Field Resource Specialist (20543513)

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) has an excellent career opportunity for an experienced and motivated Field Resource Specialist who will plan, organize, manage, oversee, and participate in the implementation of vegetation management, fuel reduction, and natural resource protection and restoration projects on Midpen lands. The Field Resource Specialist participates in long-term and short-term project planning, grant application and administration, coordinates assigned activities with other Midpen departments and outside agencies. This position will supervise staff and will direct consultants, contractors, and volunteers to assist in completing this work. Supervisory and administrative tasks will include budgeting, project management, setting priorities, and providing guidance to multi-disciplinary teams. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative with excellent oral and written communication skills, understands ecological systems, and can implement land management practices accordingly. 

About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.  If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position!  Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

Midpen has one vacancy for the position of Field Resource Specialist. The start date for this position is December 2024.

• Field Resource Specialist will report to the Foothills Field Office (FFO) in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Cupertino, CA, to the Foothills Area Manager.

About the Position:   The Field Resource Specialist is an exempt/salaried position, which is responsible for administering the principles and practices of public land management including: open space or undeveloped park maintenance, resource management including resource protection, managing budgets, prioritizing work tasks, and responding to public; stakeholder agencies; and other department inquiries. The Field Resource Specialist directs the day-to-day implementation of fuel reduction and vegetation management goals of Midpen’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program. The Field Resource Specialist will support Midpen’s utilization of contractors and act as a point of contact for a wide variety of vegetation maintenance and management tasks. The successful performance of this work will require a working knowledge of a broad range of resource management trades and technical principles, as well as a professional background and the ability to coordinate work with other Midpen departments.  Candidates with background in fire risk prevention activities and vegetation management trades are desirable. For additional information about the Field Resource Specialist position, see the Job Description page on our website. 

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• ‘Joint Resource Workdays’ allow all district staff to get involved and work together on a variety of maintenance,  resource management, habitat restoration and capital improvement projects. 

Work Environment:  This position is part of the Land and Facilities Services Department assigned to a field office and will work primarily in the Foothill office in Rancho San Antonio Preserve, Cupertino, and will visit Midpen field sites. When conducting field assignments, work may include traversing rough, difficult terrain in inclement or hot weather with exposure to poison oak. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working in these types of conditions, as well as in an office environment. Positions in this classification must possess the ability to lift and carry materials and objects weighing up to 60 pounds and must possess the ability to push and pull objects weighing up to 100 pounds, with the use of proper equipment.  Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Following onboarding and successfully meeting job performance expectations, may be eligible for the flexible work program which includes 9/80 schedules. Current work schedule is Monday to Friday, 7am to 4:30pm, recurring 9/80 Monday day off.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.

Education and Experience:  Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:   

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in environmental design, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, park administration or a related field, and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in project management preferably in parks, open space, or a related field including one (1) year of supervisory responsibility. 

Licenses & Certifications Required:    

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Professional Rescuer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of employment.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid First Responder or equivalent certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, the level of certification in the Incident Command System courses as specified under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) within 12 months of employment.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a District approved Fire Suppression Training certification within 12 months of employment.
• Depending on assignment, possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Qualified Applicators Certificate with Landscape Maintenance (Category B) for pesticide application within twelve (12) months of employment.
• Possession of a valid California Class A or B Driver License and required endorsements is desirable.

Benefits: Midpen provides a competitive benefits package including health, life and disability insurance, CalPERS pension and paid leaves. Detailed information is available on the Benefits page of our website.

How to Apply: apply online at CalOpps.org.

(To avoid missing email communication regarding your status in this recruitment, add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders).

Application deadline is Sunday, October 6, 2024.  Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Cover letter 

3. Resume 

4. Supplemental question responses

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

Interview Schedule (we are unable to accommodate individual schedules):

First interview (virtual):  Thursday, October 24, 2024

Written Exercise (virtual):  Monday, October 28, 2024

Final interview (in-person):  Tuesday, November 5, 2024

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department at

(650) 691-1200 or via email at hr@openspace.org.

Put your passion for Open Space to work!