Habitat Steward

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Posted 6 days ago. Be among the first 25 applicants.

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do.

We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non‑profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website,(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Salary/Hourly Rate: $52,500 - $67,500. (New hires are typically placed between Tier I and Tier III within the range, $52,500 - $60,000.)

Hours per week: 40
Job Classification:
Full‑time, non‑exempt
Job Type: Onsite

Location:

Beaver Brook, Williamsburg, MA

The Habitat Steward contributes to the protection and management of key species and native habitats through habitat restoration and maintenance. The position performs a suite of duties including regular and heavy mowing, herbicide application, and other ecosystem management tasks, directed at priority habitats known as Ecological Landscape Units. The role requires daily travel across inland counties of Massachusetts, including the Berkshires, Connecticut River Valley, greater Worcester area, and occasionally statewide, with the trailering of heavy equipment.

• Focus on maintaining priority habitats (i.e., Ecological Landscape Units) that require routine maintenance or restoration, including grasslands, early successional habitats, and rare species habitats.
• Work collaboratively with staff from multiple teams, including property, agriculture, and ecology staff, and other habitat stewards to coordinate maintenance activities.
• Work with Program Directors and Ecologists to prioritize workload and lead implementation scheduling to achieve yearly goals, conducting regular and heavy mowing using a skid steer with a mowing deck (e.g., rotary disk mulcher), herbicide application, and occasional other activities.
• Evaluate implementation of management with others on an ongoing basis to improve efficiency (e.g., reduced inputs and friction points) and outcomes (e.g., ecological benefits).
• Transport and operate tractors, skid steers, UTVs, and power equipment—including chainsaws, construction tools, seed drills, backpack sprayers, and motorized tank sprayers—following safety standards and best management practices.
• Serve as occasional project manager for selected habitat restoration and management projects that will be contracted out, including securing contractor bids following the Trustees procurement policy and required permits (e.g., Wetlands Protection Act).
• Serve as a Trustees expert for invasive plant control, including all aspects of chemical control, and ensure control is implemented on priority habitats.
• Maintain and advance organizational capacity and expertise to manage habitats by serving as a resource for stewardship staff, including developing and leading trainings (e.g., pesticide license CEU training).
• Participate in prescribed fire as a member of The Trustees fire crew.
• Maintain tools and equipment to achieve the above functions (e.g., chainsaw, tractor, skid steer, boom sprayer, etc.).
• Assist the Inland Ecology Team with grant proposals for habitat management and restoration, including NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) contracts.
• Use GPS to document habitat management.
• Maintain necessary state licenses, including Pesticide Applicator License, Hoisting License, and Wildfire Standards.
• Assist Director of Inland Ecology on an as‑needed basis with a variety of initiatives and projects.

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