The John Muir Trail Wilderness Conservancy

FIELD STEWARD

The JMT Wilderness Conservancy is seeking 6 to 8 Field Stewards to join our non-profit organization.  Field stewards will be deployed in teams of two, located at various points along the John Muir Trail.  Deployment locations for each team will be in the Inyo and Sierra National Forests and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

This position will provide final field training, oversight and management of our restoration crews working on campsite and meadow restoration projects to assure quality restoration techniques are implemented and will work in compliance with our quality control standards. Additional duties will include traveling to prior restoration sites to assess effectiveness of restoration treatments and provide additional restoration if needed.  Stewards may assist campers away from decommissioned campsites or areas under restoration.  May perform modest removal of saplings from incursions into meadows and riparian corridors. 

The JMT WC is dedicated to the conservation of the wilderness, wildlife, and watersheds along the Sierra Nevada crest defined by the John Muir Trail (est. 1915).  Considering steeply increased recreational use and the compounding effects of climate change, our mission is to restore and conserve meadow ecosystems and riparian habitat along the JMT corridor.  The region is roughly 20 miles wide and 220 miles north-to-south, running from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney, and includes over 390 miles of trails and 2.8 million acres of surrounding wilderness.

POSITION:  FIELD STEWARD:

Commitment: Seasonal employee, from mid-May to mid-October each year.  Because this position will frequently require to be on and around the John Muir Trail, residence on the Eastern Sierra is preferred, Bishop or Mammoth Lakes. Two may reside in the greater Fresno area for access to the western Sierra Nevada.  Work schedule is typically 9 days in the backcountry with 5 days off.  Attendance at an orientation and training programs in May and June is required.  See below. 

Compensation : $25,000- $30,000 depending on experience, seasonal compensation, including in- field per diem, paid twice monthly. 40 hours of Paid Time Off upon Manager approval.

Reporting: Direct report to the Field Steward Manager.  Will work with the Field Project Managers in coordinating mapping locations of current, former and future restoration sites, and the loading of GIS maps and data onto to rugged iPads for their deployments. Will need to visit work sites and coordinate with restoration crews for final training and to assure quality restoration techniques.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participate in Orientation and Training:

• Attend orientation and training during May and June:
• Mammoth Lakes in coordination with the USFS Inyo National Forest and in Truckee with the JMT WC

Topics will include:

• The science and function of meadow ecology and riparian corridors and the history of their declining condition throughout the central Sierra Nevada.
  • Restoration techniques and lodge pole pine clearing, in accordance with the Conservancy’s Quality Control/ Quality Assurance document, landscape restoration design plans and other information.
  • Learning the ArcGIS ESRI platform for surveys of damaged terrain and notation formats, and the use of rugged iPads loaded with GIS maps for field coordination.
  • Monitoring data collection protocols and techniques.
  • USFS and NPS wilderness protocols.
  • Past restoration projects and those planned for the current season in each jurisdiction.

(iii) Provision and organize for each season, including:

• Working with the Field Steward Manager and the Field Project Team, develop seasonal routes in coordination with the Monitoring Teams and sub-contracted restoration crew deployments.
• Managing your own seasonal provisions and gear, based on each 9-day deployment. Assisting with pre-deployment specialized training of the sub-contracted field crews, as needed.
• Provided: JMT Wild will provide each Steward with a lightweight tent, JMT WC logo’d backpack, field uniforms (shirts, shell and hats), work gloves, hard hat, safety glasses, and field tools.
• Not provided: all other gear and supplies to be furnished by Steward at their own cost e.g. sleeping bag and pad, other clothing and layers, work and hiking boots, heavy jacket, water filter, stove and cook set, etc.

(iv) Deploy on the schedule confirmed with the Field Steward Manager, including:

• Coordination with the regional Project Manager, Field Coordinator and Monitoring Cohorts to meet at a given location for each project assigned in your area.
• Overseeing project starts with sub-contracted field crews.
• Hiking to prior restored areas to check on restoration effectiveness, performing light restoration as needed, adjusting signage, and managing any people camping in restored areas.
• Hiking to areas being inventoried by Monitoring Cohorts to locate and identify any large areas of impacted or damaged terrain, e.g. a major trail junction or mega-campsite, which JMT Wild may need to assess over the winter for a more detailed restoration design and plan.
• During the season, moving between active restoration projects to assure quality work continues to project conclusion.
• Supporting the USFS or NPS, as appropriate, in the event of early season impacts due to snowpack.

(v) At season end, assisting with field exits and the cleaning, inventory and packing of field equipment and gear for Stewards and the Monitoring Teams.  Will provide end of tour and season-end reports to the Field Steward Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Field Stewards will be self-supported on multi-night backcountry tours and must be physically and emotionally fit to endure remote locations, rugged terrain, and inclement weather for extended periods of time. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, able to work as a team and behave in a respectful and professional manner when engaged with partner crews, agency partners and the public.

• 2 years+ wilderness ranger or trail crew experience with USFS or NPS.
• BA/BS degree with emphasis in recreation management or environmental sciences. Field botanist with focus on meadow sciences a plus!
• Able to carry 35-50 lb. backpack, and hike 10 miles+ in and out of basecamp.
• Some experience with the ESRI platform and GIS data collection for mapping field operations desirable.
• Possess a current WFA or WFR certification.
• Leave No Trace certification.
• Have an appreciation for biodiversity in plants and animals, and a passion for the environmental preservation of meadow ecology, and sustainable recreation in the central Sierra Nevada.
• Experience in environmental nonprofit organizations, helpful.

To apply, please send  (1)  a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and what excites you about the position;  (2) a resume detailing your educational degrees and field experience; and  (3).three professional references to Terri Fisher, Field Steward Manager at terri@JMTwilderness.org

The JMT Wilderness Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable nonprofit located in Menlo Park and Truckee, CA which does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition or any other basis protected by state or federal laws.