Preserve Manager – Coachella Valley
Reports to: Regional Preserve Manager – Riverside County Region
Location: Coachella Valley, Central Riverside County
Position: Permanent / Full-time (1.0 FTE); Exempt (Salaried)
Compensation: $64,480 – $74,480 ($69,745.78 – $79,745.78 including home office and phone stipends) with benefits, including but not limited to 11 paid holidays annually; three weeks of vacation annually (progressive); sick leave; substantial employer contribution to health insurance plan; dental and vision plans; employer contribution to retirement plan
Application deadline: The position is open until filled, active recruitment
Position Description click, here
Position Summary and General Duties
The Preserve Manager – Coachella Valley (Preserve Manager) will be responsible for
managing a portfolio of preserves with the anchor preserve being the Thousand Palms
Oasis Preserve which is owned by Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM). This
880-acre Preserve was established primarily for the protection and conservation of the
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard and desert pupfish. Preserve habitats include desert
scrub, desert palm oases, desert wetlands, and desert sand dunes. This Preserve also
offers public opportunities for walking on trails and natural resource education via
informative signs, docent-led tours, and interactions with staff and volunteers onsite.
Amenities to support staff, volunteers, and the visiting public include restrooms, trails,
educational kiosks, and some buildings for staff/volunteer use. Preserve Manager
responsibilities at this Preserve will be largely driven by seasonal variation in natural
resources (monitoring, weed control), and in public visitation (November through March
being peak visitor season).
In addition to this anchor preserve, the portfolio includes two other preserves that are
owned and/or managed by CNLM (Dos Palmas, Palm Canyon Wash) and two
preserves that CNLM protects with conservation easements but does not manage
(CVAG- I10 and Smoke Tree Ranch Preserves). Other significant species within the
portfolio include Coachella Valley milkvetch, Casey’s June beetle, and Ridgeway’s
clapper rail.
The Preserve Manager will be responsible for biological monitoring, vegetation
management, and general management of visitor services. Associated activities include supervision of a full-time Land Steward, docents, and volunteers (including RV Hosts);
revising management plans as needed; preparing annual budgets, work plans, and
reports; analyzing data as needed; and active engagement of any contractors needed
for specialized services. The Preserve Manager will provide resource management in
accordance with the conservation values and any regulatory (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
requirements of the Preserve, CNLM’s stewardship standards and practices (which also
reflect and exceed Land Trust Alliance standards), and the preserve-specific
management plans.
The position of Preserve Manager requires maintenance of a home office for which
CNLM provides a stipend. A company vehicle may be provided at management’s
discretion. There is a considerable degree of autonomy (and responsibility) associated
with the position because of CNLM’s organizational structure which focuses on preserve
management rather than high levels of administration and supervision. In addition to
the management of the Preserve, the Preserve Manager will contribute to CNLM’s
expertise and documentation of ‘best management practices’ for managing rare and
protected plant and animal species. The Preserve Manager will participate in internal
and external stewardship and conservation science events and participate in the
acquisition of new preserves as needed.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide stewardship and adaptive management for the portfolio of preserves including planning, management, enhancement, (biological and other – e.g., weather, hydrological) monitoring, reporting, budget preparation and management, and other activities
- Review monitoring protocols, analyze and interpret the results of monitoring activities, and incorporate this information into management activities and plans
- Develop and maintain a permanent record of preserve activities, decisions taken, and preserve conditions
- Participate in planning and community meetings as a representative of CNLM and lead outreach as needed – especially with neighboring landowners, police and fire departments, regulatory and other natural resource agencies and entities, and sovereign tribes, as appropriate
- Prepare and implement annual work plans, budgets, and reports
- Identify any additional (beyond provided budget and work plan) important activities, develop plans, and participate in efforts to acquire additional resources
- Manage and monitor pupfish population and aquatic conditions at Simone Pond (may involve coordination with permitted biologists/regulatory agency personnel)
- Monitor occurrences and populations of native, listed, and nonnative species of
plants and animals.
