Stewardship Field Specialist

Position Summary

LandPaths seeks an individual with a passion for engaging Sonoma County’s diverse community in stewarding the land. LandPaths is a creative work environment committed to equity and access, fostering connections between the land and the broader community.  The LandPaths’ Stewardship Field Specialist provides day-to-day field implementation of LandPaths’ Community Stewardship Initiative, a core component of which is to engage the community in active land stewardship on each of the nature preserves that we manage in Sonoma County. Specifically, the Field Specialist is responsible for implementing effective stewardship projects in partnership with community groups both youth and adults, and as part of a staff team using best practices for activities such as forestry, trail maintenance, invasive species control, and traditional ecological knowledge including good fire. The Field Specialist uses Excel, a database system, and other computer tools to post and promote events, and keep track of logistics, such as volunteer hours, tools, and program safety.

Position Duties

• Represent LandPaths and LandPaths’ mission during Stewardship field workdays in a manner that builds collaboration with partners, volunteers, interns, and fellow Field Specialists
• Lead or work as part of team to co-lead stewardship field days, including pre-activity tasks of assessing site conditions and site preparation
• Develop and deepen community relationships to engage and expand volunteer, intern, and youth participation.
• Coordinate and communicate all field day necessities, including logistics, weather, and safety considerations
• Manage all gear and tools needed for program including tracking inventory, storage, and maintenance pre and post field days
• Communicate and coordinate with participants pre and post field days for preparation and follow-up, such as recording attendance and hours, work performed, and contact information in Microsoft Excel and NEON databases
• Evaluate field day for effectiveness and impact, including obtaining photos and feedback, for adaptive management
• Bring creativity and enthusiasm to help create new Stewardship and engagement ideas, methods, and pathways
• Act as a mentor for stewardship interns and youth
• Attend weekly meetings with team and manager, respond to emails in a timely fashion, and submit timesheets and other administration paperwork on time
• As needed, provide on the ground support for other programs, including LandPaths’ Youth and New Audience Initiatives, respectively

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Listed below are qualifications representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability that a successful candidate will possess:

• College degree or HS diploma (or equivalent) with relevant work experience in natural resources
• A genuine passion for community-based land stewardship
• A genuine passion for equity in access to nature, with experience engaging underrepresented youth and adults
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred
• Cross cultural/bi-cultural knowledge and experience including Indigenous perspective
• Land stewardship experience; for example, invasive species identification and removal, erosion control, traditional ecological knowledge, fire, forestry and fuel reduction, and biological monitoring
• Experience leading volunteers and working with volunteers of all ages
• Experience working with youth (elementary age and teens) in an outdoor setting
• Comfort and confidence in the outdoors, alone and in groups
• Experience and comfort with leading groups
• Detail oriented and well organized
• Strong communication skills: ability to write effectively and speak persuasively

ATTRIBUTES

A successful candidate will embrace LandPaths’ values and culture, including the following:

• Embrace LandPaths’ values, inclusive of our commitment to fairness and equity
• Thrives in a creative, problem-solving atmosphere of shared leadership and unrelenting drive to improve
• Curious; enjoys learning and supporting the work of others
• Excels in a strong team-centered work environment, while able to work independently
• Works best in busy work environment, managing multiple variables with divergent goals
• High integrity and strong commitment to program and organizational goals
• Confident in area expertise, and flexible, able to engage with new ideas and approaches
• Enjoys and expresses joy as part of a positive work environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job. The Stewardship Field Specialist frequently works outdoors, around hand and power tools using personal protective equipment, walking on uneven ground and steep hillsides, with potential exposure to excessive noise and temperature extremes. They may be expected to lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs. and hike up to five miles.