Land Manager- Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center

Ourlivesmadison; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 PTO days annually + 29+ after Year

Medical/dental/vision insurance

3% 403(b) match

Holiday and organization discounts

Job summary

The Urban Ecology Center is seeking a Land Manager for the Menomonee Valley site in Milwaukee. You will oversee habitat management for 24 acres of brown field area, supervise volunteers, and lead community engagement initiatives while coordinating with staff and partners.

Responsibilities include developing SOPs, budgets, and reports; supervising interns; and ensuring safety and ecological restoration goals are met at multiple center locations.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience working with groups and leading teams.
• DATCP Pesticide Applicator 5.0/6.0 or ability to acquire within 3 months (preferred).
• SAWW I or ability to acquire within 3 months (preferred).
• Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/FIRST AID or ability to acquire within 3 months (preferred).
• OSHA 10 or ability to acquire within 3 months (preferred).
• Wildland Firefighter Intro (S-130/S-190/L-180) or ability to acquire within 6 months (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day land stewardship operations at the Menomonee Valley site.
• Lead volunteers to achieve ecological restoration goals and manage native habitats.
• Mentor the Land Steward and interns in best practices for land stewardship.
• Hire and supervise Land Stewardship Interns and limited-term staff.
• Coordinate with facilities, volunteers, and community science staff.
• Engage with community groups and partner organizations to support programming.

Skills

Leadership

Volunteer supervision

Community engagement

Outdoor work

Education

Ecological restoration degree (recommended)

Tools

GPS/GIS (recommended)

Job description

Land Manager- Menomonee Valley
Want to know what the UEC is all about? Check out our mission, vision, and values. Or, visit our Instagram to see our mission in action!

Compensation:$46,000-$48,000 annually

Benefits:Our full-time employees receive 24 PTO days annually (29+ following Year 1 of employment) plus 7 paid organizational holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance with above-average employer premium contributions, a 3% match on our 403(b) retirement plan, program registration and facility rental discounts, plus a strong commitment to work/life balance and great organizational culture. Additional benefits will be outlined in the hiring process.

Application Due Date:October 10th

Intended start date:November 9th, 2026

Location:Menomonee Valley branch, Milwaukee, WI (in-person)

Position Summary:
As the Land Manager at Menomonee Valley, you will manage the habitat quality, biodiversity, and recreation of 24 acres of brown field natural area within the Menomonee Valley Three Bridges Park branch managed lands. You will also maintain the Urban Ecology Center’s building gardens and engage the community in land stewardship efforts. This person supervises and works alongside volunteers, community members, summer interns, and mentors the Land Steward.
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LAND STEWARDSHIP:

• Create, revise, and implement standard operating procedures and best management practices to meet management plan objectives for Three Bridges Park.
• Create annual budgets, goals, and task-lists for the land stewardship team at Menomonee Valley.
• Monitor and manage invasive species using best available science and management practices.
• Plant native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to improve biodiversity and habitat quality.
• Design, perform, and analyze vegetation surveys.
• Collect and propagate native seed from natural areas within a 100-mile radius to raise the biodiversity of native plants within the park.
• Track, prioritize, and mitigate erosion within Three Bridges Park and the surrounding foot trail system.
• Maintain native gardens and swales around the building and parking lot.
• Write annual reports of all land stewardship activities to be shared with Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee and general public.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Land Stewardship and Development staff to report stewardship activities to raise funds for operations.
• Participate in yearly native plant sale at the Menomonee Valley branch.
• Maintain hand tools and equipment.
• Follow safety protocol for all procedures.
• Participate as a crew member for prescribed burns with Urban Ecology Center.

SUPERVISORY & STAFF COORDINATION:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the land stewardship work at Menomonee Valley.
• Lead volunteers to implement the organization’s goals for the natural areas that the UEC manages.
• Mentor the Land Steward and High School Outdoor Leaders in best management practices for land stewardship tasks.
• Hire and supervise Land Stewardship Interns and limited-term staff.
• Communicate and work closely with facilities, volunteer coordinator, and community science staff.
• Coordinate and communicate with volunteer service groups.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

• Write plant or ecology blogs and articles for the UEC website.
• Teach yearly classes or workshops (ie: botany walks, plant physiology and tree identification) to fulfill mission reach.
• Maintain ongoing communication with community members, dog walkers, park users, and volunteers as an ambassador for ecological restoration within the city.
• Be available two Saturdays per quarter to lead a volunteer group activity. You may be asked to lead a group at a different branch than your assigned location.

To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate the following competencies:
We know that hardly anyone ‘checks ALL the boxes’ on job requirements, and that’s okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences, we’re excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• Collaborates:You build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates effectively:You develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Reliability/action-oriented:Deliver on commitments and act with a clear sense of ownership.
• Interpersonal savvy:Relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people while recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Adaptability:You recognize individual control of self and actions; you rebound from setbacks and adversity.
• Addresses conflict:You courageously address conflict by caring personally and challenging directly (radical candor).
• Growth mindset:You demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development and are willing to incorporate feedback into the ways you approach work.
• Values differences:You recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Ecological knowledge:you have an understanding of and recognize the cycles of nature, animal behavior and the nuances of phenology, incorporating them into programming as able and adapting content to participant needs.
• Event/Project Management:you are able to turn ideas into action by creating a plan, setting priorities and deadlines, and holding others accountable. You are a critical thinker and problem solver. You are able to manage short-term goals while ensuring they will result in the completion of long-term goals.
• Group management:you create engaging and positive environments where participants feel comfortable being their whole, genuine selves- for children and adults alike; re-directs negative behaviors into program engagement
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center’s mission, vision, and values.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• You have at least 3 years of experience working in a related field, including work with and leading groups of people.
• DATCP Pesticide Applicator 5.0 | 6.0 or ability to acquire within 3 months.
• SAWW I or ability to acquire within 3 months.
• Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/FIRST AID or ability to acquire within 3 months.
• OSHA 10 or ability to acquire within 3 months.
• Wildland Firefighter Introduction (S-130|S-190|L-180) or ability to acquire within 6 months.
• Valid driver’s license, with insurability through UEC’s liability policy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in ecological restoration, forestry, botany, natural resource management, natural sciences or related fields is recommended.
• Pesticide application training and/or experience is recommended; prescribed burn training and experience.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) training and/or experiences is recommended.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Working outdoors throughout the seasons up to 90% of the time; lifting 50-pounds with or without accommodation; working properly and safely with conventional power tools and equipment.

What does a typical workday look like?

CONDITION AND LOCATION:

• Work is done indoors and outdoors throughout the seasons, and in a variety of weather conditions. Outdoor work is up to 90% of the time.
• Primarily based out of the Menomonee Valley branch location, and may be asked to work at multiple Center sites as needed. Responsible for traveling to and between branch locations of Riverside Park and Washington Park.
• Some work may involve potential exposure to hazards.

SCHEDULE:

• Mostly weekday, daytime hours, though some evening and weekend work hours are required.

EQUIPMENT USED:

• Small machines (lawnmower, weed whip and water pumps), sprayers and hand tools.

Team and Supervision

• You will be a member of Land Stewardship and will be managed by the Manager of Land Stewardship. You will manage the Land Stewardship Summer Interns and provide mentorship to the Assistant Land Steward.
• Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with the Research and Community Science Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Facilities Maintenance Specialist.
• In this role, you will serve on the Ecology Circle and may also participate in other circles and committees as your work requires or as your schedule and interests allow.
• All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.

Organizational Support

• All team members of the Urban Ecology Center work a minimum of 1-2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike, Autumn Celebration, and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.