Category: Jobs – Internships/Co-ops

Weed Team Position for the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA)

If interested, please reply to Dr. Sigrid Resh, KISMA Coordinator, at this email (kisma.up@gmail.com) with a professional résumé, highlighting your experience and qualifications as related to the job description below.

General Information

KISMA is a partnership with 20 regional partners (Ottawa NF, NPS, DNR (multiple offices), KBIC, MNA, Michigan Tech, KLT, Gratiot Lake Conservancy, TNC, Molpus Timberlands Management, Baraga Iron CD, HKCD, MSU Extension, UPRC&D, Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association). Our mission is to facilitate cooperation and education among federal, state, tribal, and local groups and landowners in prevention and management of invasive species across land ownership boundaries within Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties.

Service Location: Keweenaw, Houghton, and Baraga Counties—working out of Houghton; will also likely travel to Marquette for additional training

Term of Service: ~320 hour term of service (at least 20 hours/week for 16 weeks), from mid-May through mid-September, occasional weekend work required

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Keep accurate, timely and detailed records of activities
• Prepare reports on work completed and log data collected
• Work professionally at all times with team members, community volunteers, and KISMA partners.
• Map invasive plant species in the tri-county area, using GPS unit, EpiCollect5, and MISIN (Midwest Invasive Species Information Network) app
• Co-lead invasive removal volunteer work days
• Conduct independent invasive removals and treatments on partner and private property (with permission) and along hiking trails, including mechanical removal and herbicide application, if licensed
• Conduct surveys of hiking trails for a targeted set of invasive plants, includes use of hand-held GPS.
• Assist with training volunteers on invasive plant identification and removal techniques
• Informally educate the public about invasive plants and recruit volunteers
• Properly use and care for tools and equipment and follow all safety precautions

Skills and Attributes Required:

• Must be organized, responsible and detail-oriented
• Must be able to conduct field work under all normal outdoor conditions (rainy, hot, windy, buggy)
• Must be able to hike 4 miles carrying up to 30 lbs of equipment over uneven and/or steep terrain
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Skills and Attributes:

• Teamwork skills and/or experience leading volunteers
• Hold and maintain a valid driver’s license
• Access to a reliable vehicle for transportation of self, tools, and supplies to field sites
• MI licensed pesticide applicator
• Ability to identify native and invasive vegetation of MI
• Experience using a hand-held GPS and GIS software
• Demonstrated outreach skills and teaching experience
• Backpacking experience, camping experience and/or outdoor field work experience

Benefits for Position:

• Work in the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula for $11/hour
• Experience with GPS use, invasive species identification
• Hone teamwork skills and experience leading volunteers
• Opportunity to network with many local park managers and environmental professionals.
• Opportunity to serve local communities and the public by making a difference in the environment and improving habitats in a tangible way

Additional Opportunities Possible:

• CPR certification may be arranged