The Northern Maine Stewardship Field Assistant assists with a variety of stewardship and management activities including recreation management, forest management and monitoring on Conservancy preserves within Maine. Duties include performing trail, campsite, boundary, and sign maintenance, ecological monitoring, conservation easement monitoring, updating management plans, mapping and controlling invasive species, maintaining equipment, enforcing preserve policies and monitoring visitor use, and maintaining cooperative relationships with preserve neighbors, agency partners, the general public, and partner organizations.
This is a full-time, 26 week, temporary position that begins in April 2018 and ends in October 2018. The position is based in the Conservancy’s Brunswick, Maine office with frequent overnight travel throughout Northern Maine.
- Works with stewardship staff and volunteers to perform preserve maintenance tasks (maintains signs and kiosks, clear and maintain trails, mark boundaries, control invasive species).
- Interacts with preserve visitors by providing information, promoting the Conservancy, answering questions, and enforcing preserve policies.
- Researches and acquires ecological and legal information and field collects natural resource and forest management information pertinent to the management of Maine Chapter preserves and conservation easements, and assists with updating preserve management plans.
- Deals with problems as they arise on preserves (may include timber and other forms of trespass, unauthorized vehicular use, camping, etc.).
- Conducts legal compliance monitoring and drafts compliance reports; enters monitoring data; works with Preserves Manager to notify parties in the event of a violation.
- Assists stewardship staff with ecological monitoring throughout the state.
- Assists with maintenance of basic equipment such as hand and power tools, chainsaws, outboard boat motors, etc.
- Assists with special projects, as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience recognizing plant and animal species.
- Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. First Aid, CPR, herbicide or pesticide application).
- Experience with GPS units and interpreting mapped information.
- Ability to perform physical work in an outdoor setting, sometimes under adverse conditions.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a science field or land management. A focus in forest ecology, forestry, and/or outdoor recreation management is desirable.
- 1 – 2 years training in science-related field or related experience in land management.
- Ability to hike over rough terrain for extended periods of time, lift and carry up to 40 pounds, and be willing to work outdoors sometimes in foul weather; ability to navigate in the field.
- Willingness to travel throughout Maine over extensive periods of time, work weekends and occasional evenings, sometimes providing own reliable transportation.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with a wide variety of people, including preserve neighbors, private landowners, partners, and volunteers.
- Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, GIS, and Access.
- Knowledge of, and demonstrated experience with, a GPS unit to find and mark field locations, and have experience navigating roads in remote locations. Able to read and interpret road and topographic maps, aerial photos, and other sources of mapped information.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Knowledge and familiarity with Maine geography, natural history, environmental science.
- Safety and/or first aid training.