Stewardship Technician – Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership, Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Organizational Background:
Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) is a regional, non-profit land trust dedicated to conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley. Our mission is to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland. To do so, SRT engages landowners, farmers, conservationists, business partners, and governmental agencies to collaborate on land conservation throughout our region.

For over 20 years, SRT has worked to protect over 43,000 acres of natural and agricultural lands across nine counties in southern California, including Tulare, Fresno, Merced, Kings, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and Inyo counties. Over 4,000 acres of this land is permanently protected native habitat in the form of seven nature preserves located within Tulare County. The wealth, productivity, and beauty of this land inspire our work to conserve it for the prosperity and enjoyment of future generations.

In addition to conservation, SRT is dedicated to educating and engaging people of all ages from the local community. By providing hands-on, outdoor educational opportunities to schools and the general public, SRT facilities instrumental and purposeful educational programs that instill a lasting bond between the community and the land, fostering a greater appreciation for stewardship and conservation. From providing field trips at our nature preserves; hands-on, work based learning internships for high school students; regular community outreach and volunteer opportunities for the general public; and more, our staff aims to cultivate a sense of connection between humans and nature, and foster a sense of stewardship in the community for years to come.

Number of Member Positions at this Site:

• 2 (Two) Education Technicians
• 1 Stewardship Technician (see other position description and service plan)

Site Supervisor’s Name(s) and Title(s):

• Bud Darwin, Education Director (supervisor for Education Technicians)
• Jonathan Vaughn, Land Steward (supervisor for Stewardship Technician)

Position Description: 
The Conservation Department’s primary objective is to help conserve and improve natural resource values in our region. Our staff are biologists and other conservation-oriented professionals that are knowledgeable in land stewardship including natural resource management, restoration, native plant propagation, and conservation easements. Some of our core activities include:

• Implementation and maintenance of habitat restoration and mitigation projects
• Conservation easement monitoring of ranches, wildlands, and farms
• Management of invasive species, native plants, and trails on SRT’s nature preserves
• Propagate plants and educate volunteers in a native plant nursery.

The Stewardship Technician will primarily conduct the following tasks:

• Assist and/or direct natural resource management and habitat restoration projects;
• Conduct conservation easement monitoring and administration on private land affiliated with SRT; and
• Assist with propagation and horticulture in our native plant nursery

The member will serve closely with SRT’s Land Steward to become skilled in native plant restoration and invasive species management, and with the Stewardship Associate on land conservation policy and practices via conservation easements.

We also serve regularly with SRT’s environmental education staff to support their efforts to educate and foster the public’s appreciation for nature. Together, SRT’s conservation and education programs aim to increase the level of public interest and understanding about watershed in which they live, inspiring them to become greater stewards of the land and resources that sustain them.

These tasks involve a combination of field and office work at approximately 70% and 30% of the member’s time, respectively.

Site-Specific Training Provided:
Sequoia Riverlands Trust supports the member development and career development of its AmeriCorps members. SRT provides overall site training and orientation, as well as introduction to conservation easement monitoring, plant identification, restoration practices, invasive species management, nursery operations, and safe herbicide application. If schedules allow, SRT will support any interests that AmeriCorps members have or want to pursue, including attending conferences, trainings, and other programs that support the overall position description and service plan of the member.

Things to Note:
This position is based out of Visalia, CA and offers service in a stimulating, challenging environment that provides training in a diverse skillset. Visalia is centrally located in California and reasonably near to the beautiful central coast, the San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, and the world-famous Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Members will receive support from multiple staff members with SNAP experience, be supervised by a SNAP alumnus with a strong understanding of the SNAP member experience, benefit from the option to live in an urban or rural setting, and serve at a growing, dynamic land trust with a plethora of public and private partnerships.

Required Qualifications:

• Sequoia Riverlands has a list of required qualifications for the Stewardship Technician, listed below:
• Willingness to frequently serve a Monday-Saturday schedule to accommodate weekend events
• Driver’s license, proof of insurance, a reliable vehicle, and willingness to drive it for projects that are off-site, sometimes for long distances (mileage is reimbursed at the federal rate)
• Ability to walk on uneven terrain, carry moderately heavy loads of 50-60 lbs, work outdoors, perform strenuous labor with hand tools, and withstand high (over 100°) temperatures and poor air quality
• Willingness to serve long days in the field on occasion (up to 10 hours) and use hand tools and motorized equipment (e.g. line trimmers)
• Willingness to apply herbicide to invasive plants with training
• Ability to serve independently and part of a team
• Must be reliable, able to follow directions, maintain a positive and professional attitude at all times, dress appropriately for office and field service
• Must be well organized, efficient and possess good time management skills
• Must be creative, resourceful, and possess the ability to adapt to changing circumstances quickly
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel, Gmail, and Google Calendar

These additional qualifications are desired, but not required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, or other natural resource field
• Interest in learning about habitat restoration, invasive species management, native plant propagation, or similar natural resource career
• Prior experience in land management, ecological restoration, field biology, agriculture, or related fields
• Basic understanding and experience with power equipment

Qualifications:

• Must be 18+ years of age and high school graduates or GED recipients (or minimum of 17 and working toward a high school diploma or GED); members must agree to obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award; meeting full list of member eligibility requirements in 45 CFR §2522.200(a)
• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident
• Must participate in a national criminal history background check pursuant to 45 CFR §2540.200-206

Benefits:

• Up to 27,500 living allowance for term of service, $2,500 per month.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of minimum hours for enrolled term of service.
• California For All Education Award in the amount of to supplement the Segal Education Award for a combined total of $10,000. (FT/1700 hr members only)
• Healthcare, Dental, Vision coverage for members (FT/1700 hr members only)
• Childcare assistance if eligible (FT/1700 hr members only)
• Student Loan Deferment & Interest Forbearance if eligible
• A $500 Member Development fund to support training, networking, and professional development opportunities that can be utilized and will be valued by future employers after the service term is completed.