Under the general supervision of the Office of the General Superintendent staff. The Seasonal Bicyclist Trail Project Aide will assist with a trail signage project throughout the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (“District”). Duties will include, but are not limited to, verifying signage placement along the District’s trail system by biking and hiking assigned trails, providing GPS coordinates, descriptions, and other valuable information to the Planning & Development and Resource Management departments to help improve the District’s trail experience for visitors to the Forest Preserves. This position requires riding a company issued electric bicycle and driving a company vehicle while transporting the bike. This is a seasonal position, the duration of which is up to four months depending on scheduled work hours.

Typical Duties

Biking, hiking, and evaluating assigned trails.

Geolocating signage along a trail and uploading data to an application.

Evaluating the condition of signage along a trail and determining correct signage type and placement.

Providing general maintenance and upkeep to trail signage when appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES

Must be comfortable driving a District vehicle that has a hitch and bicycle rack to transport an electric bicycle supplied by the District.

Must be efficient in using mobile phone-based apps.

Must be comfortable bicycling on paved and unpaved trails in the forest preserves using an electric bicycle.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be at least 20 years old at the time of application. You will be required to provide a birth certificate, Illinois State ID, or Passport prior to start of employment.

Must possess a valid Driver’s License.

Must be a current Cook County resident.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Possess at least 1 season of work experience with the Forest Preserves of Cook County; OR at least 1 season of work experience as a Conservation Corp Crew member; OR at least 1 season of work experience on property of the Forest Preserves of Cook County with partners such as the Chicago Zoological Society, Chicago Botanic Garden, Greencorps Chicago; OR at least 1 season of work experience with other partners such as, Friends of the Forest Preserves or the Student Conservation Association.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

Highly organized and attentive to detail.

Ability to efficiently utilize mobile applications.

Ability to work independently.

Ability to bike alone for up to 12 miles per day on both paved and unpaved trails.

Ability to multi-task effectively.

Knowledgeable of Microsoft Office programs (including Outlook, Excel, and Word).

Willingness to travel throughout the District’s land holdings.

Ability to read maps and utilize GPS to locate work sites.

Ability to work in outdoor settings and, at times in strenuous work environments including but not limited to natural elements, insects, inclement weather, and the physical ability to lift and maneuver a bicycle weighing up to 50 lbs.

Ability to work 30 to 40 hours per week for up to 4 months

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

Veteran’s Preference

When applying for employment with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, preference is given in the application process to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for more than 180 consecutive days or during War Time. To take advantage of this preference, a Veteran must:

Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

Identify him/herself as a Veteran on their employment application by answering “Yes” to the question “Are you a military veteran?”

Attach a copy of his/her DD 214, DD 215, or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation) at the time of application by uploading it as part of the application. If there are multiple DD 214s, DD 215s, or NGB 22s, the one with the most recent date should be submitted. Coast Guard members must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (before 911) or the Department of Homeland Security (after 911).

Provide original applicable discharge papers at time of interview.

General District Employment Requirements

WHERE APPLICABLE, PROOF OF EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES WILL BE REQUIRED.

MUST BE A RESIDENT OF COOK COUNTY OR ESTABLISH RESIDENCY IN COOK COUNTY WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT AND REMAIN A RESIDENT AT ALL TIMES DURING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DISTRICT.

MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AT THE TIME OF HIRE OR SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WITHIN 1 WEEK OF START DATE.

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. We value our employees and the different talents, expertise, and viewpoints that each brings to the table. We believe a robust exchange of ideas results in better decision-making and we commit to providing a constructive, safe, and positive work atmosphere that promotes mutual respect and empowers individuals to thrive in their jobs.