- Implement vegetation treatment activities for high-priority nonnative invasive
plant species
- Support public visitor services by supervising and recruiting, as needed, volunteer corps; provide educational materials and opportunities
- Maintain visitor infrastructure, including composting toilets, kiosks, trails, fences and gates, and signs
- Maintain other preserve infrastructure, including buildings, wells, septic system
- Supervise docents and CNLM staff (Land Steward at present)
- Conduct easement compliance monitoring on properties where CNLM holds conservation easements
- Participate in acquiring new CNLM preserves which includes conducting PAR (Property Analysis Record) analyses on new properties and conducting associated field surveys and due diligence as needed
- Fulfill other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
- Master of Science (or Arts) degree (strongly preferred) in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Range Ecology, Botany, or related field
- Relevant experience in land stewardship, including application of good management practices, restoration, and management of rare or fragile species; at least three years of such experience is desirable
- Experience in management of desert ecosystems
- Experience in supervising staff and/or volunteers, highly desirable
- Ability to interact with the public in a professional manner and use discretion appropriately in the control of the visiting public and enforcement of public use protocols
- Knowledge—identification, life history characteristics, management—of southern California native plants is highly desirable
- Excellent communication skills; ability to write professional stewardship-related plans, reports, and other documents
- Demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively and professionally with committees and the public
- Proven self-starter, able to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision, and able to appropriately use initiative to meet habitat management goals; seeking advice and policy guidance when needed and appropriate
- Able to quickly learn and effectively use the PAR (Property Analysis Record) software, including the due diligence required for proper application of this financial tool
- Able to prepare annual budgets and manage Preserve activities within the
budget
- Working knowledge of GIS and GPS technologies and associated software and ability to use these technologies effectively
- Working knowledge of Windows operating systems and PC applications such as Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with statistical analyses and associated software is desirable
- Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and safe driving record
- Understanding of basic statistical principles for designing monitoring protocols, simple field trials, and analyzing resulting data is highly desirable
- Some familiarity with federal, state, and local environmental legislation and codes such as the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts is desirable and ability to work with appropriate discretion in a context involving listed species and regulatory requirements
- Able to structure time effectively, set priorities, and meet deadlines
- Ability to operate from a home office, to provide a safe location for a CNLM vehicle if one is provided, and to make efficient use of the limited funds available for transportation in traveling to/from the Preserve and conducting other workrelated responsibilities
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Regularly required to hike through a variety of habitat types and terrain, walking over uneven ground, climbing over obstacles, and accessing remote locations; occasionally carrying equipment/gear
- Outdoor working conditions may involve seasonal extremes in temperature (heat) and wind; mitigated with selecting times of day for work (typically, extreme heat may be present ~ six months of the year; wind for ~ three months of the year)
- Dramatic seasonal differences – both for weather/natural resources and public visitation; intensity as busy seasons for both overlap
- Involves interaction with the visiting public – and trespass (local to international)
- Regularly sits or stands at a desk or computer workstation
- Regularly required to operate a CNLM vehicle to conduct stewardship
responsibilities (this may include a 4×4 truck or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV))
- Works in an environment that involves overseeing contractors, working closely with other CNLM staff, managing public involvement, interacting with regulatory agencies
- Some evening, holiday, and weekend responsibilities may be required, including travel. Weekend responsibilities may be more likely during the peak visitor season (November through March)
- Timing of work may be related to biological windows, fiscal deadlines, Board meetings, legal commitments, or other defining timeframes. As such, periods of heavy workload may occur.
- Involves supervision of other staff, volunteers, and docents and coordination of work with other CNLM staff
- Occasionally may be required to use or supervise the use of pesticides and/or other chemical substances (Required to participate in annual CNLM pesticide safety training)
- Occasionally required to use or supervise the use of powered equipment such as weed trimmers and chainsaws and hand tools such as t-post pounders, saws, and McLeod rake and hoe
- Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
The working conditions described here are representative in part of those
that will be encountered by an employee in this position. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
successfully function in these working conditions.
