NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Imagine a role where your expertise directly shapes the future health, resilience, and ecological integrity of an entire county. This is more than a field-based mapping position—it is a unique opportunity to become a key contributor to Kitsap County’s long-term strategy for managing invasive species, protecting natural resources, and supporting compliance with state noxious weed control requirements. Through a combination of field investigation, geospatial analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic reporting, you will generate the critical information that guides resource allocation and informs countywide environmental decision-making.

For professionals seeking meaningful career growth, this position provides an outstanding platform to expand technical expertise, strengthen project management and communication skills, and contribute to high-priority environmental initiatives. Your efforts will improve the County’s ability to manage invasive species, enhance the accuracy of critical environmental data, and support informed conservation decisions that benefit Kitsap County for years to come. If you are passionate about environmental stewardship, enjoy solving complex challenges in the field, and want your work to make a measurable difference, this is an exceptional opportunity to leave a lasting mark on your community.

As the Noxious Weed Control Program Specialist, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Conduct field surveys of public and private property to map locations of noxious weeds
• Identify unknown plant specimens to species using dichotomous keys, field guides and plant ID apps
• Collect, import, inspect, edit, and export geospatial data
• Create maps for reporting, public outreach and/or use during data collection
• Collect plant specimens using standard herbarium voucher techniques
• Conduct community outreach at public events
• Prioritize lands for surveying given limited time, resources, and prior information
• Interpret technical information about noxious weed control for private landowners, public land managers, policy makers and other non-experts
• Provide consultation on noxious weed control and plant ecology
• Track project progress, deliverables, and reporting 
• Compile, synthesize, and analyze spatial data to support development of technical memoranda, reports, and maps 
• Prepare and format project materials, briefings, and presentations for decision-makers, partners, and the public 
• Manage digital records, ensuring information is accurate, accessible, and well-organized 
• Support outreach and engagement activities, including planning events, preparing communications materials, and incorporating stakeholder feedback 
• Coordinate with Noxious Weed Control Board, internal staff, and external partners to ensure project milestones and objectives are met 

What you bring:

         Educational/Professional Excellence: 

• Associate’s degree in botany, forestry, plant ecology, natural resource management, or a field closely related to the program, from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education AND 2 years of support experience closely related to the program OR
• 4 years of support experience closely related to the program
  
  Specialized Expertise:
• Experience working for a government or non-profit organization, as well as experience in using GIS mapping software and tools.
  
  Communication/Interpersonal Skills:
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage with internal staff, the community, and board members.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for reports and community presentations.
  
  Additional Preferred Qualifications:
• Four-year degree in botany, forestry, plant ecology, natural resource management, or an associated field.

For the complete job description: https://www.kitsap.gov/hr/JobClassifications/Noxious%20Weed%20Program%20Specialist.pdf

For more information about Community Development, visit: Department of Community Development

• Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public.  Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms.  The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
• This position is classified as eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals.   Please contact Human Resources if you have questions.

Application Requirements

All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.

To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role.  Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:  

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. 
• Criminal Conviction Standards: 
  • The successful incumbent will or may have unsupervised access to children under 18 years of age, a vulnerable adult, or a vulnerable person, or access to a secured/confidential facility or computer system(s). As a result, Kitsap County will be conducting an extensive criminal background check by law enforcement agencies, which may include fingerprinting. 

Driving Requirements

The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment.  The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver’s License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy. This position is categorized as:

Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle. 
Category 2: Driver operates a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business.

• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position, and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
• Work schedule for this position is 40 hour-per-week; position will be flexible within the normal DCD office hours of 8am until 4:30pm, based on approval of supervisor.
• Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.