The Lancaster Conservancy currently has an opening for the following position(s):
Land Steward
Who we are and what we do:
The Lancaster Conservancy has been preserving land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for 50 years. The Conservancy’s Stewardship Program works to ensure, restore, and enhance the ecological function and visitor experience of all Lancaster Conservancy’s 46 nature preserves (encompassing 5,000+ acres) and 56 conservation easements (encompassing an additional 900+ acres) through landscape planning, design, project development and implementation, and routine maintenance, while continually developing the Program with professional staff and volunteers.
The Lancaster Conservancy is seeking…
an outgoing individual experienced in equipment operation and transport, use of power-tools, and use of hand-tools for independent maintenance of day use areas and nature preserves. The Land Steward works under the direct supervision of the Preserves Manager (primary) and Forester (secondary) and is responsible for routine maintenance (primarily), project implementation assistance (secondarily), and volunteer work day assistance (thirdly). Although most work will be performed in the field, some shop or office work may also be required.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Perform mowing, trimming, pruning, and weeding.
- Perform equipment and tools operation and maintenance.
- Perform trash clean-up.
- Perform trail maintenance.Perform invasive plant species removal.
- Assist with project implementation.
- Perform boundary work.
- Assist with volunteer work days.
- All other assigned tasks.
Qualifications:
- Must have at least 3 years of experience in natural landscaping or similar trade with experience in a sundry of relevant trades including (but not limited to) tree care, landscaping, small gas engine repair, dry-stone masonry, carpentry, and metal work
- Experience using and maintaining hand tools
- Comfort and proficiency in using hand tools, gas-powered tools, rigging and heavy equipment
- Experience and comfort operating and maintaining a chainsaw (chainsaw operator certification preferred)
- Experience and comfort in the operation and maintenance of tractors, skid steers, and other heavy construction/agricultural/excavating equipment
- Experience and comfort in driving large, non-CDL trucks as well as properly and safely hauling trailers up to 22’ in length while laden with materials and equipment
- Experience in trail building/maintenance
- Experience with applying herbicides and pesticides in accordance with laws and best practices
- Knowledge of natural resource management concepts and techniques, forestry, or sustainability
- Ability to identify plants and ecosystems
- Familiarity with land trusts, parks and recreation, or public lands management
- Experience with orienteering using a map and compass as well as GPS
- Experience collecting field data
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills; must have the ability to work successfully with people at all organizational levels and from all backgrounds
- Comfort, knowledge, and ability to work outdoors for long periods of time, even in adverse conditions
- Must be able to perform physically laborious tasks while carrying materials or equipment and navigating uneven terrain in all weather conditions
- Ability to take direction, problem solve, and report back to direct supervisor
- Goal oriented, self-directed, and attentive to details, with excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities
- Experience providing for risk management
- Experience working with volunteers
- Strong conservation ethics
- Must be able to manage time and prioritize tasks
- Must be flexible with schedule and willing to work evenings and weekends as needed and to accommodate weather conditions, seasonal changes, and needs of special projects; this position does require some evening and weekend hours to support special events.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing and able to travel to various locations and, possibly at times, in your own vehicle
- Must provide proof of compliance with PA child abuse background checks (LC willing to assist)
This is a full-time position with competitive pay and benefits.
Office is located in Lancaster, PA but daily field work is distributed across Lancaster and York Counties. A company vehicle is provided for travel to and from work sites. The Land Steward reports to the Preserves Manager.
How to Apply
Interested qualified applicants may send a cover letter and resume to Steve Mohr, Jr., Preserves Manager at conserve@lancasterconservancy.org by no later than Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:59pm. Please list your last name and LCLandSteward as the email’s subject line (i.e. LastnameLCLandSteward).