Position Announcement: Merrimack River Floodplain Ranger
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Concord, NH
Are you looking for a unique opportunity to promote responsible public use of an ecologically rich environment? Are you an experienced or aspiring outdoor stewardship professional? The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) is seeking two individuals to serve as onsite seasonal staff at our Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area (Floodplain) in Concord, NH.
The successful candidates will have excellent communication skills and a strong interest in educating the public about the responsible use of the property. This is a part-time seasonal position.
The Forest Society owns and manages a 103-acre conservation area in Concord, NH along the banks of the Merrimack River. This property is an ecologically unique area shaped by the dynamic forces of the river and hosts a diverse mosaic of natural landscapes including a meadow, pine plantation, hardwood forests, marshes, and a silver maple floodplain forest. The property is well known regionally as a “hotspot” for a wide array of wildlife. Typical uses of the property by the public include hiking, swimming, dog walking, nature observation, and participation in regular seasonal educational programming hosted by the Forest Society. The Forest Society’s statewide headquarters, the Conservation Center, is adjacent to the Floodplain.
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests was founded in 1901 and is among the oldest and largest non-profit land trusts in the US. The Forest Society is dedicated to protecting the state's most important landscapes while promoting the wise use of its renewable natural resources. We are a recognized leader in land protection, forest management, education, public recreation, and conservation advocacy. We own over 185 Forest Reservations distributed across the state covering over 57, 000 combined acres.
For more information about the Forest Society and our Floodplain property, you can find us online or plan a self-guided visit.
https://forestsociety.org/property/merrimack-river-outdoor-education-co…
If you are interested in becoming a member of the dedicated Forest Society staff, please send a cover letter (including your earliest available start date and latest available end date for the May-September season), resume, and contact information for two references by email as a single PDF document to our Reservation Stewardship and Policy Program Coordinator, Rebecca Darman, at rdarman@forestsociety.org
Applications are due by Monday, April 6, 2020
The Forest Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
No phone calls please
Full Job Description:
Job Title: Merrimack River Floodplain Ranger
Department: Reservation Stewardship
Reports to: Matt Scaccia—Recreation Manager
Rate of Pay: $14/hour
Nonexempt—Part time—Temporary
Position Summary:
Floodplain Rangers provide visitor outreach and encourage appropriate use on the Floodplain during busy times (afternoons and weekends), while also accomplishing habitat stewardship and trail maintenance tasks on the property. Rangers will also assist our Floodplain Education Coordinator with planning and implementing educational programs and events for the public as time allows.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Walk the trail system often looking for issues to address, such as new or worsening trail problems, inappropriate visitor use, trash, or public safety concerns, etc.
Encourage adherence to visitor-use policies including no wheeled vehicles, no smoking, pet waste disposal, and promote leave-no-trace guidelines through polite verbal interaction with visitors.
Pick up and dispose of trash and dog waste found along the trails.
Routinely monitor and improve the Floodplain’s trail system (about two miles total).
Greet visitors and answer questions they may have about visiting the property.
Actively engage with visitors in an effort to build awareness about the unique natural features of the property and the mission of the Forest Society.
Submit written ranger log entries summarizing each day’s activities.
Assist the Floodplain Educational Coordinator with planning and implementing public educational programs hosted by the Forest Society on the property. If interested, develop and lead walks and educational programs on the property.
Maintain open trails through mowing, pruning, weed whacking, and non-herbicide poison ivy treatments. Maintain fencing to keep people and dogs away from nesting bank swallow habitat and closed embankments.
Cut back invasive species (Oriental bittersweet, buckthorn, Japanese barberry, etc.) from specific areas to protect the health of important trees.
Assist with closing the property in evenings (sweeping trails and locking the gate) and opening windows at the Conservation Center before securing the building each evening.
Other duties as assigned.
Self-initiated work project proposals directly related to the conservation or education mission of the Floodplain may be developed and approved as time and interest allows.
Contributions/Outcomes:
The Merrimack River Floodplain Rangers address visitor use-related issues on the Floodplain along and clearly inform visitors about the public use guidelines adopted for the property. This is accomplished through actively communicating and engaging with visitors and serving as a needed onsite presence on the property. Additionally, this position assists in maintaining the parking area, trails, and other visitor infrastructure in good condition. The position will allow successful candidates to develop excellent communication skills while providing visitor outreach at a busy conservation property in the City of Concord. Rangers will learn about property management, trail maintenance, habitat stewardship, and develop skills in these areas. They can also be directly involved in planning and implementing environmental education programs for the public, and will be given the opportunity to take a lead education role if they are interested.
Qualifications and Skills Required:
Background in park management, outdoor recreation management, environmental education, law enforcement, natural resources, forestry, geography, or related field (either through formal education or through prior work experience).
Self- motivated, reliable, and able to work independently. Able to fairly and effectively resolve visitor use and conflict issues, confidently approach visitors and members of the public while exhibiting a friendly and non-judgmental attitude, have an interest in the conservation mission of the Forest Society, and exhibit good judgement and situational awareness.
Have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and a cell phone.
Interest or experience in environmental education, with either adults or children, is a plus.
Working Conditions:
Able to work in variety of environmental conditions including extreme heat, rain, and mosquitoes/ticks.
This is a nonexempt, part time (approximately 20 hours/week) temporary position with flexible start and end dates between May and September.
The two Floodplain Rangers will coordinate their schedules to ensure continuous onsite coverage during weekday afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
Physical Requirements:
Physically able to walk several miles per day, while carrying tools and gear for stewardship tasks.
Direct Reports: None