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Preserve Manager – Santa Barbara County
Reports to: Regional Preserve Manager – South Coast Region
Location: Santa Barbara County (preserve is south of Lompoc, CA)
Position: Permanent / Full-time (1.0); Exempt (Salaried)
Compensation: $64,480 – $74,480 ($69,745.78 – $79,745.78 including home office and phone stipends) with benefits, including but not limited to 11 paid holidays annually; three weeks of vacation annually (progressive); sick leave; substantial employer contribution to health insurance plan; dental and vision plans; employer contribution to retirement plan
Application deadline: The position is open until filled, active recruitment
Position Description click, here
Position Summary and General Duties
The Preserve Manager – Santa Barbara County (Preserve Manager) will be responsible
for managing a preserve in Santa Barbara County that has been permanently protected
for conservation purposes. That preserve – Gaviota Tarplant Ranch Preserve – is a
2,731-acre preserve located south of Lompoc, CA that includes annual and perennial
grassland, coastal oak woodland, coastal scrub, riparian, and wetlands. The species
that commands the stewardship focus on this preserve is the State and Federally
Endangered Gaviota tarplant. Other significant species that reside within the Preserve
include Mesa horkelia, Kellogg’s horkelia, and California red-legged frog. CNLM will
have perpetual management and monitoring responsibilities for this Preserve.
In this case, the Preserve is sufficiently large and demanding in its management that it
is anticipated there will be two Preserve Managers. The Preserve Managers will work
together but with some differentiated areas of emphasis—one focused on grazing and
rangeland management and one focused on biological monitoring—as described below.
The Preserve Managers will work with support of the South Coast Regional Preserve
Manager for California in conducting all the management and monitoring activities
needed to protect and conserve the Gaviota tarplant. In addition to managing the
Preserve, the Preserve Managers may—as part of CNLM’s conservation team—work
with other CNLM staff on some other preserves as reasonable for best efficiency.
Both positions will focus on the monitoring and management of Gaviota tarplant
populations and habitat conditions and contribute to applied research and adaptive
management in support of this species. The two areas of emphasis for the Preserve
Manager positions are described below:
Biological monitoring, data management, and analysis
- The focus of this position is the monitoring design and collection of data for the Gaviota tarplant, and subsequent analysis and management of such data.
- Requires a strong understanding of statistical principles and experimental design for designing and implementing monitoring protocols, field trials, and data analysis.
Grazing and Rangeland Management
- The focus of this position is grazing and rangeland management to support Gaviota tarplant habitat.
- Manage grazing as a vegetation management tool to implement the goals of the
management plan. Conduct effective communications and relationships with
grazing operators and monitor grazing effects (e.g., RDM surveys). Determine
and implement, as appropriate, other vegetation management tools such as
pesticide application, mowing, or mechanical removal.
Both positions will be involved in overall management of the Preserve, and preparing
budgets, plans, and reports.
The Preserve Managers will be involved with committees composed of regulatory
personnel and other collaborators which will provide input towards management. Other
activities will include revising management plans; preparing annual budgets, work plans,
and reports; analyzing data as needed; and active engagement of contractors needed
for specialized services. The Preserve Managers will provide resource management in
accordance with the conservation values and regulatory requirements of the Preserve,
CNLM’s stewardship standards and practices (which also reflect and exceed Land Trust
Alliance standards), and the preserve-specific management plan. The position of
Preserve Manager requires maintenance of a home office for which CNLM provides a
stipend. A company vehicle may be provided at management’s discretion. There is a
considerable degree of autonomy (and responsibility) associated with the position
because of CNLM’s organizational structure which focuses on preserve management
rather than high levels of administration and supervision. In addition to the
management of the Preserve, the Preserve Managers will contribute to CNLM’s
expertise and documentation of ‘best management practices’ for managing rare and
protected plant and animal species. They will participate in internal and external
stewardship and conservation science events and, as needed, participate in the
acquisition of new preserves.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Given the two specific areas of emphasis described previously, somewhat different
responsibilities would reside with each Preserve Manager.
