Land Steward Program Coordinator

 

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests seeks a well-organized, communicative, personable, and self-motivated individual for the position of Land Steward Program Coordinator.  The successful candidate will have a four-year college degree in an applicable discipline, experience training and supervising adult volunteers, excellent oral communications skills, and significant outdoor stewardship skills. 

This is a full-time regular position (with full benefits) based at the Conservation Center in Concord, NH with significant field and stewardship work throughout New Hampshire.  The Land Steward Program Coordinator is primarily responsible for training and managing 160+ land steward volunteers who conduct monitoring and stewardship work on the Forest Society’s forest reservations. The position requires occasional evening and weekend work.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is a statewide land conservation organization that was founded in 1901 to protect New Hampshire’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its renewable natural resources.  Today, with 9,600 member households and over 40 employees, the Forest Society owns 185 reservations in 102 communities across the state, and has interests and monitoring responsibilities for over 800 conservation easements and deed restrictions.  With ongoing programs in advocacy, land protection and sustainable forest management, the Forest Society consistently ranks among the nation’s top land trusts and has been a leader in setting the standard for American land protection.    If you enjoy working both independently and in a cooperative team-approach in a challenging, at times fast-paced, but always rewarding, setting you may be the right person for this position.  A copy of the full job description is below.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and skills.  The Forest Society offers an excellent benefits package and an extraordinary office environment in our award-winning, energy-efficient suite of office buildings overlooking the adjacent Merrimack River Conservation Area.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the dedicated Forest Society staff email a resume and cover letter by Monday, March 12th 2018 to: Maria Stewart, mstewart@forestsociety.org.

The Forest Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.   

No phone calls please.

 

Land Steward Program Coordinator

Outreach & Education Department

Reports to:   Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager      

Salary Range: $32,000 - $35,000

This position is: Nonexempt, Full time, Regular

Position Summary:                                                                                        

The Land Steward Program Coordinator is responsible for managing the Forest Society’s volunteer Land Steward Program, which includes recruiting, training, coordinating and supervising 160+ volunteer stewards who monitor and conduct routine maintenance on Forest Society reservations.  The position also works directly with Reservation Stewardship Department staff to manage and enhance recreational uses, stewardship, and infrastructure on Forest Society reservations.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for running the Forest Society’s Land Steward Program. Recruit, train, and supervise volunteer Land Stewards (160-170 active stewards to date) and other reservation stewardship volunteers (Trail Crew)

Develop and implement annual core training program and supplementary educational workshops for Land Stewards

Identify reservation stewardship issues that volunteers can assist with, and coordinate and supervise 10-15 Land Steward workdays on Forest Society reservations annually

Communicate regularly with volunteer stewards via email, phone, and website updates to supervise their work.Act as a liaison between Land Stewards and Forest Society Reservation Stewardship staff.

Maintain online volunteer database.Review and process monitoring reports from Land Stewards, address issues and record volunteer hours and statistics.

Organize and implement an annual meeting for Land Stewards, highlighting Land Steward achievements, recognizing land steward contributions and summarizing program data.Assist with planning and implementation of other volunteer appreciation events.

Generate media (print, video, photo) highlighting volunteer achievements and featuring the land steward program, including articles in Forest Notes magazine, blog posts, and social media posts.Maintain portions of Forest Society website relating to land stewards; post volunteer events on website calendar.

Coordinate trail and other recreational infrastructure maintenance on Forest Society reservations managed for active public use based on the property management plan and in coordination with the Reservation Stewardship staff.Supervise volunteer or paid work crews and/or interns in trail maintenance projects as directed.

Support the creation of GIS maps and prose content for kiosk posters and online guide to our lands.Support the development of new and replacement kiosk posters (obtain content, coordination of design, editing, and printing) in coordination with the Reservation Stewardship Staff.

Organize and implement Monadnock Trail Week, an annual 5-day volunteer trail work event on Mount Monadnock.

Prepare annual work plan and budget for Land Stewards.Manage actual revenue and expense according to annual budget.

Annually evaluate the success and effectiveness of the Land Steward Program and improve the program based on the evaluation.

Assist with supervision of interns for Outreach & Education or Reservation Stewardship Departments, as directed.

Assist Outreach Department with creation of mobile interactive trail app modules for Forest Society reservations (Forest Explorer).Help maintain and keep current existing Forest Explorer “experiences” and assist with promotion of the trails app (leading events, promotional hikes, etc.)

Represent the Forest Society on various advisory committees as directed by management.

 

Contributions and Outcomes:

This position will ensure the continued success and advancement of the Land Steward Program.  The program coordinator will provide all needed volunteer support and be an effective and responsive liaison between these volunteers and the Reservation Stewardship Department.  The position will, through the employment and engagement of land stewards, ensure that all Forest Society reservations are adequately monitored on an annual basis.  It will complete high-priority stewardship tasks on Forest Society lands through the engagement of land steward volunteers, organizing and implementing at least 8 workdays annually.  The position will maintain a sufficient number of volunteer stewards and provide all stewards with adequate training in order to accomplish the above work. 

Qualifications and Skills required:

Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, recreation management, environmental or natural sciences and 2 years experience in related fields; OR

Graduate degree in any of the above fields and 1 year experience in a related field.

Exceptional interpersonal, written, oral and presentation skills.

Experience in land stewardship, trail maintenance, recreational management and/or forestry.

Able to navigate using map/survey and compass.Experience using navigational apps for mobile devices to collect field data (tracks, points, photos).

Experience training and coordinating adult volunteers.

Competence using ArcGIS 10, MS Access, Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint.Experience editing website content also a plus.Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Familiarity with NH geography, culture and history.

Experience operating a chainsaw a plus.

Familiarity with assorted hand, and power tools a plus.

Comfort operating a full size pick-up truck a plus.

Valid drivers license, proof of insurance and reliable transportation.

 

Working Conditions:

This position requires significant outdoor work under varying field conditions utilizing varying tools and equipment.  Approximately 30% fieldwork and 70% office overall.  Flexible work schedule (some evenings and weekends required).

 

Physical Requirements:

Field work on Forest Society reservations may be physically demanding.  Applicant should be able to lift 50lbs, hike long distances over variable terrain, be comfortable navigating through the woods and hiking alone, and be able to conduct field work in a variety of weather conditions.   

Direct Reports:

This position supervises 160+ volunteers, individually and in large groups, as well as seasonal interns and occasional temporary paid staff.