JOB OPENING: 
Santa Cruz Island Restoration Technician - Invasive Plant Management (up to 3), Channel Islands  National Park, Ventura, California Santa Catalina Island Restoration Technician -Invasive Plant Management (up to 3), Catalina Island, 
Los Angeles County, California 

EMPLOYER:  California Institute of Environmental Studies  (CIES; www.ciesresearch.org)  Position Background  : Up to six restoration technician  positions to support invasive plant species control  and habitat restoration are available. Project location will be on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands (SCI)  within Channel Islands National Park (3 positions)  OR  Catalina Island (CAT) within Catalina Island  Conservancy (3 positions). Work will be targeted at controlling non-native plant species. These are full  time, field-based positions with all work conducted on Santa Cruz, Catalina, or Santa Rosa Islands (SRI). A  6 month commitment is required for Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island work and a 5 month commitment is  required for Catalina. This project is in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) and/or Catalina 
Island Conservancy (CIC), and successful applicants will work closely with staff from these organizations. 

Position Description:  As part of a team of 2-4 people,  successful candidates will work to suppress  emergent non-native plants on Santa Cruz, Catalina, and Santa Rosa Islands. The position advertised is for  employment as a seasonal restoration technician with CIES. Santa Cruz positions have a duration of  approximately 6 months beginning late February, 2025 and continuing through August, 2025. Catalina  positions have a duration of approximately 5 months beginning late February, 2025 and continuing  through June, 2025. Full Duration of position is contingent on funding. 

Primary job duties will include handling/mixing/applying herbicide to non-native plant populations using  4 gallon backpack-style spray applicators and vehicle mounted spray rigs while recording progress and  coverage on GPS units/ArcGIS Field Maps and field notebooks. Occasional additional duties will be  required, such as data entry and proofing, vehicle and equipment maintenance, equipment troubleshooting, and aiding project leads in writing progress updates.  Successful applicants will be required to work a “8 days on, 6 days off” schedule (pending schedule  changes due to weather). Restoration technicians will live in provided housing during field stays on Santa  Cruz, Catalina, and Santa Rosa Islands. As such, technicians will be required to live in close quarters  within a small community of coworkers and island staff. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to  maintain a positive and respectful attitude while living and working in a small group are required aspects  of the job. All food, clothing, bedding, and personal supplies will need to be brought back and forth to the  island.  Housing is not provided on the mainland between  workweeks.  Field staff will be expected to work 160 hours per month (two approximately 80-hour work weeks per  month, with the opportunity to perform office tasks such as data entry and trip report writing to reach 160  hours/month (should field work fall short of 160 hours per month). Island field schedule will be  Wednesday to Wednesday, with the first and last day of each tour including travel time to and from the  mainland aboard either the NPS vessel Ocean Ranger, Concessionaire Island Packers, or Catalina Island  Express. The office schedule is flexible. 

Qualifications:  Applicants should have a strong interest in island ecology and a desire to work on habitat 
restoration projects. Enthusiasm for fieldwork and for working in a variety of weather conditions is a must. 
The ability to carry a 50lb backpack sprayer on steep slopes and uneven terrain is essential.  Having a  good work ethic, the ability to work independently and as a team member, being a motivated self-starter, and a 
willingness to learn are a must.  Successful candidates  must be willing to work long hours hiking in the field, maintain accurate field notes/data collection, and possess excellent balance and agility. Applicants must be comfortable with the use of chemical herbicide, and be willing to apply herbicide to non-native plants. Much of the work involves steep hiking, applicants must be able to carry  heavy backpacks and other equipment. 

Preference may be given to those who possess: 1) Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related  discipline; 2) prior experiece with habitat restoration work, herbicide application, and vegetation  surveys; 3) knowledge of native and non-native California flora, 4) ability to move and lift equipment and  materials up to 50 lbs; 5) ability to hike in steep, unstable terrain; 6) desire to work in a remote field  setting both independently and as part of a field crew; 7) superior observational and data collection skills;  8) excellent written and verbal communication skills; 9) proficiency in Word, Excel, and ArcGIS Field  Maps; 10) a valid driver’s license with clean driving record; dirt road and 4WD experience preferred. 

Compensation:  The position will pay a minimum of  $21.85  per hour  . Compensation is negotiable  based on experience and ability to perform additional job responsibilities. In addition, a field  per diem  of $30 per day  will be provided through reimbursements  for multi-day trips (on average totaling $480  per month). Sick and annual leave benefits also provided. 

Additional considerations:  These positions are based  out of Ventura, CA with regular travel via boat to Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands from Ventura Harbor or Catalina Island from Long Beach Harbor.  Successful applicants will be required to arrive at the transportation dock to start work at the beginning of  their scheduled tours; reliable personal transportation is needed to arrive on time, typically 7am (SCI) or  8am (CAT). Additionally, applicants will need to be comfortable with boat travel for approximately 1-2  hours each direction during the employment period. Island work and scheduling is dependent on many  factors, so flexibility to schedule changes is preferred. Island housing is provided during work tours.  Santa Cruz and Catalina Island housing consists of a shared bunkhouse with amenities (bathroom/hot  showers, living room, kitchen, and internet). Cell phone service is limited, internet service may not be reliable. Housing on the mainland is not provided. Successful Santa Cruz/Santa Rosa Island applicants  will receive a stipend for field clothes and boots of $250 while Catalina Island Conservancy will provide  work boots and coveralls for the Catalina crew, and no stipend. All applicants will also receive field shirts. All other personal items including food, bedding, and additional clothing will be provided by the  applicant. Herbicide application requires the use of closed toed, waterproof boots with thick socks, long  sleeve shirts, long pants, gloves, and eye protection. CIES will provide data collection devices, spray  equipment, and proper PPE for work tasks (gloves, eye protection, hand washing stations, rags, etc.).