Office Location:

Leola, South Dakota, USA 

Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA 

Eureka, South Dakota, USA 

Barnard, South Dakota, USA 

Ashley, North Dakota, USA 

This position will require irregular work hours and long days. While this position will work primarily from the Ordway Prairie Preserve in Leola, SD, you will occasionally be expected to travel and stay overnight at other work locations within the Tri-State (MN-ND-SD) Chapter.

Affordable housing for the Preserve Manager and immediate family is available for lease on the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Preserve. 

#Li-Onsite

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.” 

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager provides day-to-day project management, leadership, and implementation of conservation projects within and around the Leola Hills landscape including TNC’s 7,800-acre Ordway Prairie Preserve.

Examples of responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
• Assist with grazing and livestock management such as daily care of cattle/bison, annual roundups, assistance with research projects and data collection.
• Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
• Responsible for safe operation and maintenance of buildings and grazing infrastructure (such as fence, corrals, and watering stations) and equipment (ATV/UTVs, chainsaws, 4WD vehicles, skid-steers/tractors and attachments)
• Develops and manages a budget, negotiating, and contracting with vendors, and supporting fundraising and donor stewardship efforts.
• Network with diverse groups, including landowners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy projects.
• Performs ecological management tasks such as biological monitoring, invasive species control, grazing and fire management.
• Negotiates/writes agreements and leases and handles compliance issues in cooperation with other staff.
• Develops, implements, and delivers local programs/projects that align with TNC’s mission and goals.
• Travel to other sites to provide stewardship of other properties, assist other programs, and for trainings or meetings as needed
• Recruits and leads diverse teams.

In this role, you will develop and implement plans using an adaptive management process – including chemical, biological, and mechanical control of noxious weeds, grazing management, and fire management as well as participate in research and monitoring programs.

The Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager will assist with livestock management including daily care of the resident bison herd. The Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager addresses critical threats to natural systems and individual species, fosters cross-site learning among the conservation community and local landowners, and supplies conservation planning teams with site or landscape level information relevant to the planning process.  May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

We’re Looking for You:  

As the Leola Hills Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager, you will ensure support and collaborate closely with colleagues across the MN, ND, SD Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. You may oversee or lead a team of staff or volunteers dedicated to the management of the Ordway Prairie Preserve, near Leola, SD, and other TNC land interests.

As our Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager, you thrive in an environment based on learning and are able to adapt and embrace the opportunity for variable work duties. Examples include: office work to field labor, working independently to working with teams, following existing standard protocols to developing new methods and process.  As our Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager, you will build relationships and network with diverse groups such as: private landowners, ranchers, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the public to inspire support for the Conservancy’s priorities.

If this sounds like you, this is an exceptional career opportunity for a highly motivated, capable individual interested in joining the world’s leading conservation organization!

What You’ll Bring:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• AA/AS degree and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Experience operating and maintaining various types of equipment and facilities.
• Experience in ecological land management principles. 
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to deadlines.
• Supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience communicating with the public both in writing or verbally.
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.

In addition, the following DESIRED skills and/or experiences would be an asset for this role but are not required to apply. For applicants without these, please view these as areas or skillsets where you will have opportunities for growth and professional development. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and to guide activities.
• Knowledge of ecological land management/restoration principles, including range management, wildlife management, invasive species ecology, livestock husbandry, and fire management.
• Ability to maintain facilities including, corrals, fence, office, housing, and workshop.
• Must be qualified as or able to meet qualifications of a Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2) and work toward qualifications as needed to implement fire strategies. See https://www.tncfiremanual.org/FIrefighter.htm
• Ability to pass annual fitness test (carrying a 45-pound pack over 3 miles of level terrain in 45 minutes or less.)
• Knowledge of flora and fauna of the Northern Great Plains.
• Experience with GPS and GIS and data management.
• Ability to obtain required licenses or certifications, such as first aid, CPR, and herbicide application.
• Ability to follow instructions and work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to think creatively about how to leverage resources.
• Commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What We Bring:

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package which includes health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan with employer match (up to 8%), parental leave, pet insurance, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, surrogacy, adoption assistance and assisted conception benefits, employee discounts, and many other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

TNC also fosters an environment supportive of empowering our employees, amplifying an equitable workforce, and creating opportunities to participate in our nine Employee Resource Groups. 

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

 Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

Additional Job Information:

In order to effectively conduct the essential functions of the position, it is strongly suggested the Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager live within a reasonable distance from the Ordway Prairie Preserve, near Leola, SD, as agreed upon with the supervisor. The Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager is expected to respond to urgent and routine issues and events on the preserve in a timely manner. Issues and events may include but are not limited to livestock management, security, equipment failures, and visitors.

Housing for the Ordway Prairie Preserve Manager and immediate family may be available for lease on the Preserve.

In alignment with the global organization, the Tri-State chapter is making an intentional effort to creating a community of inclusivity and belonging through collaboration and feedback. We’re committed to building a culture based on trust, transparency, empathy, and accountability. We value individuality and difference of backgrounds and ideas, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Auto Safety Policy:

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 https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

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 $48,600 – $53,720 for annual base salary. 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.