Natural Areas Specialist Portage Park District

Company: Portage County Ohio
Location: Ravenna
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

POSITION TITLE: Natural Areas Specialist DEPARTMENT: Natural Areas SUPERVISOR: Natural Areas Manager FSLA STATUS: Non-Exempt HOURS: Seasonal, Part Time or Full Time STARTING PAY RANGE: $12.00-20.00/Hr depending on experience and qualifications POSITION SUMMARY: This is a skilled position within the Park District which performs in all areas of the Natural Areas stewardship program, including but not limited to: natural resource management, monitoring, protection, and inventory, as well as invasive plant control, mapping, equipment maintenance, cleaning and other duties necessary for the stewardship of natural areas. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND /OR EXPERIENCE Current or past enrollment in environmental/conservation/biological sciences studies or completion of such course work is required. Applicants must possess a demonstrated knowledge of local flora, fauna and natural history, and have the ability to use equipment, tools, computers, and technologies necessary to complete tasks for the stewardship, protection, and maintenance of natural areas. Possession of Ohio Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License is helpful but not required. Completion of the Trained Service Persons manual is required, minimally. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES Under direction of the Natural Areas Manager, assists with all aspects and duties related to natural resource management and stewardship; duties mainly focused on but not limited to monitoring, restoring, and maintaining forest, meadow, and other natural plant communities, including monitoring and controlling invasive plants. Assist Natural Areas Stewards with natural resource inventories, management tasks and projects. Prepare, organize, and maintain equipment and supplies related to natural areas stewardship tasks. Assist and accommodate staff, researchers and students from partner agencies and academia in the completion of ecological projects and research. Assist other park staff and departments as directed to complete other tasks, projects and events necessary for the operation of Portage Park District. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Interest in and support of the Portage Park District mission Adequate to advanced knowledge of land management and nature education practices. Sufficient familiarity with or knowledge of invasive species identification and control, pesticide application, prescribed burning, trail maintenance and public-use monitoring. Sufficient ability to read maps and use field guides and related digital applications to identify and map local flora, fauna and habitats. Adequate to advanced abilities with personal computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets and databases. Sufficient ability to use or learn the of use global positioning systems (GPS) or mobile applications to collect data and navigate terrain. Sufficient to advanced skills in oral and written communication, organization and problem solving; ability to interact with the public and represent Portage Park District in a positive and professional manner Ability to guide and work with volunteers and temporary employees cooperatively and productively. Knowledge of or experience in the proper and safe use of vehicles, tools and equipment related to stewardship, including: 4x4 pickup truck and trailer, tractor with front-end loader, chainsaws, mowers, pesticide sprayers, hand tools and power tools. Other: A pre-employment Background Check and Drug Test are required PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to drive a car, truck, tractor or all-terrain-vehicle, stand, sit, walk over rough terrain, cycle, use hands and fingers to handle, grasp, feel, type, reach with hands and arms, climb and balance. The employee is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and lift 80 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the regular duties of this job, the employee works in a natural park environment with exposure to a broad range of outside weather conditions including wet, windy and/or humid conditions and temperatures below 32 degrees and above 100 degrees for periods of more than an hour. The employee may be exposed to various communicable diseases, insects, animals and poisonous plants. The employee may be exposed to outside pollutants in the air, water or land. The employee is occasionally exposed to and moving mechanical parts. The noise level in this position may at times be extreme. The employee may be exposed to various chemicals, oils and pesticides. Employee is frequently required to travel to parks throughout the District Employee must maintain a respectable appearance and be able to pleasantly and helpfully interact with the public as necessary. Employee may have an irregular schedule if necessary and often may be required to work independently with little or no supervision, and as a team member or supervisor of a work crew.

Keywords: Portage County Ohio, Newark , Natural Areas Specialist Portage Park District, Construction - Building Trades , Ravenna, Ohio