Land Manager

Responsibilities About 40% of the job is field work involving demanding physical labor – monitoring properties, managing land, and routine maintenance of gates, fences, signs, trails, etc. About 60% of the job involves office work – internal and external communications, meetings, document work, filing, administration, team projects, etc.  PLT provides any specialized training necessary to fulfil these responsibilities.  Although duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time, it is anticipated that these will be the main responsibilities of the position.

• Serve as “Preserve Manager” for ~20 properties (“Preserves”) covering ~6,000 acres.
• Ensure protection of natural resources, wildlife habitat, and other values on the Preserves.
• Ensure legal and contractual obligations are met for each Preserve, including the terms of conservation easements. Address and resolve potential violations and other issues quickly.
• Monitor and inspect Preserves: trash, dumping, trespass, or other violations; condition of trails, fencing and other infrastructure; risks of wildfire/ fuel loads; and health of forests and wildlife habitat.
• Write annual monitoring and inspection reports.
• Maintain and repair fences and gates and install signs on Preserves.
• Assist with or lead fuel load reduction projects, including prescribed burning.
• Maintain and help construct trails, including mowing, weed whacking, spraying, and chain sawing.
• Assist with or lead maintenance of field equipment and vehicles.
• Oversee and manage contractors and contract work, including fire management/fuel load reduction/ forestry work, mowing, fence installation, habitat restoration, biological surveys, and other contracts.
• Oversee and manage livestock grazing tenants and other land-lease tenants (e.g., beekeepers). Assist with or lead the writing of new grazing lease contracts and contract renewals.
• Coordinate regularly with staff, landowners, neighbors, volunteers, agencies, and the public.
• Maintain records related to property management, monitoring, and equipment.
• Be “on-call” evenings and weekends to respond to rare property-related emergencies.
• Assist with or lead habitat restoration projects, including forest and stream/ wetland projects.
• Assist with or lead creation of maps, including topographic, aerial, and other types of maps.  • Assist with or lead the writing of land management plans, baseline documentation reports, and grants.
• Assist with or lead occasional volunteer groups, public groups, and partner tours on PLT Preserves.
• Assist with recreation program planning, including guided hikes, events, and other activities.
• Attend trainings and webinars on best management practices and other key topics.  • Participate in staff meetings, retreats, fundraising activities, and other PLT events and activities.
• Contribute imagery from the field for marketing purposes. Minimum Required Qualifications
• Commitment to land conservation and land stewardship.
• Experience working on land – farms, ranches, parks, open space, or other.
• Ability to operate field equipment (already, or following brief training) such as: UTV, weed whacker, truck & trailer, sprayer, chainsaw, etc.
• Computer proficient and familiar with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), Google docs and other similar software.
• Ability to manage and complete multiple projects and tasks on time and within budget.
• Ability to coordinate people and groups (consultants, contractors, volunteers, interns).
• Good communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Comfortable managing tense or difficult situations and people while in the field, such as aggressive cows or impolite neighbors.
• Self-directed, requiring little supervision following initial direction.
• Proactively identify issues and suggest solutions.
• Good physical fitness; able and willing to work and hike in challenging conditions such as rough terrain or excessive heat, sometimes for long periods (full day / 5+ miles) in uncomfortable weather. (Employee will be provided safety training and guidance including acceptable conditions for field work in temperatures exceeding 95 degrees.)
• Team player with ability to work comfortably with different people of different backgrounds.
• Valid driver’s license. Other Applicable Experience or Knowledge (helpful but not required)
• Experience or knowledge that is “above and beyond” the above Minimum Required Qualifications.

Specialized experience: o Managing lands or monitoring conservation easements for a land trust. o Managing forests and fuel loads, rangelands and grazing, or prescribed burning.  o Managing publicly accessible lands or public trails.  o Collecting or reviewing biological field data and surveys.  o Creating maps in ArcGIS or Google Earth.  o Writing contracts, land management plans, monitoring reports, grant applications, etc.  o Using project management software or database/records software.

Specialized education or knowledge:  o Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Biology, Conservation, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Rangeland Management, or similar field.  o Knowledge of conservation and natural community ecology, and application to land management. o Knowledge of plants and natural communities in Placer County.  o Knowledge of Placer County. Salary & Benefits