Stewardship Technician

Position Description
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership

Sequoia Riverlands Trust – Visalia, CA
Position Title: Stewardship Technician
Type:
☒ Full Term
☐ 3/4 Term

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. We are a diverse land trust – we have a staff of dedicated professionals that work on land protection, stewardship, education, and local and state policy.

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.

Number of Member Positions at this Site:
1 Stewardship Technician
2 Education Technicians (see other position description and service plan)

Site Supervisor’s Name(s) and Title(s):
Jonathan Vaughn, Land Steward (supervisor for Stewardship Technician)
Bud Darwin, Education Director (supervisor for Education Technicians)

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:

SNAP 2024-25 Position Description

• 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 work 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 work 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 work 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 work 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 work 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 work independently and part of a team
  SNAP 2022-23 Position Description
• Must be reliable, able to follow directions, maintain a positive and professional attitude at all times, dress appropriately for office and field work
• 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

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have.

Jonathan Vaughn
Land Steward
jonathan@sequoiariverlands.org

Website: www.sequoiariverlands.org
Facebook & Instagram: @sequoiariverlands