The nonprofit Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests seeks a motivated and enthusiastic individual for a 10 – 12 week, summer stewardship technician position. The position includes monitoring, stewardship, and public outreach. Also included in the position is sign installation, trailhead facility improvement, trash removal and trail and property reconnaissance for potential issues. This is a full time, temporary, position based out of the Conservation Center, in Concord, NH. This position will involve travel to the Forest Society's reservations located around the state.
To Apply: please email cover letter and resume by March 31, 2021 to: Rebecca Darman at rdarman@forestsociety.org.
Full Job Description:
Reports to: Stewardship Projects Manager Salary: $14.50/hour
Nonexempt / Full time / Temporary
Position Summary:
This seasonal position (10-12 weeks, roughly June-August 2021) provides field support for the Forest Society’s Reservation Stewardship department during the busy summer field season. Duties include regular monitoring and stewardship tasks at several busy Forest Society reservations, as well as basic visitor outreach. This position works both independently on field assignments (assessing and reporting stewardship issues, installation of signage, etc.) as well as on group stewardship and recreation tasks with Forest Society staff and volunteers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Visitor Outreach and Monitoring at Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area
- Encourage visitors to follow reservation use guidelines and COVID-19 guidelines; explain rationale behind guidelines
- Promote Leave No Trace principles and responsible recreation
- Provide helpful assistance to visitors about trail network, use guidelines, recreational opportunities
- Monitor and maintain parking area and trails; pick up and remove trash and dog waste
- Replace and/or maintain signage
- Remove invasive plants; contain poison ivy via non-toxic management (vinegar spray)
- Visitor Outreach and Monitoring at Grafton Pond Reservation
- Encourage visitors to follow reservation use guidelines and COVID-19 guidelines; explain rationale behind guidelines
- Promote “Clean-Drain-Dry” boats entering pond to prevent spread of invasive aquatic species
- Promote Leave No Trace principles and responsible recreation
- Provide helpful assistance to visitors about trail network, use guidelines, recreational opportunities, and best practices for encounters with wildlife
- Monitor and maintain parking area, trails, shoreline and islands; pick up and remove trash
- Replace and/or maintain signage
- Collect donations from iron ranger
- Install trailhead signage on forest reservations
- Assist with field reconnaissance and resolution of known issues, including downed trees/limbs, trail maintenance problems, unauthorized uses, dumped items, or potential boundary encroachments.
- Assist Forest Society staff with running volunteer group workdays to accomplish larger stewardship or trail maintenance tasks.
- OuterSpatial Mobile Trails App
- Collect field data using mobile device (points, tracks, photos) for use in creation of interpretive outings available on the Forest Society’s mobile trails app.
- Create interpretive outings using OuterSpatial Manager
- Assist with adding and improving content on OuterSpatial mobile trails app.
- Assist with planning and implementing Monadnock Trails Week (week long volunteer trail maintenance event at Mount Monadnock)
- Other duties as assigned
Contributions/Outcomes:
This position provides the capacity for the Reservation Stewardship department to accomplish the many smaller recreational and stewardship related field tasks that arise during the course of the warm season. It will allow the Forest Society to improve engagement and recreational experiences for visitors through installation of better trailhead signage and development of our mobile trails navigation and interpretation app. The position also increases our capacity to hold group volunteer workdays to accomplish larger stewardship tasks on forest reservations.
Qualifications and Skills Required:
- Background in recreation management, environmental education, forestry, natural resource management or related field.
- Self- motivated individual with an outgoing and friendly personality, strong public communication skills, and outdoor skills.
- Exhibits good judgment, self-confidence, cool headedness and common sense
- 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
Opportunities for Educational Growth:
- Technician will receive training in protocol to minimize exposure to COVID-19, visitor outreach, Leave No Trace principles, and trail maintenance techniques
- Will develop collaborative working and problem solving skills interacting with public, other staff, and volunteers
- Will have opportunities to see how one of the nation’s leading land trusts operates, through participation in workdays and events, and job shadowing.
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 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, with occasional weekend work likely
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, and navigate off trail with a survey and compass and/or GPS app.
- Ability to use hand tools and power tools (cordless drill, impact driver) safely and efficiently.
Direct Reports: None