| Description |
| | The Nature Conservancy is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in all 50 states and more than 33 countries. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. | | POSITION SUMMARY | | The Kennebec Estuary Preserve Stewards, working out of the Brunswick Office, will assist stewardship staff with management of nature preserves held by The Nature Conservancy and land trust partners in the Kennebec Estuary of Maine (Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, Phippsburg Land Trust). Tasks will include working with school groups, community members, and volunteers to maintain preserve trails and boundary lines; develop trail plans; educate preserve visitors on use policies; monitor plants, animals and natural communities; remove invasive weeds, and perform basic carpentry and other stewardship tasks as needed. Additionally, the preserve stewards may help with management plan development, GIS mapping projects and conservation easement monitoring. The stewards will be required to work occasional evenings and weekends. | | ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS | | (1)Work with stewardship staff and volunteers to perform preserve maintenance and management tasks (maintain signs and registration boxes, clear trails, mark boundaries, control invasive species manually and with herbicides).
(2)Monitor conservation easements for compliance and prepare easement monitoring reports.
(3)Interact with preserve visitors by providing information, promoting the land trust community, answering questions, and enforcing preserve policies.
(4)Organize and lead volunteer workdays for trash removal, trail maintenance, boundary marking, and invasive weed management, etc.
(5)Research and acquire ecological and legal information pertinent to the management of Kennebec Estuary preserves and invasive weed control, and assist with developing preserve management plans and prescriptions for weed management; work with staff to update management plans.
(6)Deal with problems as they arise on the preserve (may include timber trespass, unauthorized vehicular use, camping, dogs, etc.).
(7)Implement restoration projects by removing invasive weed infestations and document all control actions.
(8)Assist with monitoring of plants, animals and natural communities. | | BASIC QUALIFICATIONS | | Bachelor's degree in natural resources field, or equivalent experience.
Experience with Microsoft Office including Access, Word and Excel, and ArcMap or ArcView
Coursework or training in reading deeds, using map, compass, and air photos.
Coursework or training in Maine geography, natural history, and environmental science required. | | ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION | | Knowledge of and familiarity with Maine geography, natural history, and the ability to read aerial photos, topographic maps, deeds, and orient oneself in the field is required. Must be well organized and attentive to detail, able to set priorities and balance several tasks at once; must be able to work independently. Must be able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people, both in person and in writing; must know how to properly use and care for hand tools and power equipment; general trail construction, carpentry and maintenance skills a plus. Willingness to work outdoors in foul weather, safely work with herbicides, and ability to hike over rough terrain is also required.
Must be willing to work occasional weekends or evenings; must provide own reliable transportation and valid driver's license.
Work related travel expenses reimbursed at current reimbursement rate. | | SALARY INFORMATION | | $11.00 per hour for 18 weeks; 40 hours per week |
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