Position Description
About Harris County Flood Control District:
The Flood Control District has the mission to reduce the risk of flooding in Harris County, the third most populated county in the United States, with a population in excess of 4.7 million, including the City of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city. The Flood Control District has jurisdiction over the primary stormwater facilities in the county, which consist of approximately 1,500 channels totaling nearly 2,500 miles in length, as well as more than 60 regional stormwater detention basins, totaling more than 10,000 acres and several wetlands mitigation banks including Greens bayou.
What you will do at Harris County Flood Control District:
The Harris County Flood Control District (District) is seeking interns to join our Vegetation Management team who will work closely with the Department’s staff forester in connection with the District’s tree inventory/assessment program.
This 12-week paid internship program will provide candidates with an exciting opportunity to learn real-world experience and gain clarity on their ideal career path. Working with our organization will also offer the opportunity to contribute to various community development initiatives.
Essential Functions & Duties:
• Travel to project locations throughout Harris County.
• Collect tree data on newly planted sites, such as species and dbh. height, general condition, and other pertinent information.
• Transfer field-collected data to the tree database and produce reports based on that data.
• Assist the department’s staff forester in the identification of desirable species to be saved during selective clearing operations.
• Assist with department projects, as needed.
• Attend department and division meetings.
• Assume additional responsibilities as required, adapting to the evolving demands, responsibilities, needs, and objectives of the District.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net .
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Education:
• A minimum of two years of college-level Forestry, Botany, or Horticulture with strong emphasis on tree and plant identification.
Licensure:
• Valid Class "C" Texas Driver’s License.
Knowledge Skills, and Abilities:
• Must be able to identify common tree species of Southeast Texas and have a general understanding of the silvical characteristics of those species.
• Must be able to read and comprehend written material such as safety cautions/warnings, maps, traffic signs, operating instructions, and work procedures.
• Strong skills using Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Work independently with limited supervision, relative autonomy, and general review.
• Be a self-starter; assume ownership in completing assigned tasks.
• Work well under pressure, adhering to tight deadlines and accuracy/quality standards.
• Work well in an outdoor environment.
• Utilize good time management skills and effectively prioritize and schedule multiple tasks/initiatives.
• Effectively communicate with coworkers, the public, the industry, and/or governmental representatives.
• Solve mathematical problems that may be required in normal work situations.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Experience:
• Experience using a field GPS data collection unit . (preferred)
General Information
Position Type:
• Regular Full-Time / Summer Internship
Hours:
• 40 hours per week
Location:
• Facilities Maintenance | 7522 Prairie Oak Drive Houston, TX 77086
Salary:
• To be discussed at the interview
Physical Demands & Environmental Exposure:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
• Frequent stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying of items up to 11 pounds and occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
• Frequent driving of a vehicle with automatic controls and four-wheel drive.
• Occasional walking up and down steep slopes of ditches or on rough and uneven surfaces or ground such as sloping terrains, plowed or furrowed areas, or construction sites.
• Approximately 85% of duties are performed outdoors, where there will be routine exposure to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind and dust, wildlife, and flying/walking insects.
• When at field locations, may be exposed to vibration and/or noise more than 85 decibels.
• Approximately 15% of duties are performed indoors in a normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, air conditioning, and noise levels.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
