Muleshoe Preserve Steward

nature; Willcox (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy seeks a Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Steward to manage day-to-day maintenance and land management at a remote southeastern Arizona preserve. The role includes maintaining preserves facilities, infrastructure, and housing for staff and visitors, and implementing management plans with a focus on aquatic and riparian systems.

You will supervise seasonal staff and volunteers, coordinate with contractors, support visitor programs, and keep preservation records and data.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and 1 year of science-related training or related experience.
• Experience operating or repairing equipment (mowers, chainsaws, UTVs, ATVs, backhoes, tractors).
• Experience with electrical, plumbing, welding or concrete work.
• Ability to work at a remote preserve and lift up to 50–80 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Preserve facilities and housing, including historic buildings and infrastructure.
• Implement management plans and ecological restoration projects.
• Supervise seasonal staff, interns and volunteers when present.
• Host visitors, donors, researchers and partners.
• Develop and maintain Preserve records and monitoring data.
• Occasionally travel throughout Arizona for stewardship activities.
• Work long hours, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Operate with minimum-tool principles and sound independent judgment.

Skills

High school diploma

Science training

Equipment operation

Electrical work

Plumbing work

Welding

Vehicle operation

Education

High school diploma or GED

1 year science training

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Steward is responsible for day-to-day maintenance and land management operations at a remote preserve in southeastern Arizona. The position maintains Preserve headquarters, including historic buildings, infrastructure, and equipment; implements management plans and ecological restoration projects with a priority on protecting the Preserve's aquatic and riparian systems; periodically supervises seasonal staff, volunteers, and contracted crews when present on the Preserve; and occasionally hosts visitors, donors, researchers, and partners. The Steward is also responsible for maintaining clean and functional housing and facilities for Preserve visitors and staff, including hands-on custodial work. This is a fixed-term position expected to be funded October 2026 - June 2027 and could change based on business needs. Housing at the Preserve is provided and is a requirement of this position.

We're Looking for You:

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We're looking for someone who is passionate, motivated problem-solver. Come join TNC and apply today!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Facilities and Infrastructure Management (~45%)

• Maintain historic buildings, staff/guest housing, shop facilities, utilities, roads, trails, fencing, vehicles, and equipment.
• Perform preventative, routine and corrective maintenance; determine when to complete work in-house vs. use contractors.

Land Management and Restoration (~30%)

• Implement Preserve management plans focused on aquatic systems.
• Build and maintain erosion/grade control structures, conduct invasive species control, perform native seed/plant collection and planting, and collect monitoring data.

Crew, Contractor and Project Leadership (~15%)

• Plan, schedule and supervise activities of seasonal staff, interns and volunteers, contracted crews, and work groups.
• Scope, plan, and carry out improvement projects independently and collaboratively; oversee contractors, inspect completed work, and coordinate multi-day remote crew operations.

Visitor and Partner Programs (~5%)

• Host donors, trustees, staff, researchers, partners and the public.
• Lead field trips/interpretive walks, support events and workshops, monitor visitor use, and communicate Preserve rules and stewardship practices.

Administration, Records and Planning (~5%)

• Develop and maintain Preserve records, including maintenance schedules and service records.
• Maintain monitoring databases for data such as streamflow, precipitation and rare species observations.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Responsible for day-to-day maintenance and land management operations at the Preserve. Works with infrequent direct supervision at a remote duty station approximately 2.5 hours from the nearest Conservancy office and one hour from the nearest town, accessed by a road that may become impassable during and after significant rainfall. Regularly required to make sound, independent field decisions within established Preserve management priorities, low-impact stewardship practices, and minimum-tool principles, consulting with their supervisor on matters with significant ecological, operational, or financial implications and collaborating on larger or more complex projects.

Exercises sound judgment in work affecting Preserve infrastructure, historic structures, and sensitive riparian and restoration areas, where outcomes may be difficult to reverse, and identifies situations requiring supervisory, specialist, or contractor review before proceeding.

May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances; work may be performed on steep terrain accessed by hiking off-trail while carrying tools and materials.

May occasionally require travel throughout Arizona for meetings, trainings, retreats, and to assist with stewardship, land management, maintenance, or other operational needs at Conservancy preserves and project sites.

Occasionally requires working long hours, weekends, and holidays.

Work is diverse and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.

Regularly lift, carry, push and pull 50 pounds; occasionally lift, carry, push and pull 80 pounds.

Valid driver's license.

Youth Certification obtained from TNC within 30 days of hire.

What You'll Bring:

• High school diploma/GED and 1 year's training in a science-related field or related experience in land management, facilities maintenance or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience operating and/or repairing various types of equipment and machinery (e.g. lawn mower, chainsaw, UTV, ATV or OHV, two-way radio, backhoe, tractor or similar equipment).
• Experience working with electrical, plumbing, welding or concrete.
• Experience with natural syst