- Provide stewardship for the Gaviota Tarplant Ranch Preserve including planning, management, enhancement, monitoring, reporting, budgeting, and other activities
- Monitor occurrences and populations of native, listed, and exotic species of plants and animals
- Carry out specific preserve management activities such as vegetation management, maintaining and repairing fences and posting signs, patrolling and enforcement (of easement conditions), and preparing scopes of work and contracts for specific services if required for appropriate stewardship and as allowed by preserve budgets
- Conduct stewardship activities that could include occasional restoration or enhancement activities and integrated pest management including chemical control of exotics if needed and/or mechanical control
- Manage (adaptively) a grazing program that involves planning and implementation through monitoring and relationship maintenance with landowners, grazing operators, and others
- Review monitoring protocols, analyze and interpret the results of monitoring activities, and incorporate this information into management activities and plans
- Develop and maintain a permanent record of preserve activities, decisions taken, and preserve conditions
- Participate in planning and community meetings as a representative of CNLM and lead outreach as needed – especially with neighboring land owners, police and fire departments, and regulatory and other natural resource agencies and entities, as appropriate
- Manage and engage the public, as needed
- Prepare and implement annual work plans, budgets, and reports
- Identify any additional (beyond provided budget and work plan) important activities, develop plans, and participate in efforts to acquire additional resources
- Work collaboratively, productively, and professionally with other CNLM staff, natural resources agencies, consultants, advisory committees, and other conservation organizations
- Supervise other CNLM staff (e.g., Rangers) if applicable and as appropriate and as needed
- Participate in acquiring new CNLM preserves which includes conducting PAR (Property Analysis Record) analyses on new properties and conducting associated field surveys and due diligence as needed
- Fulfill other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
- Master of Science (or Arts) degree (strongly preferred) in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Range Ecology, Botany, or related field; or compelling evidence of equivalent experience and self-education that would result in understanding of core principles and ability to use statistical, preserve design, ecological, and genetic principles in preserve stewardship and decisionmaking (appropriate academic emphasis will depend on the specific (area of emphasis) Preserve Manager position
- Relevant experience in land stewardship, including application of good management practices, restoration, and management of rare or fragile species; at least three years of such experience is desirable
- Experience in management of annual grassland, coastal scrub, and oak
woodland habitats is desirable
- Previous experience and supportive formal education background in rangeland management and use of grazing animals to achieve conservation objectives is required for one of the positions (Grazing and Rangeland Management area of emphasis)
- Previous experience and supportive formal education background in designing field experiments and monitoring protocols for plant species, data management, analysis, and presentation is required for one of the positions (Biological Monitoring area of emphasis)
- Knowledge—identification, life history characteristics, management—of southern California native plants is highly desirable
- Excellent communication skills; ability to write professional stewardship-related plans, reports, and other documents
- Demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively and professionally with committees and the public
- Proven self-starter, able to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision, and able to appropriately use initiative to meet habitat management goals; seeking advice and policy guidance when needed and appropriate
- Able to quickly learn and effectively use the PAR (Property Analysis Record) software, including the due diligence required for proper application of this financial tool
- Able to prepare annual budgets and manage Preserve activities within them
- Working knowledge of GIS and GPS technologies and associated software and a working knowledge of Windows operating systems and PC applications such as Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with statistical analyses and associated software is desirable
- Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and safe driving record
- Understanding of basic statistical principles for designing monitoring protocols, simple field trials, and analyzing resulting data is highly desirable
- Some familiarity with federal, state, and local environmental legislation and codes such as the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts and ability to work with appropriate discretion in a context involving listed species and regulatory requirements
- Able to structure time effectively and meet deadlines
- Ability to operate from a home office, to provide a safe location for a CNLM vehicle if one is provided, and to make efficient use of the limited funds available for transportation in traveling to/from the Preserve and conducting other workrelated responsibilities
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Regularly required to hike through a variety of habitat types and terrain, walking over uneven ground, climbing over obstacles, and accessing remote locations
- Regularly sits or stands at a desk or computer workstation
- Regularly required to operate a CNLM vehicle to conduct stewardship
- Responsibilities (this may include a 4×4 truck or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV))
- Works in an environment that involves overseeing contractors, working closely with other CNLM staff, managing public involvement, negotiating projects with regulatory agencies, and working with advisory committees
- Some evening and weekend responsibilities may be required, including travel
- Timing of work may be related to biological windows, fiscal deadlines, Board meetings, legal commitments, or other defining timeframes. As such, periods of heavy workload may occur.
- May involve supervision of other staff and coordination of work with other CNLM staff
- Occasionally may be required to use or supervise the use of pesticides and or other chemical substances
- Occasionally required to use or supervise the use of powered equipment such as weed trimmers and chain saws
- Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
The working conditions described here are representative in part of those
that will be encountered by an employee in this position. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
successfully function in these working conditions.
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