Landscape Operations Supervisor

This position coordinates four program areas: natural areas projects and programs, landscape infrastructure construction and maintenance, fleet operations, and the deer management program.

Natural Areas Management Protection and Safety: In collaboration with the Director of Natural Areas, staff botanist, and stewardship staff, develop and implement projects and programs for Cornell Botanic Gardens’ 3,700 acres of natural areas. Recommend priorities and ensure the timely completion of designated projects involving the Natural Areas Stewardship Crew. Assist in the recruitment, hiring, and training of staff, and supervise all aspects of the assigned staff members. Develop, implement, and oversee habitat restoration and mitigation projects. In partnership with Facilities and Campus Services staff, support oversight of the gorge slope hazard-monitoring program and assist and support slope stabilization assessments and hazard abatement efforts in order to conserve natural areas proximate to the gorge slopes and infrastructure. In partnership with Facilities and Campus Services staff, assist and support the development of corrective trail infrastructure maintenance projects associated with Cascadilla Creek Gorge, Fall Creek Gorge, and Beebe Lake and provide recommendations to inform planned maintenance in order to conserve natural areas proximate to the gorge slopes and infrastructure. Assist with oversight and stakeholder coordination for on-campus conservation efforts in response to Facilities Services and infrastructure construction and repair projects proximate to natural areas. Lead training staff on ArcGIS and ESRI software applications. Adapt, combine, and/or improve utilization of ArcGIS and ESRI applications for natural areas management application, data collection, educational, and/or public uses. The position also supports education and outreach efforts for the natural areas program including supporting natural areas publicity and outreach efforts through writing, public speaking, and media engagement.

Deer Management Program: In collaboration with the Director of Natural Areas, Cornell University stakeholders, law enforcement and New York State, oversee the University’s deer hunting program across CALS lands in Tompkins County and the natural areas off-campus nuisance deer management program. Review and evaluate outcomes, develop reports and provide recommendations. Support impact monitoring and public information programs to achieve desired goals.

Landscape Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance: Collaborate with Program Directors and other garden staff to meet landscape construction needs and priorities; supervise the Botanic Gardens’ Landscape Construction Crew; and oversee the planning of weekly work and construction projects.

Fleet Operations: Oversee the Gardens’ fleet management in consultation with the Botanic Gardens’ operations team and supervise the mechanic.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.
• Proven experience connecting diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing practices to business goals.
• Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of experience within the following disciplines: plant ecology, forest ecology, conservation biology, wildlife biology, restoration ecology, sustainable use, or related fields.
• Possess broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of regional biota, resource management, ecosystem processes, trail construction, landscape and hardscape construction methods, invasive sand nuisance animal control, and land-based sustainability practices.
• Demonstrated ability to identify needs within specific natural areas and to develop and execute management plans to successfully address those needs.
• Experience developing and implementing wildlife management and monitoring programs, or equivalent.
• Knowledgeable about white-tailed deer ecology and deer management.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience with educational and safety programs, have strong knowledge about local geology, and have demonstrated experience involving safety and hazard monitoring programs, or related.
• Must be personable, flexible, possess excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with a wide variety of faculty, local government groups, non-governmental organizations, landowners, students, volunteers, and donors.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to foster an inclusive, high-quality and respectful work environment; ability to work both in a team setting and independently to achieve program, departmental, and university goals.
• Be willing to work around pesticides and chemicals.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and other standard business software applications.
• Proficient user and administrator of ESRI ArcGIS suite of desktop, field-based, and web-based applications and hardware.
• Willing to work under varying climatic conditions (heat, cold, precipitation, etc.). Willing to occasionally work non-standard hours.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and five to seven years relevant experience strongly preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing complex, urban or suburban deer management and monitoring programs.
• Demonstrated experience with developing and implementing landscape construction projects, trail infrastructure, construction, and habitat restoration projects.
• Highly proficient with use of ESRI GIS and Trimble GPS technologies.
• Prior supervising, leadership, and management skills and familiarity with union requirements.
• Public speaking and presentation experience.
• Experience developing, implementing, and leading hazard abatement and educational programs.