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Senior Ecologist - DPW-Stormwater Engineering

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Senior Ecologist - DPW-Stormwater Engineering

Location

City County Building, IN

Job Type

Full-time/Seasonal/Temp

Job Number

09517

Department

Department of Public Works Engineering - Water

Opening Date

12/16/2025

Closing Date

3/15/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Overview

********************This is a third-party position . The selected individual will be employed by Knowledge Services , not directly by the City of Indianapolis. Knowledge Services is a workforce management and solutions company headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, with more than 25 years of experience. All employment benefits will be

provided through Knowledge Services.**********************

Agency Summary

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) aims to improve residents’ quality of life through bettering public spaces and infrastructure, and through providing excellent public services. With a focus on multi-modal connectivity, thriving green spaces, meaningful capital improvements, universal accessibility, and collaborative public and private partnerships, DPW builds and maintains public infrastructure and park land; manages solid waste collection; and keeps the City’s entire vehicle fleet rolling. One of the largest city agencies, “Team DPW” commits itself to effective efficient customer service for residents and visitors to Indianapolis. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Job Summary

Position is responsible for managing specified natural areas by implementing ecological restoration prescriptions to improve native biodiversity of flora and fauna according to Land Stewardship’s core values, policy and best management practices. Incumbent also works in the field and is responsible for monitoring sites, collecting data and keeping accurate records related to resource management and budget. Position must follow established City policies and procedures. Independent judgment is utilized when there are no available policies and procedures or risk of bodily injury or property damage. Position reports to the Land Stewardship Manager. This is a grant funded term position not to exceed five (5) years or the grant completion date, whichever occurs first.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer . All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

Position Responsibilities

+ Coordinates grant activities to restore urban natural areas through invasive species control and native plantings

+ Plans volunteer workdays and community engagement related to natural area restoration

+ Monitors grant locations to ensure successful outcomes and quality assurance of restoration activities

+ Helps implement natural area restoration including woodland and wetland restorations, prairie plantings, reforestation projects, and associated non-native, invasive vegetation control

+ Prescribes work plan and technical specifications for staff ecologists, contractors, and site stewards

+ Schedules work, gives technical clarification, and determines or evaluates project goals and objectives

+ Completes tasks associated with ecological restoration including invasive species control, native plant and seed installation and trail maintenance

+ Meets on site with consultants, partners and volunteers as needed for stewardship projects

+ Works in the field with chemical application and power tools and is responsible for collecting data and records for accurate data management

+ Performs Early Detection Rapid Response control and reports on new invasive species to shared invasive species databases

+ Uses GIS/GPS, interprets remote sensing and associated technologies to collect, record, track and manage data relating to natural area restoration, natural resource management or related park and city projects

+ Performs inventories to locate high quality natural communities and rare plants and animals

+ Establishes baseline data and monitoring methods. This may be designed in partnership with qualified technical staff

+ Assists with flora and fauna surveys using appropriate sample plots and statistical analysis to determine the efficacy of ecological restoration programs

+ Designs projects in partnership with qualified technical staff in academia

+ Trains, coordinates, and supervises Ecologists, seasonal workers, and other volunteers, including service-learning programs and workdays

+ Collaborates with other city departments and outside groups on grant procurement and implementation

+ Delivers presentations to public groups and at professional conferences

+ Follows safety protocols to avoid workplace injuries and trains volunteers on safe work practices

+ Designs and updates protocols for sound data archiving and efficient retrieval

+ Works with budgeting procedures, grant project reporting and city procurement system

+ Coordinates data and information preparation, formatting, and submittal to the Land Stewardship Manager for reporting progress and related initiatives to Senior Administrators

+ Assists with environmental review process and new restoration initiatives with the Land Stewardship Manager or Department Administrators

+ Must maintain confidentiality at all times

+ This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources or a related field and five (5) years of restoration experience required.

Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the natural history of Central Indiana and have skills in native and invasive plant identification and control. Must have excellent writing and verbal communication skills and ability to learn new computer programs and software applications including MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Publisher. A working knowledge of GIS applications specifically ArcGIS, and Trimble GPS hardware and software programs. Must be self-motivated and be capable of working with minimal supervision. Must be able to obtain Indiana Commercial Pesticide Applicator License for Category 6 or approved equivalent. Requires lifting up to fifty pounds. Fieldwork may include the use of hand and power tools such as chainsaws, brush cutters, augers, herbicide sprayers, etc. Valid driver’s license is also required.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Experience in practices similar or the same to the operations and data collections and purchasing systems at the city are preferred. Indiana Commercial Pesticide Applicator License for Category 6 or approved equivalent. S-130, S-190, and I-100 fire suppression training or approved equivalent certification is preferred. Includes minimum requirements.