Edge of Appalachia Preserve Naturalist

The Edge of Appalachia Preserve Naturalist will work closely with the Appalachian Forests Project Manager and the Edge of Appalachia Preserve Manager in planning, managing, and performing preserve management activities and community outreach on The Nature Conservancy’s southern Ohio preserves, including the 16,000-acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve.  The primary responsibility for this position will be to conduct ecological monitoring on four preserves in southern Ohio.  This will include conducting rare plant surveys, breeding bird surveys, and monitoring the ecological effects of management activities.  The naturalist will identify the need for, and help to develop, key partnerships with organizations such as academic institutions that can assist with these primary responsibilities. In addition, the Naturalist will be responsible for leading interpretive hikes for supporters and for the general public and may be asked to use their knowledge to evaluate new properties in the region as a part of a larger effort to prioritize them for conservation.  The Naturalist will also be responsible for participating in other stewardship activities including prescribed burning, invasive exotic species control using herbicide, chainsaw work, mowing, trash collection, and facilities maintenance.  He/she will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of equipment used in these management activities.  This is a full time position that involves extensive outdoor physical labor in diverse weather conditions and may require working some weekends.  The EOA Naturalist is supervised by the Appalachian Forest Project Manager, does not supervise other full-time staff, but may supervise volunteers or seasonal staff.  This position is located at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve office near West Union, Ohio.
 

The Conservation Practitioner III participates in preserve operations including the maintenance, management and development and coordination of conservation programs.  This may include one or more of the following functions:

• Leads work teams and supervises staff
• Meet and maintain qualifications as a Type 2 Wildland Firefighter (FFT2)
• Furthers the Conservancy’s strategic goals
• Coordinates community support
• Implements  preserve management plans
• Maintains preserve areas frequented by the visiting public
• Removes exotic species and monitors & researches species
• Maintains tools and equipment
• Operates heavy machinery
• Opens and closes preserve to the visiting public

• BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field such as Botany, Biology, Wildlife, or Forestry and 1 year related experience in custodial and ecological land management or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Experience with natural systems.
• Experience recognizing flora and fauna of Southern Ohio.
• Experience with natural resource sampling and monitoring techniques.  
• Experience in ecological land management principles.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Experience performing physical work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 1 – 2 years related experience in custodial and ecological land management or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Ability to recognize plant and animal species as required in order to complete preserve management activities.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation
• Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s)
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers). 
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages
• Safe use of maintenance tools; including lawn mowers, power tools and construction tools

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions:

• require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain
• present frequent possibility of injury
• require long hours in isolated settings

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.
 

To apply to position number 42298, submit resume and cover letter as one document. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 11, 2014.

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The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer