Do you have a desire to help protect Montgomery Parks’ natural resources by engaging the community? Want to put your organizational talents and attention-to-detail to good use? Have an interest in native habitats and non-native, invasive plants? If this sounds like a good fit for you, then Montgomery Parks welcomes you to apply to become one of the team. 
 
Montgomery Parks is seeking a capable and people-oriented person to assist in the management of a corps of passionate and engaged volunteers who combat non-native, invasive plants and restore degraded habitats. In addition to being willing and able to learn new things, the candidate should be flexible, friendly, and approachable as most of this work will include interaction with the public. 
 
Under the supervision of the Department’s Weed Warrior Volunteer Program Manager, the incumbent will support day-to-day administration of associated projects for non-native, invasive plant management and Weed Warriors, including database management, responding to existing/interested volunteer inquiries, organizing training materials, and assisting with training events and site evaluation and monitoring. This employee will work with staff, train volunteers, and work with organized groups, including corporate and student teams. This position may require occasional weekend and evening work.
 
The Weed Warrior Program Assistant will go through all the steps to become a Certified Weed Warrior and Weed Warrior Supervisor, so they will be able to appropriately answer volunteers’ questions and coordinate and lead events. This entails learning about (and being able to explain) non-native, invasive plants, including how to identify them in the field and how to use approved manual plant removal techniques.
 
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a six-time National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, has a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees and serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in the Washington, DC area. We manage 421 parks on more than 37,000 acres of parkland. Go to the website to learn more: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/ 
 
DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Montgomery County Department of Parks believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success. Montgomery County Parks does not make hiring decisions based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, political affiliation, or ideology or status as a Veteran.

Office Duties 

• Maintain and update detailed volunteer records using computer software, including Excel and the Montgomery Parks Volunteer Services Office’s Samaritan database.
• Learn about and be able to explain the Montgomery Parks Volunteer protocols.
• Manage and add events to the internal Weed Warrior Outlook calendar to ensure all relevant Parks departments are aware of Weed Warrior events.
• Assist volunteers with the online training e-courses.
• Help volunteers register for Weed Warrior Workdays and events, using the Samaritan database.
• Answer questions about the Weed Warrior Certification program and certification requirements.
• Correspond with the public regarding natural resources related issues via email, phone, and Microsoft Teams.
• Write articles for the Quarterly Weed Warrior Newsletter.
• Maintain and update the tool inventory spreadsheet.

• Prep for, attend, and assist during and after Weed Warrior in-person trainings and appreciation events.
• Drive a Montgomery Parks vehicle and help with plant and tool delivery.
• Help volunteers with the new GIS-based vegetation monitoring phone app. 
• Train volunteers how to identify native and non-native, invasive plants.
• Train volunteers how to safely control target plant species via manual methods.
• Coordinate, attend, and fully lead Weed Warrior events in parks throughout the county, as needed.  
• Properly and safely control non-native, invasive plants in parks throughout the county, as needed.
• Assist with vegetation management surveys and inventories, as needed, using handheld GIS applications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resource management, environmental science, forestry, wildlife management, or related field; and
• One year of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid driver’s license, or the ability to acquire one.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and the public.

• Excellent writing, organization, word processing, and computer skills.
• General competency for personal computer use, including the Microsoft Office suite and advanced familiarity of Office Outlook.
• Ability to work with computer programs for multiple hours at a time.
• Ability to complete tasks both independently and under minimum supervision as part of a team, while following direction.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail and work within deadlines.
• Excellent people skills.
• Experience with databases and program management.
• Familiarity with non-native, invasive plant impact, identification, and/or management.
• Basic familiarity with handheld GIS applications.
• Knowledge and experience working in Montgomery County, including familiarity of Montgomery County and Montgomery Parks.
• Experience working with, coordinating, and supervising volunteers or community members.

• The job classification and pay rate will be determined commensurate with experience.
• Much of this position is administrative work, with some time outside in the parks.
• This position is based out of the Montgomery Parks Wheaton Headquarters office.
• This is a 12-month position with an opportunity to extend annually. 
• This position includes limited coverage under M-NCPPC’s benefits package. 
• Flexible work schedule is Monday to Friday, occasional weekends (5 days a week). Hours are a minimum 30 hours a week - maximum 37.5 hours a week.
• Work Conditions: Works in office and the field. Exposed to weather and outdoor hazards.
• A criminal background check is required prior to employment.

1. To be considered, please complete the entire application, including the supplemental questions. 
2. Upload a cover letter as part of the submission.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.