Title: Land Management Specialist
Status: Full-time Competitive salary based on experience
North Florida Land Trust North Florida Land Trust is a 501(c)3 accredited land trust founded in 1999 with a mission to conserve natural areas, historic resources, and working lands of northeast Florida. With headquarters in Jacksonville, NFLT works throughout northeast Florida and has protected over 24,000 acres of land throughout the region.
Position Description The Land Management Specialist works with the Land Manager and Stewardship Manager, as well as independently, to complete assigned land management tasks including fee property monitoring, property maintenance, and habitat management. Primary responsibilities include prescribed fire planning and implementation, controlling exotic invasive species, assisting with timber management operations, reporting on progress of restoration efforts, repairing and maintaining preserve infrastructure, and operating and maintaining tools and equipment for land and ecosystem management. Ideal candidate will have prior experience and knowledge of prescribed fire, invasive exotic plant management, as well as proficiency in safe use of equipment and tools including chainsaws, 4WD vehicles, and small boats.
Responsibilities
• Participate in prescribed fire program, construct and maintain fire lines, conduct fuel reduction activities, participate in prescribed burns and wildlife suppression. • Monitor effects of land management and restoration efforts, including post-burn monitoring and long-term vegetation monitoring. • Perform vegetation maintenance tasks including operating mowers, chainsaws, hand tools, and application of herbicides. • Construct and maintain property infrastructure including fences, gates, signs, kiosks, hiking trails and unimproved roads. • Maintain and repair vehicles and equipment. • Regularly monitor property conditions on foot, by vehicle, boat, or by drone. Identify and resolve land management issues as they arise. • Protect NFLT lands and facilities by observing and reporting activities such as vandalism, littering, poaching, and wildfires; and maintaining good relationships with local law enforcement personnel, lessees, contractors and volunteers. • Participate in
office-based tasks including research, data management, and report and map production using a variety of software programs. • Identify volunteer opportunities on properties and coordinate with Stewardship Manager to schedule volunteer workdays. Supervise land management volunteers in the field. • Represent NFLT in relevant working groups and committees. • Build and maintain relationships with homeowners and landowners adjacent to NFLT’s preserved properties. • Any other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in forestry, natural resource management, environmental science or related field, OR an associate degree, high school diploma or equivalent and at least three (3) years of professional experience in natural resource management. • Knowledge and experience with prescribed fire including firebreak prep, burn operations and post-burn monitoring. • Completion of S-130/S-190 or State of Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager. • Experience in safe operation of field equipment including lawn and brush mowers, chainsaws, hand and pole saws, and hand tools. • Experience and proficiency operating 4WD vehicles. • Ability to collect data with GPS units and/or tablets in the field. • Willingness to work outdoors for long periods of time in variable weather conditions, be able to lift at least 50 pounds, and safely operate power tools and equipment. • Valid driver’s license, willingness to travel to locations throughout
north Florida, and at times, use personal vehicle. • Must be able to work well in a team as well as independently with minimal supervision. Preferred Qualifications Preference may be given to applicants with any of the following qualifications: • Advanced wildland fire certification or ability to obtain higher levels of NWCG qualifications. • Willingness and ability to obtain both State of Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager and Certified Pile Burner status within 12 months of hire. • Completion of, or ability to complete, S-212 chainsaw training course. • Experience or certification in safe operation of UTVs, ATVs, 4WD vehicles, heavy equipment, tractors or farm implements. • Pesticide Applicator License or agency-provided herbicide certification course. • Proficiency with trailering. • Experience operating boats and kayaks. • Experience using and maintaining fire equipment and heavy equipment. • Experience with ArcGIS to support data collection and mapping needs for land mana
gement. • Knowledge of native and non-native wildlife and plants, natural communities of north Florida. • Experience with welding, electrical, plumbing, or carpentry a plus.
Interested applicants may send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single PDF document to Elizabeth Guthrie at [email protected]
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.