Iowa Roadside Vegetation Manager
Back to Job List| Posted | 01/26/2026 |
|---|---|
| County | Dickinson |
| Location | Milford, Iowa |
| Salary | $60,000 - $67,000 DOE with county benefits |
| Deadline | 02/24/2026 |
Description
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Manager (IRVM) FLSA: Nonexempt (Fulltime)
Supervision: Executive Director Updated 2-22-2022
Program employs: 2 fulltime, 1 part time, 1 seasonal
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
Duties shall include the general implementation of activities associated with all aspects of vegetation management within county secondary road rights-of-way (ROW). Work activities focus on the continued maintenance and development of safe travel corridors for vehicles, as well as biological management of desired vegetation types along those ROWs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. It is the responsibility of the Dickinson County IRVM program to perform the following duties within the county secondary road ROWs
a. Maintain roadside vegetation using various treatment methods, including but not limited to, mechanical removal, mowing, prescribed burning, chemical application, and overseeding
b. Direct IRVM staff in the implementation of the county’s IRVM plan
c. Conduct annual spot spraying of herbaceous noxious weeds on 100% of county rights-of-way, as well as brush spraying on 50% of county rights-of-way
d. Plan and safely implement prescribed burns
e. Communicate with conservation staff, secondary roads staff, and the county engineer’s office on work and equipment needs, as well as planned projects
f. Maintain herbicide records and records of work completed and annually report work accomplishments to the County Conservation Director
2. It is also the responsibility of the IRVM program to restore native vegetation in the county’s secondary road ROWs
a. Continue the implementation of annually restoring 3% of the county’s rights-of-way to native prairie
b. Request seed and report planting of said seed through the Tallgrass Prairie Center
c. Prepare site, plant seed, and maintain post emergence management on all seedings including but not limited to, mowing, overspraying, and burning to maintain the health of native vegetation
d. Utilize hydroseeding, drilling, and broadcast seeding to accomplish necessary plantings
e. Maintain inventory of sections of remnant prairie within rights-of-way and restore those populations when possible
3. It is also the responsibility of the IRVM program to remove trees and brush from the county’s secondary road ROWs to maintain safe travel routes
a. Communicate with the secondary roads department to prioritize areas of greatest need
4. It is also the responsibility of the Dickinson County IRVM Manager to be appointed as the Dickinson County Weed Commissioner
a. Field phone calls from the public about weed complaints within Dickinson County limits
b. Supervise the control and destruction of all noxious weeds in the county, including those growing within city limits, abandoned cemeteries, and in all road rights-of-way
c. Present an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the state of noxious weeds within the county, as well as pass an annual weed resolution on controlling noxious weeds in Dickinson County
5. Assist with projects and perform other tasks as assigned by the Conservation Director
6. Inform the Conservation Director of situations needing attention in regards to: ROW/managed area safety, equipment problems/safety, and any other potential risk situations
7. Assist with continued inventory and data collection for prairie remnants, noxious weed areas, and woody vegetation encroachment sites
8. Train IRVM staff and seasonal staff on equipment and personal safety, plant identification, management practices, and other topics as they arise
9. Develop educational materials related to IRVM and present as needed
10. Submit grant applications to the Living Roadway Trust Fund and other funding opportunities to secure funds for equipment and management projects within the ROW
11. Assist with and perform scheduled and non-scheduled routine equipment and facility maintenance
The
requirements and duties listed above are not to be construed as a complete
statement of all duties performed. Employee will be required to perform other
job related duties as required.
ESSENTIAL EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION AND/OR LICENSES:
Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science field such as wildlife, forestry, botany, natural resource management, or other similar fields, and at least 2 years of natural resource field experience
A valid Iowa Department of Agricultural Pesticide License in category 6 (Right-of-Way), category 2 (Forestry), and category 1A (Agriculture) Minimum wildland fire training of NWCG S130/190 certification
CPR, First Aid, AED certification
A valid Iowa Driver’s License
ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.
Attendance at work is an essential function of this position. Position requires a considerable amount of physical activity while assisting with natural resource programs, including extended periods of sitting, standing, kneeling, bending, crouching, reaching, stooping and climbing. Duties may require the ability to walk for extended periods and the incumbent must have the ability to maneuver over uneven ground. An incumbent must also have the ability to transport themselves to and from various locations throughout the county parks and surrounding jurisdictions. Duties also require the ability to tolerate an indoor and outdoor work environment that includes contact with dirt, dust and sun exposure.
An incumbent must have the ability to frequently lift, push, pull and/or carry equipment, supplies and other materials weighing up to 50 lbs., and to occasionally lift, push, pull and/or carry equipment, supplies and other materials weighing up to 75 lbs. An incumbent must also possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to use hands and arms to reach, finger, handle, grasp, and feel, and operate the following: vehicles, computers, and any other pieces of equipment that are used to perform the essential functions of the job. Work hours may be required before or after business hours. Vision abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges.
Work requires interaction with the public and may be stressful when dealing with time constraints.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science field such as wildlife, forestry, botany, natural resource management, or other similar fields, and at least 2 years of natural resource field experience
To Apply
Submit an official Dickinson County job application, and resume, and three references:
Lee Sorenson, Director
Lsorenson@dickinsoncountyiowa.gov
More Information
https://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/employment-application/
