Washington County Habitat Technician – Bilingual (Spanish/English)

About Backyard Habitat:

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) is a collaboration between Columbia Land Trust and Portland Audubon that has been operating since 2009. BHCP works in Multnomah, Clackamas, Clark, and Washington counties. The program provides incentives, resources, and recognition to participants to restore native habitat. Partnering with diverse communities and reducing barriers to this work are core focus areas of the program. Through our collective efforts to revitalize urban landscapes we make our region a healthier place, for ourselves and for wildlife. Our Backyard Habitat community is 10,400+ strong and growing every day.

To learn more, visit https://backyardhabitats.org/.

SUMMARY

The Habitat Technician will support our work throughout Washington County, with occasional work in Multnomah County. As a technician, your primary role would include 1) scheduling and meeting with participants at their property to talk about their interests and how those overlap with the five elements of the program (removing priority weeds, planting native plants, managing rainwater on site, reducing the use of pesticides, and supporting wildlife), 2) making recommendations based on the needs of the property and participant, 3) entering site data into a database, and 4) writing and sending the participant a Site Report. As a technician, you would represent both Portland Audubon and Columbia Land Trust during all work associated with the program.

This is an exciting position for somebody interested in being an essential part of an innovative program to transform urban landscapes, engage diverse communities in conservation, and become a part of two of the most effective conservation organizations in the region. This independent contractor position will be employed by Columbia Land Trust but will provide services on behalf of, and represent, both Columbia Land Trust and Portland Audubon in implementing the program.

Essential Duties:

• Schedule and provide site visits with participants
• Create and submit written site reports with recommendations for creating habitat
• Certify properties that meet program criteria as part of the site visit
• Enter property data into the BHCP database
•  Ability to provide site visits, outreach, and written site reports in Spanish as well as English (Native Spanish speakers preferred)
•  Submit monthly invoice to Columbia Land Trust
• Place follow-up phone calls to participants 6 months after site visit
• Attend monthly BHCP technician meetings, as able
• Support at outreach events, as agreed upon

Preferred Skills & Experience

The following are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed to perform the duties of the job. Some experience with one or

more of the following is preferred, with some training available to help build on existing skills to reach skill level needed. Accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Two or more years working in landscape design or maintenance, environmental education, restoration, conservation, or similar field (candidates are invited to demonstrate professional and related life experience)
• Experience with some or all of the program components: native plants, noxious weeds, wildlife stewardship, stormwater management, pesticide reduction
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated cultural competency and experience working with diverse populations, including communities of color, immigrants, and underserved communities
• Highly organized, with ability to self-manage time and responsibilities
• Ability to enter site data into database software and create site report in Word
• Ability to schedule site visits via email or phone and track scheduled visits

Applicants will need to have a computer with internet access, a car and current driver’s license, and personal vehicle insurance minimum coverage of $300,000 combined single limit liability.

Contractor will need to submit itemized invoices as work is completed and expenses are incurred, no more regularly than one per calendar month and the Columbia Land Trust will pay the invoice within 30 days after receipt.

Contractor will be an independent contractor and not an employee of Columbia Land Trust. Contractor is not entitled to participate in any benefit program provided by Land Trust to its employees.

Contractor will be solely responsible for paying to the appropriate authorities all taxes, including FICA and other payroll taxes, contributions, fees, interests, or penalties imposed or required under any federal, state or local income, excise, or employment tax laws with respect to Contractor's performance of this Agreement.

About Columbia Land Trust:

Columbia Land Trust is dedicated to conserving and caring for the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Columbia River region through sound science and strong relationships. In its first 30+ years, Columbia Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 55,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat, forestland, and farmland, and has restored thousands of acres to benefit wildlife and communities. Central to our work is a commitment to advancing a more inclusive, equitable conservation movement and building relationships to achieve cooperative conservation solutions, as is demonstrated by our deep investment in the East Cascades Oak Partnership.

Columbia Land Trust’s headquarters are located on the historic Fort Vancouver campus near downtown Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. Additional Land Trust offices are located in Astoria, Oregon, and White Salmon, Washington. This position will be primarily based out of our Vancouver, Washington office. For more information, please visit www.columbialandtrust.org.

About Portland Audubon:

Portland Audubon has been a leading voice in conservation for over a century. Through collaboration with a vast network of advocates, nature enthusiasts, and partners, we inspire and connect people to nature through a variety of programs that are grounded in science and learning. We are located in a 172-acre wildlife sanctuary in Forest Park, just minutes from downtown Portland.

Portland Audubon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, reflecting the diversity of our community in its board, staff, volunteers, and members; ensuring its internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance its diversity goals; and empowering staff to make positive changes in their environment and in Portland Audubon’s culture.

More background on our diversity efforts can be found at http:// audubonportland.org/about.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Columbia Land Trust and Portland Audubon both hold diversity, equity, and inclusion as core organizational values and are committed to building diverse and inclusive environments that reflect the diversity of our region (Columbia Land Trust’s Equity Commitments and Portland Audubon’s Diversity Statement). We encourage Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and people from groups who are underrepresented in conservation spaces to apply. Candidates with multiple language skills are strongly encouraged to apply.