Technician, Land Stewardship

About the role

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (including the Blair Audubon Center) is one of the National Audubon Society's premiere centers. Operating as part of the state program in Florida, the Sanctuary unites visitor and education experiences with science-based conservation to understand, protect and restore habitats on its 13,000 acres and its regional and connected watershed and public lands corridors.

Responsibilities

• Remove invasive and native nuisance plants within the Sanctuary using boom sprayers, backpack sprayers, ATV/UTV-mounted sprayers, machetes, chainsaws, and other equipment, as needed.
• Serve as a member of the Sanctuary prescribed fire team, assisting with preparation, team coordination, ignition, suppression, and post-fire mop up.
• Maintain accurate, detailed records of land stewardship activities, particularly herbicide inventories, treatment tracks, and other application information.
• Assist with invasive animal monitoring, reporting, and removal (may include snails, insects, fish, lizards, snakes, etc.).
• Safely operate multiple off-road vehicles (4WD trucks, ATVs, UTVs, swamp buggies, and airboats) and maintain field equipment.
• Maintain fire breaks and trails using chainsaws, weed eaters, tractors, discs, mowers and other power equipment.
• Responsible for daily upkeep, trouble-shooting, and basic maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
• Implement, recommend, and consistently follow safe work habits and procedures.
• Effectively train, communicate with, and oversee (as crew leader) volunteers assisting with land stewardship activities.
• Provide written and verbal progress reports.
• Maintain and foster a culture of safety.

Requirements

• A High School Diploma, GED, or Vocational training required.
• 1+ years’ experience in land stewardship or other environmental field work required.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• A strong sense of direction and excellent navigation and geolocation skills are required.
• Experience with handheld GPS, GoogleEarth, Survey123, or FieldMaps is a plus.
• Knowledge of South Florida ecosystems and experience with herbicide application is preferred.
• The successful candidate must demonstrate an ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances and work conditions, and an ability to improvise and problem solve in the field.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety through strict adherence to health and safety requirements, exercising sound judgement, and acting quickly in emergencies.
• Must have (or be able to independently obtain within stated timeframe after hire) the following certifications:
• First Aid and CPR Training (within 3 months)
• National Wildfire Coordinating Group S130 (Firefighter Training) and S190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (within 6 months)
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Pesticide Applicator License (within 12 months)

Qualifications and Experience

• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills are required; experience leading field crews (including volunteers) is desired.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license with a clean driving record. Must have a vehicle for transportation to/from the job site and a smartphone that can be used across Collier & Lee Counties to communicate with other staff during working hours.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Benefits

• Compensation: $21.00 - $23.00 / hour

Pay

• $21.00 - $23.00 / hour

Schedule

• This full-time 40-hour per week position is classified as on-site based out of Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Naples, FL).