Preserve Operations Manager

About Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Sequoia Riverlands Trust is a regional nonprofit land trust focused on the Tulare Basin, which comprises the southern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills of Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties, with additional conservation projects in 5 other California counties. We are accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, and our mission to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland is supported by our ambitious programs in conservation easements (habitat and farmland), land stewardship, restoration, conservation outreach, and education.

We envision a future in which a network of protected natural and working lands thrives in the region we serve, with business, agriculture, and society aligned around sustainable land and water management practices.

Overview

• The Preserve Operations Manager carries out operations and maintenance of preserves owned by Sequoia Riverlands trust (SRT), coordinates and implements invasive species control and monitoring on the preserves and their riparian mitigation sites, oversees trainees through the Workforce Development Program, and works collaboratively with Nursery, Land Protection, and Education/Volunteer staff to meet natural resource management goals. The Preserve Operations Manager will spend part of their time in the field and part of their time in the office. This is a two-year grant-funded position and continued employment is contingent on future grant funding.
  
  

Essential Functions d

• Oversee cohorts of trainees in carrying out preserve stewardship needs
• Work with Land Management staff to identify needs that can be addressed by the workforce development program and collaborate with colleagues to create workforce development plan
• Undertake operations, maintenance, and invasive species management of preserves and other lands owned or managed by SRT
• Coordinate operation and maintenance of facilities and improvements
• Assist with preserve riparian mitigation sites in their planning, installation, monitoring, and maintenance
• Support the planning and management of public volunteer stewardship days
• Monitor preserve conditions and make recommendations for adaptive management response
• Assist with implementation of restoration and enhancement projects
  
  

SUPERVISION

• The Preserve Operations Manager reports to the Land Steward and oversees trainees through the Restoration Workforce Development program.
  
  

Desired Skills & Attributes

• Direct experience with land and resource management (e.g., restoration projects, ranch/rangeland management, other land stewardship)
• Experience with supervision, especially of intern-level staff
• Ability to establish rapport with variety of personalities among SRT staff, consultants / contractors, volunteers and other partners
• Ability to organize information and schedules, and to juggle multiple projects
• Ability to clearly communicate priorities and performance expectations to team members
• Practical knowledge of mapping and navigation tools such as ArcGIS, GPS, topographic maps, aerial imagery, and compass
• Ability to quickly learn SRT’s on-line record keeping system for land transactions and stewardship, and other data management software used by SRT
• Ability to walk on uneven terrain, carry moderately heavy loads of 50-60 lbs, work outdoors, perform strenuous labor with hand tools, and withstand high (over 100°) temperatures and poor air quality for several hours at a time
• Willingness to work long days in the field on rare occasion (up to 10 hours) and use hand tools and motorized equipment (e.g. line trimmers)
• Ability to do synthesize and effectively communicate concepts and data, whether it be in a reports, management plans, presentations or other formats
• General understanding of, and ability to communicate, connection between stewardship programs/projects and SRT’s strategic plans (i.e. “the big picture”)
• Demonstrated commitment to land conservation, general familiarity with land use and land management issues
• Must have a valid Driver’s license, liability insurance and access to reliable transportation
• Ability to effectively and efficiently operate office equipment including telephones, copiers, and computers
• Ability to sit in workstation, type and work with computer
• Requires being open to change and to considerable variety in the workplace
  
  

WORK SETTING AND CONDITIONS

• .The position is based at SRT’s headquarters in Visalia, California, a city of about 130,000 residents in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The region has a Mediterranean climate, with cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. SRT’s preserves and conservation easements are distributed over nine counties, including lands in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley and in the Carrizo Plain area. The specific work conditions of this position are as follows:
• Well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned indoor office with moderate noise
• Option for hybrid home-office schedule at Executive Director’s discretion
• Physical Demands
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Manual dexterity sufficient to reach and handle items, work with fingers and perceive attributes of objects and materials; ability to stand, walk, sit, and reach
• Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature, using close vision
• At times, be outdoors in all weather conditions
• Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some additional hours including weekends
  
  

Compensation

• This non-exempt position is on Band 2 of the SRT Pay Bands, with a pay rate of $25 per hour for new employees. Benefits include an employer matched retirement, health insurance program, and generous paid time off. The position is grant-funded and continued employment is contingent on future grant funding. .
  
  

Other Notes

• Candidates MUST be able to pass a background check
• Top candidates may be asked to provide samples of their work that demonstrate their ability to fulfill the requirements of this position
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
  
  

Sequoia Riverlands Trust is an equal opportunity employer. Our practices support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in our workforce.