Trainee Natural Resource Planner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $78,145.60 - $105,497.60 Annually
Location : Louisville City Services Facility -739 S 104th Street, Louisville, CO 80027, CO
Job Type: Regular Tier 1
Job Number: 2600085
Department: Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Division: Open Space
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/26/2026 5:00 PM Mountain
Overview
The City of Louisville is looking for an enthusiastic, self-driven, and innovative individual to be our Open Space Supervisor for Natural Resources. This position works with limited supervision from the Open Space Superintendent and assists the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department in carrying out the objectives of the Department as identified in the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Guidebook and the Open Space Master Plan. The Open Space Supervisor of Natural Resources provides expertise to research, monitor, and map plant species, plant communities, and wildlife; develops short- and long- term management plans and strategies utilizing data collection and data analysis; implements restoration objectives and habitat improvements, and supervises the Open Space Specialist, part-time and seasonal natural resource staff.
The City of Louisville owns approximately 2,000 acres of designated open space and over 32 miles of interconnecting trails for biking and hiking throughout the town. With this position, the Open Space program is emphasizing focus on land stewardship and Natural Resource management.
This role will develop and implement an inventory and monitoring program for the City to better understand the impacts of our stewardship efforts.
This is a full time, benefited position that works 40 hours per week year round.
The City of Louisville offers the following benefits for all Tier 1 positions:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts / Health Savings Account Short and Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Tuition Assistance
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Recreation Center Pass
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• Paid time off including vacation, sick and 12 holidays

Hiring Range:
$78,145.60 to $91,832.00
Salary Range:
$78,145.60 to $105,497.60
All initial communication regarding your application will come via email usually from info@governmentjobs.com or the recruiter. Please check your email messages frequently and your junk mail during the application process.
Examples of Duties
Natural Resources Management

• Leads the planning, prioritization, and implementation of natural resource programs and projects and ensures work is completed safely, effectively, and in accordance with established priorities.
• Develops, selects, and implements natural resource inventory and monitoring protocols to establish baseline conditions, assess ecosystem health, track trends, and evaluate the effectiveness of vegetation, restoration, and wildlife management activities.
• Collects, manages, analyzes, and interprets natural resource data related to plant species, plant communities, wildlife populations, habitat conditions, and management outcomes.
• Maintains natural resource databases and associated GIS data to document ecological conditions, management activities, spatial information, and trends over time.
• Develops, reviews, and implements short- and long-term natural resource management plans, best management practices, and strategies to protect, restore, and enhance vegetation and wildlife habitat while integrating recreation, climate adaptation, sustainability, wildfire mitigation, and flood mitigation objectives.
• Facilitates and coordinates academic research on Open Space lands to support and inform natural resource management decisions.
• Coordinates and oversees ecological restoration, habitat improvement, and prescribed fire activities.
• Coordinates and oversees staff responsible for invasive and/or non-native vegetation management and integrated control recommendations.
• Coordinates and oversees staff responsible for wildlife management activities, including population and distribution monitoring, mapping, habitat evaluation, and management recommendations, with particular emphasis on prairie dog populations.
• Assists with development and administration of the Natural Resources budget and monitors expenditures to ensure responsible use of resources.

Education & Outreach

• Presents technical information, findings, and management recommendations to professional audiences at conferences, the public, Open Space Advisory Board, City Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Coordinates natural resource content for Open Space websites, social media, and other public outreach platforms.
• Develops educational materials and contributes to education and volunteer programs, including leading public programs and events.
• Supports development of natural resource projects for the Boulder County Youth Corps.

Essential Supervisory Duties:

• Develop and/or participates in the development of staff work plans, measures and tracks progress towards goals, prepares and conducts timely and constructive performance appraisals.
• Makes decisions or recommendations for hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary action, and other personnel actions as necessary.
• Coaches, counsels and supports staff to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Consistently educates and advises staff on organizational rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Supports creative thinking and problem solving and encourages participatory decision making when appropriate.
• Provides training and job enrichment opportunities for direct reports and encourages professional growth and development

This position is considered a critical/essential worker and is therefore responsible for responding to emergencies and/or disasters that may require additional overtime or adjustments to your normal schedule to fit the needs of the organization.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Regular and predictable attendance required.
• Other duties as assigned

General Qualifications
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Biology, Rangeland Ecology, or closely related field, and a minimum of five (5) years of related field experience in applying principals of natural resource management is required.
• Advanced Degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Rangeland Ecology or related field desired.
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience required. Experience must include supervision of professional level, full-time staff.
• May consider a combination of equivalent experience, training, and education as deemed appropriate by the City of Louisville.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and expertise in ecological principles and environmental preservation techniques specific to the Rocky Mountain Front Range and/or western plains.
• Advanced to expert skills in plant identification using a dichotomous key, monitoring, and mapping noxious weeds, native vegetation, and agricultural grass species specific to Rocky Mountain Front Range and/or western plains.
• Ability to prepare and maintain a variety of records and reports.
• Intermediate knowledge of a variety of inventory methods and techniques.
• Ability to represent Louisville Open Space program on external and internal technical collaborative working groups.
• Ability to collect, analyze and manage data and present information.
• Ability to professionally respond to citizen inquiries.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide variety of audiences including the general public, boards and commissions, and volunteers.
• Ability to collaborate with City staff and other local, state and federal organizations.
• Intermediate experience using: GIS/Arc Map, Pro or similar; Trimble GPS units and mobile data collection applications; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to safely operate a full size pick-up truck, ATV, string line trimmer, backpack sprayer, and small power tools and hand tools.
• Ability to be self-motivated, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify and apply for grant opportunities.
• Ability to think critically, multi-task, and be innovative and enthusiastic.
• Knowledge of wildland fire operations and management.
• Basic knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental regulations.

LICENSE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATE:

• A valid Colorado driver's license and acceptable driving record are required.

• The Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's License - must be obtained within twelve (12) months of hire and license must be maintained throughout employment.

OTHER NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates will be required to complete and pass a pre-placement physical, background investigation, and acceptable reference checks prior to employment.
This position is expected to operate a City or personal vehicle on a recurring basis to perform essential job duties, including traveling between City facilities, job sites, meetings, inspections, or other work-related locations.
Additional Information
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB:
This position requires regular physical activity and involves medium to heavy work. Duties include strenuous hiking, digging, hammering, standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting. The employee must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds, and occasionally up to 80 pounds with assistance.
Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and may occur in all weather conditions, on uneven terrain, and in potentially hazardous environments. The position requires sufficient strength, stamina, agility, vision, and hearing to safely perform essential job functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions and may involve exposure to noise, traffic, heavy equipment, tools, chemicals, and uneven terrain. Position generally works 50% in the field and 50% in the office during peak season. Hours vary during winter season. Position will require some work on weekends and evenings.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLASSIFICATION: 9102 - Park: Operation & Maintenance
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
The City of Louisville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.
The City of Louisville is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in the application and hiring process and during employment.
The Human Resources Director has been designated as the compliance coordinator for people with disabilities seeking employment and will provide reasonable accommodation for testing and employment to qualified applicants.
A brochure of offered
01
Please describe experience you have supervising full-time employees. Please include the number of years you have been in a supervisory position, number of full-time employees supervised annually, and tasks related to employee management.
02
How many years of experience do you have related to:A. Botanical surveys/ inventoriesB. Data analysis and database designC. GIS
03
Briefly describe a short- or long-term management plan that you helped to develop. What was your role?
04
Briefly explain why you are interested in this position and why you want to work for the City of Louisville Open Space program specifically?
Required Question