The Frontera Land Alliance, a non-profit organization founded in 2004, was created by a group of community members who recognized the urgent need to preserve the remaining natural and working lands in the greater El Paso and southern New Mexico region. The Frontera Land Alliance is dedicated to protecting, forever, natural open spaces, farms, ranches, watersheds, and wildlife of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

The Frontera Land Alliance is hiring a part-time person for the Open Space Department. This position will work 20 hours a week. No medical or retirement benefits are included in this position. The holder of this position will assist the Open Space Manager in managing two City of El Paso nature preserves. The Outdoor Stewardship Specialist (OSS) will be trained to help maintain 13 miles of natural trails. Additionally, the OSS will lead and supervise community-volunteer hiking and biking trail workdays, as well as assist with land stewardship education as needed.

On trail maintenance and other related workdays, the OSS will be responsible for digging, carrying rocks and other heavy items (up to 50 lbs.), engaging in brush cutting and removal, and operating power equipment tools after receiving proper training. The position requires hiking for up to five hours a day, with both indoor and outdoor working conditions. Inclement weather may be encountered in mountainous terrain.

Responsibilities:

The OSS will be required to safeguard natural features, improve wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity, protect the health of our regional watershed, provide well-maintained trails for biking, hiking, and running that contribute to the local economy, and educate the community in the value of our desert. The OSS will also help educate users of the nature preserve on trail etiquette, understanding the value of our fragile desert, and recruiting volunteers. Essential

Responsibilities and Functions are (but are not limited to):

1. Walk each assigned property and document the trails, signs, and people’s behavior findings. Effectively communicate warnings of potential dangers or notifications of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance.

2. Provide a monthly monitoring summary to the Open Space Manager. Which includes the review of trails, signs, and other elements of the lands.

3. Event Requests: Review event requests, if approved, monitor and report before, during, and After each event, it had an impact on conservation values.

4. Learn—and be responsible for ensuring—that the terms of the conservation easement are followed.

5. Perform a variety of trail maintenance tasks, including checking trails for hazards and missing signs, putting up signs, marking hazards, and cutting brush.

6. Assist in inventory tools and maintenance

7. The position includes working most weekends. Have flexible working hours.

Required Skills:

• Associate or higher degree in related field
• Experience in trail work within the American Southwest preferred
• Experience with volunteer management
• Demonstrate professional behavior
• Experience working with the public
• Able to work weekends and evenings
• Must have own vehicle to drive to nature preserve
• Be conservation-minded
• Fluent in Spanish and English preferred
• Excellent communication skills–both verbal and written
• Show excellent organizational skills, be on time, and meet deadlines
• Familiarity with MS Excel, MS Word, MS Publisher, CANVA and Donor Perfect
• Team player and follow directions
• Be able to become certified in—and undertake when necessary—First-Aid Safety