Recreation & Stewardship Technician (Seasonal)

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests; New Hampshire; On-site; USD 24,796 - 27,552; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedule

Opportunities for training/certifications

Hands-on experience with land management

Job summary

A nonprofit environmental organization in New Hampshire is seeking a full-time seasonal Stewardship position to provide field support on Forest Society properties during the busy summer. Responsibilities include visitor outreach, trail work, and general maintenance tasks. Ideal candidates should be self-motivated, have public communication skills, and experience in trail maintenance is beneficial. The role offers flexible hours and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated individual with a friendly personality and strong public communication skills.
• Previous experience with trail maintenance is desirable.
• A valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Educate visitors about responsible recreation and guidelines.
• Install signage on forest properties and trails.
• Conduct basic trail maintenance and assist staff with larger projects.
• Monitor and report on trail maintenance problems and unauthorized uses.

Skills

Public communication skills

Outdoor skills

Navigation skills

Self-motivation

Conflict resolution

Tools

Smartphone

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

Department: Stewardship

Salary Range: $18.00 - $20.00/hour based on experience.

Reports to: Stewardship Projects Managerand Steward & Volunteer Programs Coordinator

Full time/Temporary/Seasonal/Hourly

Position Summary: This seasonal position provides field supporton Forest Society properties around the stateduring the busy summer field season. Duties include regular monitoring and stewardship tasks(trail work, signage installation, property clean up, monitoring of encroachments) onForest Societyproperties, as well as basic visitor outreach. This position works both independentlyon field assignments,aswell asproviding support forgroup stewardship and recreation tasks with ForestSociety staff and volunteers. This is a full-time, temporarypositionwith flexible start/end dates, with shorter/longer term position assignment possibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Visitor outreach and monitoring at several popular recreation destinations:

• Educate visitors about responsible recreation, Leave No Trace principles, and visitor use guidelines.
• Provide information to visitors about trails and recreational opportunities.
• Clean and maintain parking areas, trails, and infrastructure.
• Monitor high-use destinations for other issues.

Assist Forest Society Staff with general stewardship tasks including but not limited to:

• Install signage on forest properties and trails.
• Conduct basic trail maintenance and assist staff on larger trail maintenance projects.
• Monitor, document, and report on issues, including trail maintenance problems, unauthorized uses, dumped items, or potential boundary encroachments.
• Assist staff with running volunteer group workdays to accomplish larger stewardship or trail maintenance tasks, including Monadnock Trails Week.
• Help improve Forest Society data on the Outer Spatial Mobile Trails App, including creating interpretive outings.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills required:

• Self-motivated individual with an outgoing and friendly personality, strong public communication skills, and outdoor skills, including navigation on and off trail.
• Exhibits good judgment, self-confidence, cool temperament, and conflict resolution skills.
• Previous experience with trail maintenance desirable.
• Valid Driver’s License, reliable transportation, home computer with internet access (for remote work), and a smartphone for recording field data.

Working Conditions:

• Candidate will spend most days working in the field, often independently.
• This position will involve significant driving to field sites throughout New Hampshire (travel reimbursed at standard federal mileage rate).
• Field work will be in a variety of environmental and weather conditions. On and off-trail navigation in forests is often required.
• 30-40 hours per week, flexible schedule with occasional weekend work.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to hike steep terrain on and off-trail, carrying ~30lbs of gear.
• Ability to work independently outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to use hand tools and power tools (cordless drill, impact driver) safely and efficiently.

Opportunity for Growth:

• Candidate will be trained in visitor outreach, trail maintenance, property monitoring, and other recreation and land management tasks.
• Opportunities for other training/certifications are possible.
• Will have opportunities to see how one of the nation’s leading land trusts operates, through participation in workdays and events, and job shadowing.

If you’re interested in learning new skills and spending your summer outdoors on conservation land, email a resume, cover letter and references to Sarah Alsamaraee, Forestry & Stewardship Administrative Coordinator at [e-mail] by March 6th, 2026.

Join Forest Society forestry staff and a UNH Extension Forestry Educator on Saturday, February 14 (9:30 AM–12:30 PM) at Dudley Pond in Henniker for a free, guided hike through an active timber harvest. Discover how sustainable forestry works, how trees are selected during a harvest, and how forests regenerate over time on this behind-the-scenes tour.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 425 private donors, the Forest Society has conserved 230 acres of critical land at the summit of Mt. Kearsarge—some of the last remaining private inholdings within the state forest. This milestone protects high-elevation habitat and preserves the mountain’s scenic and ecological integrity for generations to come.

Winter in New Hampshire’s North Country invites quiet reflection — on snowy trails, forested ridgelines, and the sense of place shaped by generations of foresight and care. The landscapes we enjoy today exist because people came together to protect forests and open spaces, a legacy that continues to support wellbeing, recreation, and connection year-round.