Position Objective
Performs work developing and implementing countywide Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention, communication, education, early detection, and response plans. Providing in-field AIS Inspector monitoring, training, guidance, coordination, and support. Assisting with environment and natural resource activities and general administrative office duties within Chisago County. Work is performed under the supervision of the Water Resource Manager and direction of the Director of Environmental Services.

Supervision may be exercised over parttime/seasonal assigned personnel.

Essential Functions
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Develop and implement countywide Aquatic Invasive Species prevention, communication, education, early detection, and response plans and programs.
• Research and convey AIS rules and regulations to the public. Maintain, develop, and coordinate related communication and education campaigns, plans, and materials.
• Actively develop and maintain AIS partnerships and collaborations with nearby counties, watershed districts, lake associations, and other stakeholder groups.
• Conduct ongoing assessments of AIS programming effectiveness and implement improvements.
• Maintain, develop, coordinate, and staff water resource educational booths at local venues, festivals, and lake association meetings.
• Identify and collaborate with bait shops, pet stores, fishing groups, and other stakeholders to promote AIS prevention.
• Partner with Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership affiliated water quality organizations and stakeholders to share, create, and disseminate consistent regional AIS resources and messaging.
• Create and present informational materials to community groups, such as schools and lake associations.
• Partner with volunteers and stakeholders to develop and coordinate AIS detection and monitoring programs. Maintain and distribute necessary supplies to volunteers.
• Conduct early detection and baseline AIS monitoring at public water accesses.
• Assist with analysis of program data and preparation of annual reporting materials.
• Assist with aquatic plant point-intercept surveys, eDNA sampling, zebra mussel and spiny waterflea tows, and other early detection activities.
• Provide in-field AIS Inspector monitoring, training, guidance, coordination, and supervisory support.
• Provide regular communication and field support to Inspectors.
• Assist Inspectors in educating the public on AIS threats, prevention methods, and resources.
• Work in partnership with the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department and DNR AIS Program.
• Operate and facilitate maintenance/winterization of AIS equipment including decontamination unit, boat, vehicles, and trailers.
• Distribute, collect, inventory, and order Inspector supplies and uniforms.
• Assist with orientations and monthly Inspector meetings.
• Lead in-field trainings, inspections, and decontaminations as needed.
• Assist with environment and natural resource activities within Chisago County.
• Assist with seasonal water quality monitoring and coordinate the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Maintain lake level gauges, monitor weekly for slow-no-wake ordinance restrictions, and report levels to the DNR and the public.
• Attend and provide updates at regional and statewide partner meetings.
• Serve on the Children’s Water Festival Planning Committee, present at the festival, and assist with festival organization and coordination.
• Assist with general administrative office and meeting facilitation duties of the Water Plan Policy Team; Processing and tracking of program expenses.
• Perform other related tasks and duties as may be assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good organizational skills and detail oriented.
• Sound understanding of customer relations.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work well with the public as well as with diverse people in a team environment.
• Knowledge of different county and local agencies and their relationships to each other.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle, boat/trailer, and decontamination unit.
• Ability to develop new programs and policies to further common goals.

Desired Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in an Environmental, Natural Resources, or related field and moderate experience, or a combination of equivalent education and experience. Two years’ experience as a watercraft inspector and/or AIS field work experience. Computer/word processing, data management and analysis skills.

Special Qualifications
Valid driver’s license in the State of Minnesota.

Tools and Equipment Used
Car, boat, trailer, decontamination unit, phone, computer, calculator, copy machine, survey recorder, PowerPoint projector.

Working Conditions
The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
• This classification regularly involves physical agility requirements such as: climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
• Sensory requirements include close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing ideas by means of the spoken word; and hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting, small group meetings, driving or traveling to occasional public hearings or meeting; field settings such as public water accesses, lakes, streams, wetlands, constructions sites, and ditches.
• Employee will encounter conditions based on the weather. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in the office and in the field.

Physical Exertion (Pounds)
Up to 10
Regular

Up to 25
Regular

Up to 50
Occasional

Up to 100
Occasional

100 or more
Seldom

Applicants for appointment to this position will be required to submit a formal application and may be subject to rating of education and experience, oral interview and/or reference check, background investigation, criminal history check, drug testing. Job related tests may be required of any applicant.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee as is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.