SE MN Preserve Management Assistant

USA The Nature Conservancy; Kellogg (MN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shared housing

Benefits eligible

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in the SE Minnesota region seeks a Preserve Management Assistant to support stewardship activities on public and private lands. You will coordinate and lead volunteers and staff, assist with prescribed burns, invasive species control, planting, and ecosystem monitoring, and help maintain equipment.

Shared housing is available; benefits eligible. This is a fixed-term position with an anticipated end date of December 2027.

Qualifications

• AS/Technical or vocational degree in a science-related field with 1 year of related experience.
• Experience with natural systems and ecological land management principles.
• Experience operating or repairing equipment such as UTVs, chainsaws, trailers, skid steers.
• Qualified Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) and Faller 3 (FAL3) or S-212 completion.
• Must meet physical fitness standards per local Prescribed Fire Manager and TNC manual.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to comply with Auto Safety Program.

Responsibilities

• Prescribed burn preparation, fire implementation and post-fire monitoring.
• Removal and chemical treatment of invasive species; plant surveys and monitoring.
• Tool and equipment maintenance; data collection for preserve management.
• Plant and animal surveys; native seed harvest; tree and shrub planting.
• Boundary posting and preserve maintenance duties; coordination with volunteers and staff.

Skills

Land management

Firefighting FFT2

Equipment operation

Independent work

Driver's license

Data collection

Field software

Education

AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field

Tools

Fieldmaps

Avenza

OnX

Microsoft Office

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

As the SE MN Preserve Management Assistant (PMA,) you will work throughout the driftless region of southeast Minnesota and serve on a 3-5-person crew participating in stewardship activities on both public and private lands and work closely with other non-profits and state and federal government employees.

You will be expected to coordinate, lead, and manage other TNC employees, volunteers, and partners. You may work under minimal and/or distant supervision and may make some independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.

Tasks include prescribed burn preparation, fire implementation and post fire monitoring, removal and chemical treatment of invasive species, tool and equipment maintenance, and monitoring and data collection. Other activities may include plant and animal surveys, native seed harvest, tree and shrub planting, and preserve maintenance duties such as boundary posting. This position requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.

The position is based at our Weaver Dunes Preserve near Kellogg, MN. Shared housing is provided, but not required. If housing is elected, the value of the housing will be included as taxable income. Details will be included in a housing agreement as part of the employment contract.

This is a regular, fixed term position (benefits eligible) with an anticipated end date of December 2027.

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 a team player, can complete tasks independently and coordinate, manage, and lead volunteers and/or entry level staff. If that sounds like you, come join TNC and apply today!

What You'll Bring:

• AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field and 1-year related experience in custodial and ecological land management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with natural systems.
• Experience in ecological land management principles.
• Experience operating and or repairing various types of equipment and machinery.
• Qualified Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2).
• Must be able to achieve physical fitness standards as determined by the local Prescribed Fire Manager and TNC Fire Management Manual.
• Qualified Faller 3 (FAL3) or completion of S-212.
• Experience operating and/or repairing various types of equipment and machinery, including but not limited to UTVs, chainsaws, trailers, skid steers.
• Experience assisting with prescribed burn operations and installation of burn breaks.

Desired Qualifications

• 2-3 years' related experience in ecological land management or similar field.- Qualified Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1).
• Qualified Faller 2 (FAL2).
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to recognize plant and animal species to complete preserve management activities.
• Knowledge/understanding of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation/conservation or similar field.
• Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Fieldmaps, Avenza, OnX, Microsoft Office).

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC'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." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page . 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.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $20.25 - 22.45/ hour. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate's actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a reward