The Preserve Management Assistant will travel within the Agassiz Beach Ridges landscape in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion (western Minnesota) as part of a landscape-based spring and fall prescribed burn crew as well as part of a multi-person crew managing nature preserves during the summer months.
As part of the prescribed burn crew, the Preserve Management Assistant (PMA) will be responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves under the direction of a Prescribed Burn Leader. The PMA 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, meeting with local landowners, identifying management needs for preserves, assisting with field trips, leading volunteers, and other land management tasks as necessary. This position requires irregular hours, travel on short notice and the ability to work weekends. Employees are required to live in TNC provided housing due to the remote setting of this work location and the need to report to duty on short notice. If an employee already lives in the area or is able to obtain housing within a close proximity to this work location, and the employee is able to report for duty within 30 minutes, then the employee may live offsite. Transportation from The Nature Conservancy office to the various preserves will be provided by The Nature Conservancy. This is a full-time (40 hr/week) seasonal position with a start date of March 26, 2018 and end date of November 2, 2018.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- The Preserve Management Assistant 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.
- Makes day to day decisions as delegated by supervisor. May work under infrequent supervision.
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