range of construction, maintenance and resource management projects, and enjoys working collaboratively with others.

About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.  If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position!  Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

Midpen has one vacancy for the position of Lead Open Space Technician (LOST). The start date for this position is January 2025.

• Lead Open Space Technician in South Area Office (SAO) (1 vacancy) – reports to the South Area Maintenance Supervisor.
• South Area Office - Address: 240 Cristich Lane, Campbell, CA 95008
• In addition to filling this position, we intend to create a pool of highly qualified candidates to fill future opportunities at Midpen for the position of Lead Open Space Technician

About the Position:  The Lead Open Space Technician performs a wide variety of tasks in the construction, maintenance, and repair of assigned areas.  Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. Responsibilities include the inspection of District properties and facilities for construction and maintenance needs, recommending appropriate actions, leading maintenance crews and performing complex duties to ensure that District land and facilities are well maintained in order to provide the highest level of safety for public and staff use.  For additional information about the Lead Open Space Technician position, see the Job Description page on our website. 

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• ‘Joint Resource Workdays’ allow all district staff to get involved and work together on a variety of maintenance, resource management, habitat restoration and capital improvement projects.

Work Environment:  This position is part of the Land and Facilities Services Department assigned to a primary field office and will visit other Midpen field sites. This position may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Must wear prescribed District uniform and adhere to strict safety procedures and work habits. Depending on the exposure, employee is required to wear head, hearing, eye, foot, face, hand, and full protection equipment. Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, and poison oak. Following onboarding and successfully meeting job performance expectations, may be eligible for the flexible work program which includes 9/80 schedules.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.  

Education and Experience:  Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:   

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college-level coursework in park maintenance, resource management, or a related field and three (3) years of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of parks, open spaces, and/or related facilities, and/or resource management.

Licenses & Certifications Required:    

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, Basic First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class A Driver’s
• License and required endorsements within the probationary period.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Grade I Water Treatment Operator Certificate and Grade I Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Qualified Applicators.
• Certificate with Landscape Maintenance (Category B) for pesticide application within (12) months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a District approved Fire Suppression Certification within (12) months of assignment into the District’s fire program.

Benefits:   Midpen provides an excellent benefits package including health, life & disability insurance as well as CalPERS pension. Please see the Benefits page on Midpen’s website for details.