Backpack Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields with dedication, a creative spirit, and a vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties worldwide and are devoted to fostering a community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. Here, you can apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental professionals on work that's vital to our clients and the communities they serve.
Join a team that's naturally committed to the environment.
Your Opportunity
Join Stantec's Restoration Services team in the Sarasota/Manatee/Hillsborough County area to help manage nuisance and exotic vegetation in wetlands, water conversation areas, stormwater treatment areas, canals, and conservation lands. Enjoy exploring Florida's beautiful outdoor and backcountry adventures? Stantec is willing to train reliable individuals with the right attitude to make working at Stantec their career. Daily work tasks include traversing natural areas via truck, UTV, and/or on foot treating nuisance and invasive vegetation, installing native plants, or other activities necessary for ecological restoration projects. Projects will involve plant identification, assisting with herbicide mixing and/or application of targeted vegetation, installation of various native plant species, and working with various gas powered and manual hand tools. A typical workday consists of 10 hours days, four days per week, with one day remaining for weather delays. While not typical, this position may require overnight travel (lodging and per diem covered by Stantec).
Your Key Responsibilities

• Implementing restoration project work at the ground level under the direction of a Field Supervisor or Project Manager
• Herbicide application to targeted nuisance/exotic plants using an UTV, boat, backpack, or airboat
• Native planting, erosion control installation, or any other activities necessary with field implementation of ecological restoration projects
• Compliance with all company and client safety requirements
• Follow corporate policies, operate through the proper management channels, and act in the best interest of the company

Capabilities and Credentials
While Stantec provides on the job training for the position described above, the following experience is a plus:
• Experience in native and invasive species plant identification
• Experience working or recreating in Florida natural areas
• Experience operating equipment such as ATVs/UTVs, swamp buggies, airboats, tractors, chippers, and skid steers
• Experience with herbicide mixing, application, and application equipment
• Experience in ecological restoration techniques
• Experience in map reading, GIS, and operating a GPS
• Standard First Aid, CPR, and Red Card
• Experience in boat operation
• Experience operating basic hand tools and smaller equipment such as backpack sprayers, augers, chainsaws, and brushcutters
• Availability and willingness to travel overnight 10% of the time
• Ability to traverse wet and rugged terrain in diverse, sometimes inclement, weather conditions while carrying heavy loads
• Willingness to work in a culture where safety is at the forefront of all operations
Education and Experience

• High School Diploma, Technical Diploma or equivalent education/experience

Technicians will be given the opportunity to obtain Commercial Pesticide Applicator's Certifications in Natural Areas, Aquatic, and Right-of-way categories.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what's previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what's possible.
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Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements
Primary Location: United States | FL | Sarasota
Other Locations: United States | FL | Riverview
Organization: BC-1726 EnvSvcs-US Gulf East
Employee Status: Regular
Business Justification: Replacement
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 04/06/2026 07:06:53
Req ID: 1006202
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.