COSA Open Space Technician

The City of Westminster Open Space Division has an Open Space Technician position opening. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated candidate to contribute significantly to a great team. Lots of room to be creative and help move the Open Space mission forward. Details below. Please help spread the word.

Applications are accepted at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/westminsterco/jobs/2288032/open-space-technician

Open Space Technician

Salary

$49,440.30 – $63,287.76 Annually

Location

Westminster, CO

Job Type

Full-time Benefited, 40 hours/week (1.0 FTE)

Department

Parks, Recreation and Libraries

Job Number

18-00204

Closing

12/31/2018 8:30 AM Mountain

POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

The Open Space Technician provides technical assistance and support in the acquisition of properties for the City’s open space program. The work involves GIS mapping, coordination of real estate services for acquisitions, and assisting with grants and analysis of property conditions. The Open Space Technician also creates, maintains, and updates computerized data banks and other files, researches and responds to citizen questions and provides other technical and planning assistance and support to the Open Space Coordinator.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,500 per year depending on the employee’s fluency in Spanish, Hmong, and/or Laotian.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES

The mission of every employee at the City of Westminster is to deliver exceptional value and quality of life through SPIRIT. Each employee is measured by the ability to adhere to the City’s core values of Service, Pride, Integrity, Responsibility, Innovation, and Teamwork.

This position supports the goals of the Community Development Department, which plans, promotes and sustains an attractive and high quality living and working environment by facilitating appropriate land use and infrastructure decisions ensuring that the community is developed in a safe, aesthetically pleasing and maintainable manner.

Every employee is accountable to:

· Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority

· Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback

· Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization’s mission and vision

· Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner

· Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior

· Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner

· Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate

· Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization

· Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered

· Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives

· Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide – Every employee in this position is accountable to:

· Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments

· Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development

· Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks

· Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions

· Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently

· Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications

· Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance

· Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

· Understand and use ESRI ArcGIS software for cartographic production and basic editing

· Utilize ArcGIS tools to analyze spatial data and maintain/populate databases

· Demonstrate experience and familiarity with the use of Collector for ArcGIS

· Perform data collection using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and software; import GPS data into databases

· Provide training to field workers in proper data collection

· Enter GIS property descriptions using coordinate geometry

· Demonstrate Basic understanding of natural resource and public land management principles and an understanding of how natural sciences relate to land management

· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, board members, citizens, and other persons contacted in the course of the work

· Communicate both orally and in writing

· Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and practices of real estate as they apply to a local government open space program desirable

· Demonstrate general knowledge of planning and zoning and the ability to read and understand site plan drawings, subdivision plans, ODPs and PDPs desirable

· Understand title documents, deeds, surveys and legal descriptions

JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks
1. Provides technical support to the Open Space Division

· Maintains computerized geographical data using ESRI ArcGIS software

· Creates and collaborates on the production of high quality GIS-generated maps for City Council agenda packets, Open Space Advisory Board presentations, visitor education, public display, and grant applications

· Coordinates appraisals, surveys, environmental assessments, title work, and their associated contracts for real estate acquisitions and researches and assists with their analysis. Creates license agreements as necessary and handles encroachment issues.

2. Works with Parks, Recreation and Libraries on master plans, vegetation and wildlife inventories, baseline assessments, monitoring and management plans as required by granting organizations, and weed control, revegetation and restoration projects

· Coordinates conservation easement stewardship and monitoring

· Collects data using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and software; imports GPS data into existing database using GIS and GPS software

· Identify attributes to be associated with mapped features and link to features as data are collected, surveyed or drafted

· Conduct data analysis utilizing GIS tools to clarify and communicate spatial relationships and present results in a clear, appropriate, manner

· Partners with governmental and non-governmental agencies to obtain digital data for use in projects

3. Maintains and updates GIS data on trails, facilities, and properties; Assists with the development and implementation of work tracking and Asset Management processes
4. Conducts, training and supports others on best field collection needs for data development and maintenance
5. Helps review planning documents and submittals and attends technical review meetings to represent and address open space issues
6. Answers questions from the public regarding existing open space properties
7. Maintains regular and punctual attendance
Other Duties and Responsibilities
1. Maintains various open space related files and documents, including photographs
2. Performs regular fieldwork to collect data, determine location and value of land, assess condition of properties, vegetation and wildlife, and to photograph sites
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS/PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

· Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in landscape architecture, planning, environmental sciences, political science or related field with supplemental GIS courses preferred, OR

· Two year associate’s degree in these fields plus at least three years experience in this area of work with supplemental GIS courses or related real estate experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

Preferred:

· GIS Professional certification from the GIS Certification Institute

· Previous planning, park planning, real estate or open space management experience

· Previous experience in environmental sciences or landscape architecture

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Physical Requirements
Work requires sufficient physical stamina and strength for:

· Constant sitting to perform daily tasks; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods; frequent walking, sometimes for extended periods

· Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and material; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, material, and supplies

· Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment

· Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing and/or pulling of up to ten (10) pounds to move material and supplies; occasional lifting, pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds with dollies and carts

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed indoors and outdoors. This work consists of office and field activity. Must demonstrate the ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including the ability to retrieve information from various locations in the office when needed, and to drive and walk through various areas of the City. Exposure to periods of high activity and stress under demanding conditions. The position requires a great deal of communication with City employees, the public, and outside agencies.
Required Materials and Equipment
Operates a personal computer, telephones, plotter, and printer, fax machine, calculators, copy machines, printers and other standard office equipment. Operates digital photographic equipment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

· Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification

· Drug screen

· Must be legally entitled to work in the United States

Agency

City of Westminster, CO

Address

4800 West 92nd Avenue

Westminster, Colorado, 80031

Phone

303-658-2150

Website

http://www.cityofwestminster.us/jobs

Joe Reale

Open Space Superintendent

City of Westminster

4800 W. 92nd Avenue * Westminster, CO 80031

Office 303-658-2142

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” – John Muir