What are the responsibilities and job description for the Worker I, Natural Areas position at City of Fort Collins?
POSITION TITLE: INTERNAL ONLY
req8406
Department
Natural Areas
LOCATION:
NIX SITE OFFICE BLDG
Benefit Category
Classified (Non-CBU)
Classified Employee Benefit Highlights
Employment Type
Full-Time Regular
Flsa Status
Non-Exempt
Annual Salary Range
$36,375.00 - 54,562.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
Annual Anticipated Hiring Range
$40,000.00 - 49,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
Selection Process
Application deadline is
3:00 p.m. MT on 4/14/2026
The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.
Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?
Job Summary
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas is celebrating 30 years of sharing special habitats like prairies, foothills, waterways, and forests conserved for wildlife and people. There are 52 conserved natural areas and 114 miles of trail with more being added each year. The Ecological Stewardship team helps achieve the Natural Areas Department’s mission to conserve and enhance lands with natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values while providing meaningful education and appropriate recreation opportunities.
Natural Areas is hiring for three (3) Worker I, Adaptive Management positions. These positions are full-time (40 hr/week) positions in the Ecological Stewardship Division with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department. The typical schedule for this position is a compressed work week with four 10-hour days either Monday – Thursday or Tuesday – Friday. Most of the work is physical, year-round, and outdoors with occasional weekend or evening work.
The Worker I, Adaptive Management will perform a wide variety of fieldwork related to land management on Natural Areas property. Projects include prairie dog management, pond and irrigation ditch management, building and maintaining ranch infrastructure and fencing, participating in monitoring efforts for plants and wildlife, application of herbicide and insecticide, operation of heavy equipment, and related duties. The ideal candidate should value working on a wide variety of land management activities and be someone who maintains a positive attitude, is a team player, and has a firm commitment to safety. We encourage you to apply!
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
No
City Competencies
Required Qualifications
High School Diploma or GED
Experience Requirements
Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training
Worker I, Natural Areas
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.
Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.
The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.
Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.
The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.
Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.
- Worker I, Natural Areas (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)
req8406
Department
Natural Areas
LOCATION:
NIX SITE OFFICE BLDG
Benefit Category
Classified (Non-CBU)
Classified Employee Benefit Highlights
Employment Type
Full-Time Regular
Flsa Status
Non-Exempt
Annual Salary Range
$36,375.00 - 54,562.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
Annual Anticipated Hiring Range
$40,000.00 - 49,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
Selection Process
Application deadline is
3:00 p.m. MT on 4/14/2026
The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.
Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?
- Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
- Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
- Retirement company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
- Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
- Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
- Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
- Wellness program, workout facilities
- Employee/family onsite health clinic
- Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
- Collaborative work environment
Job Summary
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas is celebrating 30 years of sharing special habitats like prairies, foothills, waterways, and forests conserved for wildlife and people. There are 52 conserved natural areas and 114 miles of trail with more being added each year. The Ecological Stewardship team helps achieve the Natural Areas Department’s mission to conserve and enhance lands with natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values while providing meaningful education and appropriate recreation opportunities.
Natural Areas is hiring for three (3) Worker I, Adaptive Management positions. These positions are full-time (40 hr/week) positions in the Ecological Stewardship Division with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department. The typical schedule for this position is a compressed work week with four 10-hour days either Monday – Thursday or Tuesday – Friday. Most of the work is physical, year-round, and outdoors with occasional weekend or evening work.
The Worker I, Adaptive Management will perform a wide variety of fieldwork related to land management on Natural Areas property. Projects include prairie dog management, pond and irrigation ditch management, building and maintaining ranch infrastructure and fencing, participating in monitoring efforts for plants and wildlife, application of herbicide and insecticide, operation of heavy equipment, and related duties. The ideal candidate should value working on a wide variety of land management activities and be someone who maintains a positive attitude, is a team player, and has a firm commitment to safety. We encourage you to apply!
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
- Responsible for following and modeling proper safety rules, regulations as well as sustainable practices.
- Receives instruction and general direction from direct supervisor prior to initiating tasks.
- Builds, Enhances, Maintains, and repairs city owned spaces, structures, trails, and facilities.
- Cleans and removes trash from all areas including but not limited to shelters and restroom facilities.
- Performs various vegetation management and restoration duties.
- Performs snow removal.
- Performs trail maintenance using various hand tools and equipment.
- Operates and maintains heavy and specialized equipment related to the industry including but not limited to mowers, trimmers, sprayers, and chainsaws.
- Maintains and repairs irrigation and pumping systems under supervision.
- Using best management practices, applies fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides under supervision.
- May assist in monitoring of plants and wildlife.
- May coordinate activities with volunteer groups.
- May assist with various wildlife management activities.
- May perform ranch-hand type tasks such as, building and repairing fencing, stock tank maintenance, and livestock handling.
No
City Competencies
- Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
- Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
- A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
- A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
- Basic knowledge of vegetation management
- Ability to safely operate a variety of hand and power tools.
- Ability to safely operate and maintain a wide variety of industry-related equipment.
- Basic math skills.
- Ability to use basic computer software.
- Must be able to communicate both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to work a variety of weekday, weekend, and holiday hours.
Required Qualifications
High School Diploma or GED
Experience Requirements
- Any industry specific experience is accepted.
Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training
- Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older. Must have legal authorization to work in the United States of America. Must submit to and pass a pre-employment background check, motor vehicle records check and pre-employment drug screen. Must possess and maintain a driver's license valid in the State of Colorado and the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle at time of employment. Ability to obtain DOT certification within 6 months of hire.
Worker I, Natural Areas
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.
Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.
The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.
Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.
The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.
Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.
Salary : $36,375 - $54,562