Careers

Protect Important Lands
Application Deadline: Position open until filled

Do you love working in nature? Are you seeking an opportunity that positively impacts our important natural resources and the special lands we cherish? Do you want to work in an environment full of nature lovers and accomplished, highly-educated, highly-committed land conservation professionals, and devoted volunteers?

If so, consider joining the team at Sequoia Riverlands Trust, a nationally-accredited conservation organization based near Exeter and the Southern Sierra Nevada foothills and Sequoia National Park. Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) is a regional nonprofit land trust formed in 2001 to conserve the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley. SRT has ambitious programs in land and conservation easement acquisition (habitat and farmland), land stewardship, restoration, conservation outreach, land policy and planning, and environmental education.

SRT is currently seeking a talented Preserve Caretaker dedicated to conservation progress and successful land management practices at Sopac McCarthy Mulholland Blue Oak Ranch Preserve near Springville, CA. To see if this position is a good fit for you, consider the following duties:

Overview: The Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) Preserve Caretaker will be responsible for maintaining the Blue Oak Ranch Preserve in good condition for public access. The Caretaker will live onsite in the existing residence and at a fair rental rate. This includes keeping the entrance gates closed after sunset, maintaining parking lots and visitor use areas, trash disposal, and cleaning restrooms. In addition, the Preserve Caretaker will routinely interact with visitors to remind them of preserve visitation rules, and assist the SRT stewardship department with stewarding the ecological health of the preserve.

PRIMARY DUTIES:
• Close and lock the gates at sunset.
• Maintain all trails, equipment and facilities
-- Keep public trails in good condition by pruning, dragging, mowing, and weedeating.
-- Maintain all tools and equipment in good condition, notifying the Land Steward when
repairs or parts are needed. Perform monthly tool inventory and alert Land Steward if tools are unaccounted for.
-- Maintain visitor use areas and pick up and dispose of all litter.
-- Empty all trash and recycling containers as needed and take trash cans to curb.
-- Maintain supply of Mutt Mitts at entrance and order more as needed.
-- Collect fees from donations box on monthly basis or more often as needed and turn in contents directly to SRT office.
-- Maintain the Caretaker living facilities and perform minor household repairs as able, and bring other needs to the attention of the Land Steward or Stewardship Director. Caretaker may directly call appropriate service personnel in the event of an emergency, provided they also immediately notify Land Steward of the emergency.
• Interact with members of the public in a professional, courteous manner that reflects positively on Sequoia Riverlands Trust
• Control invasive plants using hand tools, power tools and herbicide under the direction of the Land Steward
-- Record herbicide use with appropriate information in herbicide log
• Assist with events at the Preserve as work schedules permit. This may entail pre-event site cleanup (including mowing), helping with deliveries, setting up tables or signage, coordinating parking, and post-event cleanup.

OTHER DUTIES:
• Assist with events at the Preserve as work schedules permit. This may entail pre-event site cleanup (including mowing), helping with deliveries, setting up tables or signage, coordinating parking, and post-event cleanup.
• Travel to other SRT nature preserves and assist with their needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION: The Preserve Caretaker will work closely with and under the direct supervision of the Land Steward and will work in close communication and partnership with the Conservation, Communications, and Education departments.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:
• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Proficiency at safely using, maintaining, and repairing power tools and hand tools associated with the job.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Understand verbal and written instructions in English.
• Work outdoors in various weather conditions, kneel and crouch, climb ladders, move and lift heavy items.
• Creatively solve problems related to tools, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Meet and communicate with SRT staff during general business hours Monday-Friday.
• Live on-site at the Caretaker residence with a month-to-month lease paying $750/month.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, dependability, responsibility, and ability to work independently.
• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Ability to move and lift heavy items.
• Ability to operate power tools for landscape maintenance such as weedeaters and chainsaws

DESIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:
• Experience in trades such as landscaping, general contracting, mechanics, irrigation, forestry, groundskeeping, custodial, electrical, welding, and carpentry.
• Comfortable with maintenance and minor repair of small engine equipment such as ATVs, mowers, weedeaters, and chainsaws.
• Ability to perform basic repairs in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical systems.
• Ability to identify and distinguish plant species
• Understanding of, appreciation for, and commitment to the conservation mission and environmental advocacy work of SRT.
• Bilingual with conversational Spanish abilities

HOURS AND COMPENSATION: The Preserve Caretaker position is part-time, 56 hours per month beginning at $20/hour. Monthly rent for caretaker's quarters is $750.

TO APPLY: Email resume and cover letter to: info@sequoiariverlands.org. Please put “Blue Oak Ranch Preserve Caretaker” in the email’s subject line. If Internet accessibility is problematic, please send materials via U.S. Postal Service to SRT, 427 S. Garden St., Visalia, CA 93277. And please, no phone or email follow up inquiries. Applicants will be contacted in the event that we wish to further explore your qualifications. To learn more about SRT, visit: https://sequoiariverlands.org.