Grassland Stewardship and Protection Assistant

Office Location:

Leola, South Dakota, United States

#Li-Onsite

The primary workstation will be The Nature Conservancy’s Ordway Prairie Preserve in Leola, SD., you may work in a partner office (such as USFWS) and there will be occasional opportunities for overnight travel to other work locations.. Shared TNC housing may be available onsite at the Ordway Preserve on a temporary basis. This position may be eligible for relocation assistance/reimbursement depending. This position also qualifies for a performance bonus (after a 90-day assessment). This position will occasionally be required to work irregular hours and long days based on business needs and objectives. 

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a myriad of TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Grassland Stewardship and Protection Assistant is stationed at the 7800-acre Ordway Prairie Preserve which lies in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region; also referred to as North America’s “Duck Factory” because of its significant breeding habitat for waterfowl. Ordway Prairie is also home to one of the Conservancy’s many bison herds and serves as the hub for our conservation work in north-central South Dakota. 

As the Assistant, you will play a key role in implementing land conservation on the Ordway Prairie Preserve by assisting with management of invasive plant species, grazing management (including care of the bison herd and annual roundups), fire management, as well as research and monitoring other assigned projects. You will provide support to program staff and partners working toward the achievement of protection, conservation, and stewardship goals.  

As the Assistant, will you additionally support the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) with delivering conservation programs, such as grassland and wetland easements to achieve conservation objectives. You will be responsible for establishing contact with private landowners interested in conserving native prairie and wetlands with conservation easements. You will also develop written evaluations, including maps using GIS, for lands to be considered in the easement program.

While this position will work primarily from the Ordway Prairie Preserve office, you may work in a partner office (such as USFWS) and there will be occasional opportunities for overnight travel to other work locations. This position will occasionally be required to work irregular hours and long days based on business needs and objectives.

In order to effectively conduct the essential functions of the position, the Assistant will be expected to live within a reasonable distance (within 20 miles or other agreed upon by the supervisor) from the Ordway Prairie preserve office and/or USFWS’s Sand Lake NWR office. Shared housing (with other staff/volunteers,) is also an option and available at the Ordway Preserve office.  

This position may be eligible for relocation assistance/reimbursement. This position is also performance bonus eligible after a 90-day assessment. 

We’re Looking for You:

At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in, where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. The Assistant also has the joy of creating Work You Can Stomp Around in. 

We’re looking for someone with strong communication and collaboration skills as well as a desire to learn and grow professionally. This is an opportunity for someone that enjoys both working outdoors in nature as well as the office/academic work of planning, evaluating, and presenting information.

What You’ll Bring:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field and 2 years related experience in custodial and ecological land management or similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with natural systems.
• Experience in ecological land management principles.
• Experience operating and or repairing various types of equipment and machinery.
• Must have a valid driver’s license. Please indicate this in your resume.                   

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

In addition, the following skills and/or experiences would be an asset for this role but are not required to apply. For applicants without these, please view these as areas or skillsets growth and professional development you will achieve on the job:

• Knowledge of wetland/grassland ecology of the Prairie Pothole Region.
• Knowledge of ecological land management principles, including prescribed fire, ranch management, livestock husbandry, wildlife management, or invasive species control.
• Experience applying herbicides.
• Experience leading staff or volunteers.
• Must be qualified as or able to become qualified as a Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2) pass a work capacity test at arduous level (3 mile walk with 45 lb pack in 45 minutes).  See http://www.tncfiremanual.org/firefighter.htm
• Experience with communication via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
• Ability to recognize plant and animal species as required to complete preserve management and monitoring activities.
• Experience managing time and diverse activities under deadlines, while delivering quality results while working independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft software applications such as Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Power Point, and GIS applications such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.
• Experience performing basic maintenance on facilities.
• Safe operation and basic maintenance of ATVs/UTVs, 4×4 pickup trucks with trailers, power tools, pumps, and tractors.
• Must have ability to obtain required licenses or certifications, such as first aid/CPR, herbicide applicators license, valid driver’s license. Must maintain a good driving record.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, with assignments coming from multiple sources.                                     

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Additional Job Information:

TNC also fosters an environment supportive of empowering our employees, amplifying an equitable workforce, and creating opportunities to participate in our nine Employee Resource Groups. 

In alignment with the global organization, the Tri-State chapter is making an intentional effort to creating a community of inclusivity and belonging through collaboration and feedback. We’re committed to building a culture based on trust, transparency, empathy, and accountability. We value individuality and difference of backgrounds and ideas, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. 

Auto Safety Policy:

This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered “high risk drivers.” To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

 The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $22.75 – $25.00 hourly. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.