Restoration Ecologist

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) seeks a Restoration Ecologist to join its team of passionate conservation professionals and lead its land stewardship program.

TLC is a nonprofit conservation land trust that has worked with individuals and communities throughout McHenry County since 1991 to preserve over 3,300 acres of natural, agricultural and scenic land resources. The organization’s support comes from members, grants, investment income and fundraising events. All staff play a role in developing funding for programs.

In addition to conducting management on the approximately 950 acres that TLC owns, the organization also manages various public natural areas in Woodstock through a contractual agreement, and conservation properties in several local subdivisions. TLC owns and manages three dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves that represent some of the rarest natural habitats in the state: Boloria Meadows, Irish Oaks Savanna and Yonder Prairie.

The position is responsible for the day-to-day planning and implementation of TLC’s land restoration projects, and prioritizing/scheduling the stewardship team’s work throughout the year.

This position reports to the Executive Director and supervises a Restoration Specialist, Restoration Technician, Seasonal Interns and Volunteer Site Stewards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer, manage and implement all activities associated with natural resource management for TLC.
• Maintain management plans for all properties owned by TLC. Develop annual work plans, schedules, summaries, and reports to implement management plans.
• Ensure implementation of annual management plans for Municipal and easement stewardship contracts.
• Assist with the annual budget preparation process, expense tracking, and other administrative requirements. This includes administering land stewardship grant projects to ensure compliance and timely grant reporting.
• Assist Executive Director in researching and developing grant proposals and other funding opportunities for restoration of TLC properties and easements.
• Manage all prescribed fire activities, including applying for annual burn permits, scheduling burns, notifying neighbors and fire districts, arranging for burn crews, ensuring equipment is in working order and available at burn sites when needed.
• Secure and manage contractual services as needed according to established policies and procedures.
• Oversee the annual preserve management program, including recruiting monitors, training volunteer monitors, ensuring annual monitoring is completed as per TLC policy, and ensuring monitoring reports and files are complete and up to date.
• Manage volunteer stewardship program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Must have knowledge of Midwest natural communities and natural area restoration techniques. Identification skills for native and non-native plant species of the Chicagoland area important.
• Must have technical skills to operate a chainsaw and other restoration equipment, lead prescribed burns, perform plant and animal surveys, data collection and analysis, and report preparation.
• Ability to organize time and manage multiple projects with a minimum of direct supervision.
• Friendly personality, team player with a positive attitude is very important.
• Basic computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel needed. GIS (ArcView) knowledge a plus.
• General mechanical abilities a plus.
• Bi-lingual (English-Spanish) helpful.
• Must possess or attain a valid Illinois Pesticide Applicator’s License and Illinois Burn Boss certification.
• Must possess a valid Illinois Driver’s License and be proficient at driving a vehicle with trailer attached.

   

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, conservation, environmental biology, ecology, or related field with land stewardship experience desirable. Equivalent experience in land stewardship also acceptable.
• Experience in natural areas restoration and management planning/implementation required.
• Experience with prescribed fires varying in size and complexity important. Course work in prescribed fire and/or wildfire behavior necessary.
• Experience working and communicating effectively with a diversity of people ranging from private landowners to volunteers and public agency staff.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, to take responsibilities for one’s actions and to support team members to help ensure TLC’s projects succeed.
• Availability to work some weekends and occasional week night meetings. Weekly schedule can be flexible to facilitate work-life balance.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Semi-active job; while performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to manipulate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, talk, and hear.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee occasionally works near moving parts; works outside in extreme heat or cold weather conditions; lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds; works with and around herbicides; is exposed to smoke during prescribed burns and burning brush.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in this job is usually low to moderate, but can be high.

Starting salary $48,000 – $52,000 (DOE)

After completion of 60-day probationary period: employee will start earning leave time; will be enrolled in a Simple IRA plan that TLC contributes an amount equal to 2% of salary and employee can contribute up to 15% of salary; and will be eligible to participate in TLC’s health insurance program.

TLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.