Botanic Technician II – Green Infrastructure

The City of Portland is hiring a full-time Botanic Technician II for Green Infrastructure, focusing on the maintenance of vegetated green stormwater infrastructure. Responsibilities include outdoor physical labor, operation of equipment, public interaction, data entry, and project planning. The position requires teamwork and collaboration in various environmental projects, with work conducted year-round in all weather conditions. The role is based in Portland, OR, and not remote.
Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. 8-5, an alternate schedule may be available after probation.
Work Location: 2615A NW INDUSTRIAL ST, PORTLAND OR 97210-
Benefit: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.
Union Representation: Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is actively seeking a talented professional with experience in vegetated green stormwater infrastructure maintenance; including tree and vegetation planting, plant and weed ID, and assessment and improvement of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) function. This professional public servant will represent the City of Portland while working on a field-based team dedicated to maintenance of vegetated green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), including green street bioswales in the right of way and regional water quality facilities. This GSI maintenance team is the first of several teams, projected to be hired over the next several years in this growing program. The 4-person team works collaboratively and constructively together to maintain diverse GSI types such as green streets, rain gardens, and constructed stormwater ponds and wetlands. The team is comprised of three (4) Botanic Technician II – Green Infrastructure. All work occurs under the direction of a Supervisor and in close coordination with existing GSI site specialists (Botanic Specialist II).

In this role, your work will include:
• Physical labor such as planting, weeding, pruning, removal of sediment, trash (including biohazards and sharps), and leaves, irrigation (hand-watering), and lifting and carrying loads up to 50 lbs.
• Work outdoors, year-round in all weather conditions.
• Work within the roadway, utilizing proper traffic control and emphasizing worker and public safety.
• Operation of trucks, trailers, irrigation equipment, pumps, power tools, and hand tools typical of the landscape industry.
• Interpretation of work orders, GSI construction plans and details, and other technical GSI-related documents.
• Interact, educate, and assist members of the public, residents of properties adjacent to GSI as well as other community members and stakeholders.
• Data entry in Infor Public Sector CMMS asset management database.
• Take the lead in planning and implementation of project plans including estimation of material needs.
• Lead and plan logistics of work in collaboration with team partners and contracted service providers; including procurement and sourcing of tools and materials, making traffic control plans, and prioritization of work-flow.
• Monitoring and condition assessment inspections of GSI assets and special projects.
• Support other teams in Watershed Operations and Maintenance Division including EDRR herbicide application and monitoring and removal of target weed species.
• Lead and plan volunteer and educational events in collaboration with other work groups.
• Attend meetings and trainings.
• Uphold City of Portland Core Values in daily work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate Profile
A competitive candidate for the position of Botanic Technician II – Green Infrastructure will possess the qualifications/competencies identified in the Position Description above and the knowledge, skills, and abilities in this Ideal Candidate Profile. Please be sure to provide sufficient information in your responses to the supplemental questions and your resume to display to our subject matter experts the extent of your qualifications. All BES employees are expected to provide excellent customer service in an equitable manner to meet the needs of the City of Portland's community. BIPOC, Bi-lingual/Bi-cultural candidates are encouraged to apply.

This classification is represented by Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17). To view this labor agreement, please go toPROTEC17 2022-2025.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are reimagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:
• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov
Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

Have a question?
Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
Terrol.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov

Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate in their resume and responses to the supplemental questions how their education, training and/or experience, meets each of the following:
• Knowledge of practices, methods, and techniques of operations and maintenance of vegetated green infrastructure and natural areas.
• Experience with the operation of hand tools, small power equipment, and work vehicles, including piloting of trailers.
• Knowledge of native plants and other species typically planted in vegetated green infrastructure and natural areas and non-native plants and other weeds commonly found in vegetated green infrastructure, natural areas, and adjacent areas.
• Ability to work safely and promote a safety ethic among fellow crew members.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, solve problems, and work constructively in a team environment.
STEP 1: Apply online between February 24, 2025 and March 17, 2025

Required Application Materials:
• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials:
• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc) by the closing date of the recruitment.
Application Tips:
• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note,all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of March 17, 2025
• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of March 24, 2025
• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
• Please note, the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.
Step 4: Selection (Interview): TBD
• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.
• Please note, the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.
Step 5: Offer of Employment: TBD

Step 6: Start Date:
• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
• Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information:
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer