Audubon California Landowner Stewardship Program

Position Announcement

Habitat Restorationist

Audubon California’s Landowner Stewardship Program  (http://ca.audubon.org/lsp ) works directly with farmers and ranchers to design and implement habitat restoration projects on farms and ranchland throughout California. The program office is located outside of Winters, California. Launched in April of 1999, the program partners closely with the Center for Land-Based Learning, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Projects that the program carries out include: riparian, oak woodland, and perennial grassland restoration, construction and vegetation of ponds and wetlands, and prescribed burning. Project implementation is typically coordinated between Audubon and the Center for Land-Based Learning’s SLEWS Program which provides hands-on learning in conservation, restoration and agriculture to high school students from the region. The Landowner Stewardship Program includes a science program that integrates research and monitoring of wildlife and plant communities into the program.

Audubon-California seeks to hire a Habitat Restorationist to help plan, design, and install habitat restoration projects.  The successful candidate will work under the direction of Audubon’s senior Habitat Restorationist, Restoration Ecologist and Program Director to carry out restoration tasks in the field.

Job responsibilities (with perecent time spent on each task):

• Implement restoration projects: site preparation, seed collection, planting, weed control (including targeted use of herbicides, mowing, hoeing, and hand pulling), irrigation installation, and supervision of hired labor and volunteer crews. (45%)
• Coordinate and help implement work days with high school student volunteers through the SLEWS Program at Audubon’s habitat restoration sites.  (20%)
• Maintain project field equipment and tools in good working condition and assist in tracking inventory of all restoration supplies.  (15%)
• Plan and design habitat restoration projects: site visits and developing preliminary budgets and project implementation plans.  (10%)
• Assist in gathering, maintaining, and analyzing project monitoring data.  (5%)
• Participate in team meetings, program evaluation, and long-term planning for the program.  (5%)

Qualifications:

• Ability to perform physically-demanding field tasks, including but not limited to: manual labor required for planting native plants and installing irrigation equipment, the application of herbicides with a backpack sprayer or spray rig, active participation in prescribed burns, and operation of some farm equipment (e.g., tractor, spray rig, ATV with mower and harrow).
• At least one year applicable field experience such as vegetation management, wildlife surveys and/or restoration.
• Bachelors degree in ecology, botany, wildlife biology, soil science or related field.
• Working knowledge of basic computer programs, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse array of program partners.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work flexible hours, especially during restoration field season.

Desirable skills and training (Important but not required):

• An understanding of conservation biology, ornithology, bird watching, agronomy and/or environmental education.
• Training in the safe application of herbicides and experience operating farm equipment.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish.

 Salary: dependent on experience.  Full benefits.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail in pdf or Microsoft Word format to Miles DaPrato at mdaprato@audubon.org (No phone calls please).