FTE: Full Time
Salary Range: $28,000 - $32,000 DOE plus benefits
Reports to: Landscape Restoration Program Manager
Initial Review Date: January 11, 2012; Open until filled
Founded in 1991, Sky Island Alliance is a leading regional conservation organization dedicated exclusively to the preservation and restoration of native biological diversity in the Sky Island region of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The current staff of fourteen work across five program areas in four states and in two countries with a budget of approximately $1 million to achieve the organization’s ambitious conservation goals. Sky Island Alliance is based in Tucson, Arizona, in The Historic YWCA at the heart of the West University Neighborhood. The Landscape Restoration Program (LRP) works to restore native species, healthy and diverse ecosystems, and natural evolutionary processes in the Sky Island region. We work in cooperation with government agencies and landowners to decrease habitat fragmentation and restore watersheds. We also work to promote the return of natural fire regimes to restore healthy ecosystems, promote policy and engage in action aimed at reducing the introduction and spread of nonnative species, engage in on-the-ground restoration activities in important habitats, and promote reintroduction of extirpated (locally extinct) wildlife and plants.
Scope of Responsibilities
The LRP Conservation Assistant is a critical member of the SIA team who brings strong field skills and natural history knowledge to working with and managing volunteers and projects, principally in the field. The LRP Conservation Assistant, under the direction of the LRP Manager, is responsible for running well-executed and safe volunteer restoration weekends, throughout the Sky Island region and will have the opportunity to work with approximately 250-300 volunteers per year. The position is based out of the Tucson office with frequent work field trips (camping) both in the US and Mexico. The position is tasked with leading volunteers in the field (75% of effort) to inventory and monitor roads, perform roadless and riparian surveys, engage in restoration activities including riparian plantings, installation of rock and brush structures, eradication of invasive species, and implementation of road closures.
Duties include coordination with federal and state agency personnel, other conversation organization staff, the SIA Volunteer Coordinator, and also internal database refinement and management. The recruitment and retention of volunteers in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinator is accomplished through a variety of means including outreach, education, communication and training. Database needs include refinement and accessibility work, compilation and entering of field data from road and riparian surveys, riparian restoration and road closures monitoring, and volunteer tracking information.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position is knowledgeable of conservation biology, and the ecosystems that occur within the Sky Island region, as well as land and wildlife management agencies that operate in the region. S/he must be able to work in challenging conditions: lift heavy loads (at least 50 and sometimes greater than 80 pounds), work long days and hike in sometimes extreme conditions, and work at night. The ideal candidate will have experience managing volunteers in the field and minimally qualified candidates will have managed volunteers or similar groups in any setting. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal communication skills, especially experience and an ability and willingness to lead teams, build rapport with a range of individuals, and train adults with varying levels of ability. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized problem solver and both self-motivated as well as a team player. The ideal candidate enjoys working in a diverse organization focused on science, advocacy and education and thrives in a fastpaced collaborative environment. Minimally qualified candidates will have a Bachelors degree in natural resources management or similar and 2-3 years professional experience ideally in a non-profit environment. Advanced education/training in natural resources management or additional years of professional experience in the field are preferred qualifications. Well qualified candidates will be proficient at Access, Excel and Word and familiar with geospatial software systems. Spanish language fluency or proficiency is a highly preferred (but not required) qualification. An Arizona driver license and maintenance of a clean driving record are required. All qualified candidates must have or be able to obtain in the near term a US passport or similar permission to regularly travel between the two countries.
Schedule & Benefits:
The position is based in Tucson, Arizona with an irregular work week base schedule; occasional attendance and work at organizational events will be required. This position travels to Mexico with regularity as part of the basic responsibilities. Salary: $28,000 – 32,000 DOE. Medical, dental and optical insurance coverage; vacation, holiday and medical leave benefits provided.
To Apply
Send resume, contact information for three professional references, and a cover letter (pdf’s preferred) via email to: emerson@skyislandalliance.org. Mark the subject line of the email as: Conservation Assistant SEARCH. Applications will be reviewed as received
