The Stewardship Technician performs and participates in preserve operations, maintenance and management. S/he will assist with preserve activities including; fence repair & building, tree removal, seed collection, mowing, prescribed burning, building maintenance, and weed control (including herbicide application). The position may also require field data collection and data entry related to research and monitoring projects being conducted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff and cooperators. Public relations work, including leading tours and giving programs may also be required. This short-term (full-time) position will require irregular hours and will include extensive outdoor physical labor under adverse conditions. The Stewardship Technician is supervised by the Assistant Preserve Manager, does not supervise other staff, but may supervise volunteers. This seasonal position will run from February 1, 2018 – July 1, 2018. This position is based at The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies (rural part of central Nebraska) but may also be temporarily based at other preserve locations in Nebraska. Optional housing is available.
The Stewardship Technician participates in preserve operations, maintenance and management at the Platte River Prairies and other Nebraska preserves. This may include one or more of the following functions:
- Invasive species control, including herbicide application and cutting trees with chainsaws and brush saws
- Livestock management
- Prescribed burning-- including; preparing fire equipment and breaks, ignition, control, mop-up, suppression and monitoring.
- Construction, repair, and maintenance of fences and other preserve infrastructure
- Operates and maintains tools and equipment (i.e. tractors, ATVs, UTVs, chainsaws, weedwacker, etc.)
- Harvests, cleans, and plants local-ecotype prairie seed for restoration projects.
- Conducts tours of Conservancy properties, including Sandhill Crane viewing tours.
- Assists with research and monitoring data collection and entry.
- Assists with land management and restoration planning.
- Tracks and records management and restoration activities using GPS and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- May interact with visitors and volunteers.
- Works under close or infrequent supervision.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations for long periods of time in isolated settings, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience operating various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g. Lawn mower, chainsaw, tractor, two-way radio, etc.).
- Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. First Aid, CPR, herbicide application, and driver’s license).
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
- Ability to provide for own transportation when necessary, with mileage reimbursed.
- Experience in herbicide application.
- Qualified as a FFT2 (http://www.tncfiremanual.org/Firefighter.htm), must be able to pass an Arduous Pack Test, and have participated in RX fires or wildfires.
- Experience working with livestock and fencing.
- Knowledge of and able to identify most Midwestern US native and invasive plants.
- Ability to follow instructions from colleagues.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results