Trails Steward

MISSION

Based in Eugene, Oregon, the Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah (Friends) nurture and restore our connection to nature. We are a grass roots, volunteer powered non-profit organization. We collaborate with partner agencies to protect land, improve trails, restore ecosystem services, and steward rare habitats across 4700 acres. In service of this enterprise, we operate a native plant materials program. Friends is a HBRA Stakeholder, Rivers to Ridges Partnership partner, and member of the Upper Willamette Stewardship Network. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Land Stewards are assigned to one of three Stewardship Program areas: Floodplains, Trails, and Uplands. They collaborate with the Stewardship Coordinator to steward habitat and recreational resources as well as implement episodic projects defined in supporting Management Plans for Conservation and Recreation properties within the organization’s service area. They lead and supervise interns as well as volunteers to accomplish tasks. They lead implementation of restoration prescriptions and fee for service objectives as assigned.

The Trails Steward is charged with the maintenance and improvement of the 25+ mile equestrian and hiking trail system within Buford Park as well as other terrestrial and water trail corridors within other parts of the Greater Mount Pisgah Area. They manage vegetation adjacent to trails as specified in the Habitat Management Plan. They co-lead efforts to restore trails following catastrophic storm events.

They collaborate with the Stewardship Director and Stewardship Coordinator to permit, budget, administer capital projects. They work closely with the Friends Trails Committee and Partners to design, plan, and implement a diversity of projects annually. They lead construction of new trails, new trail facilities, and replacement or repair of degraded trail segments or trail structures.

They collaborate with the Volunteer & Intern Coordinator to plan and host work parties and supervise volunteers in the field. They coordinate with the Stewardship Coordinator to schedule land stewards to assist with specific tasks. They supervise contractors and seasonal employees to accomplish assigned project elements.

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

• Trail construction, design, & maintenance with at least 3 years of experience required. Extensive familiarity with construction practices and principles preferred.
• Pedestrian and small equipment bridge design, construction, and maintenance
• Stone Mason with at least 2 years of landscape construction experience preferred.
• Extensive experience operating powered construction and landscape equipment including, but not limited to, powered wheelbarrows, motorized brush cutters & chain saws, walk-behind mowers, wheel tractors, compact excavators & loaders, compactors, and motorized off highway vehicles (ATVs/UTVs).
• Powered equipment and hand tools maintenance.
• Ability to trouble shoot and repair equipment preferred.
• Ability to paddle small watercraft (canoes, kayaks, rafts, SUPs).
• Ability to assess Willamette Valley habitats and to identify native and non-native plants.
• Ability to work full days outdoors and perform strenuous physical labor under all types of weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, or other inclement weather.
• Excellent computer skills including knowledge of MS Excel, data entry, and the use of tablets and smart phones. Ability to learn additional programs as required.
• Experience with CAD and GIS programs and supporting APPs preferred. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and the ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
• Project management and implementation with at least 1 year of experience required.
• Experience with permitting and reporting preferred.
• Experience with contract development and management with at least 1 year of experience required.
• Able to work effectively with supervisors and peers.
• A commitment to maintaining a safe and drug free workplace.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND LICENSES

• A high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Project Management certification preferred.
• First Aid and CPR Training preferred
• Sawyer training with experience felling trees of at least 18” in diameter and 60’ tall preferred.
• Fire Practitioner with participation in at least 5 prescribed burns. NWCG Single Resource quals preferred.
• Oregon driver’s license.

JOB LOCATION, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work locations are primarily outdoors at the Howard Buford Recreation Area (Buford Park), a Lane County Park, and other sites in the Greater Mount Pisgah Area and may require the employee to work in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions.
• Work may be repetitive in nature and require long periods of standing as well as long periods of walking over varied terrains.
• Work may involve balancing, bending and stooping, crawling, crouching, kneeling, pushing and pulling, reaching above one’s shoulder, repetitive motions, lifting and carrying up to fifty (50) pounds on a regular basis and with assistance fifty (50) to one hundred (100) pounds on an occasional basis, and the use of a keyboard and computer mouse.
• Work may require the use of protective eyewear, appropriate gloves, hearing protection, respiratory protection, safety shoes, hardhat, and other personal protection gear to prevent exposure to hazardous materials and situations.
• Work may involve direct exposure to pesticides or herbicides, other chemicals, oil and cleaning solvents, machinery, uneven terrain, noxious plants such as poison ivy, venomous insects such as wasps and yellow jackets, and other hazards.
• Work may involve driving company vehicles and the transport of hazardous materials.

POSITION STATUS

This is a non-exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act eligible for overtime pay for work more than 40 hours per week or ten hours per day. Friends is an “at will” employer and the person filling this position is an “at will” employee. Either party may terminate employment at any time for any or no reason, preferably with a minimum of one month’s notice.

COMPENSATION, WORK SCHEDULES, AND BENEFITS

Under the Friends personnel policies, temporary employees are paid hourly. A Land Steward is paid an hourly wage between $22 and $28.50 based on skills, qualifications, and experience. Merit increases are available based on productivity, tenure, and organizational resources. Pay checks are issued monthly on the last business day of each month. Payroll periods are from the 22nd of the month through the 21st of the following month. The work week is from Sunday through Saturday. Overtime or weekend work may be required. The Friends’ offer a generous benefits package including employer-paid medical and dental insurance when qualified. Details may be found in the Friends’ Personnel Policies Manual.

SAFE WORKPLACE Friends will not tolerate any form of harassment, whether co-worker, supervisor, park users or others. Friends also expects employees to maintain a safe and drug free workplace. This position description covers some but not necessarily all tasks, requirements, working conditions, and physical demands of the position described. It is impossible to anticipate and describe every aspect of a particular position over the duration of that position. Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah reserves the right to revise the position description or assign additional or different duties and responsibilities to the person filling this position as it deems necessary to ensure efficient and effective operation of the organization.