Visitor Safety and Engagement Specialist

The VSES focuses on preserve visitation and advances land stewardship with the important goal of creating and supporting safe and positive experiences for people with a range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds and ensuring TNC's properties meet ecological and cultural goals. This position tends to multiple preserves across the Saugatuck Forest Lands management unit in southwest Connecticut, may work with volunteers, and is directly supervised by the Director of Saugatuck Preserves.

What We Can Achieve Together:
The Visitor Safety and Engagement Specialist (VSES) is a land stewardship team member whose work primarily focuses on our 1,900-acre Lucius Pond Ordway-Devil's Den Preserve in Weston and Redding, CT. This position tends to multiple preserves across the Saugatuck Forest Lands management unit in southwest Connecticut, may work with volunteers, and is directly supervised by the Director of Saugatuck Preserves. Integrating best practices for engaging a broad audience in the body of work that encompasses land stewardship is an important component of this position. The schedule includes weekend hours at our Devil's Den & Saugatuck Forest Lands office.

This is a Hybrid position with an expectation of several days per week working from our Devil's Den Preserves. There is flexibility for some remote work as well. There is an expectation for some weekend working days as well, at times.

We're Looking for You:
TNC's Connecticut Chapter offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, a 401 (k) retirement plan with employer matching contribution for eligible employees, flexible schedule and office location arrangements, and a collaborative work environment. We prioritize professional development and promote from within. You will find a culture here at TNC that both inspires conservation achievement and supports personal growth, in the workplace and beyond.

The VSES focuses on preserve visitation and advances land stewardship with the important goal of creating and supporting safe and positive experiences for people with a range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds and ensuring TNC's properties meet ecological and cultural goals.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years' experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
• Experience in training.
• Must have valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Experience with conflict resolution.
• 3-5 years' experience in natural resource management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
• Experience operating and repairing various types of equipment and machinery.
• Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
• Experience managing volunteers.
  

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $66,000- $75,990 annually. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate's actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:
The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon wh