The Burn Crew/Land Management Tech (BCLMT) will work in the Agassiz Beach Ridges Landscape in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion (western Minnesota) as part of a crew managing prairie tracts and restorations as well as being responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves in this landscape. The Technician must use safety equipment and must maintain a safety-conscious attitude at all times. Technician duties will include vegetation management (herbicide applications, brush removal, tree removal, mowing, biological control, etc.), equipment maintenance and organization, hand collecting native prairie seed, firebreak installation, boundary posting, fencing and assist with controlled burns. This position requires irregular hours and long days. Transportation from The Nature Conservancy office to the various sites will be provided by The Nature Conservancy.
As part of the prescribed burn crew, the BCLMT will be responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves under the direction of a Prescribed Burn Leader. They must use safety equipment and maintain a safety-conscious attitude at all times. Tasks include assisting with preserve management activities such as prescribed burning, applying herbicides, clearing and mowing firebreaks, boundary posting, repairing and organizing burn equipment, tree and brush cutting, fence construction/removal, constructing parking areas, maintaining vehicles and equipment, and other land management tasks as necessary. This position requires irregular hours, travel on short notice and the ability to work weekends.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
The BCLMT participates in preserve operations, maintenance and management. This may include one or more of the following functions:
- Maintain preserve areas frequented by the visiting public
- Remove exotic species and/or species monitoring (including use of herbicides)
- Prescribed burn preparation, implementation, and post-burn monitoring
- Maintain tools and equipment
- Brush and tree removal
- Seed harvest
- Photo and vegetation monitoring
- Other preserve management activities
All TNC staff actively participating on a prescribed burn must be qualified as a FFT2. The Preserve Management Assistant will participate in prescribed burns, preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience recognizing plant and animal species.
- Experience operating various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g. Lawn mower, chainsaw, UTV, ATV or OHV, two-way radio, or similar equipment).
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. First Aid, CPR, herbicide or pesticide application).
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and/or multicultural experience appreciated
- 1 - 2 years’ experience in land management.
- Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems.
- Qualified as or able to meet qualifications for FFT2, including Introduction to ICS (I-100), Human Factors on the Fireline (L-180), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190), Firefighting Training (S-130), and one training burn serving under the supervision of a qualified FFT2. See http://www.tncfiremanual.org/firefighter.htm
- Ability to recognize plant and animal species to complete preserve management activities.
- Ability to operate various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g.; lawn mower, chainsaw, tractor, two-way radio, etc.).
- Ability to follow instructions from colleagues.
- Ability to perform physical work, sometime under adverse conditions or in inclement weather
- Ability to pass US Forest Service work capacity test at arduous level (3 mile walk with 45 lb pack in 45 minutes)
- Ability to function productively as a member or leader of a work team.
SALARY INFORMATION:
- $12.50 to $15.50 per hour DOE; housing provided