Summary of Position:

The Minnesota Land Trust’s mission is the preservation and restoration of Minnesota’s natural heritage for future generations. The Land Trust’s Restoration Program works with private landowners and partners to restore and manage ecological restoration projects in many regions of the State. The Restoration Coordinator assists Restoration Program Managers to complete projects. The Coordinator collects field data, prepares scopes of work, completes vendor contracts and other procurement agreements, and inspects key activities including work done by subcontractors. The Coordinator plays a key role in project tracking and reporting. The Coordinator interacts directly with the Land Trust’s partners including local units of government, tribal natural resource managers, state and federal agencies, landowners and other Land Trust staff.

Prairie Pothole Region Coordinator:

The Land Trust and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Partners for Wildlife are restoring prairie and wetlands in western Minnesota. The Coordinator assists in the design and construction of these restoration projects. The position requires both office and field work. Office work includes writing and editing vendor service contracts in standard formats, coordinating work with partners and contractors and processing invoices for payment. Field work includes completing surveys for grading and earthwork construction, operating equipment for seeding and mowing and inspecting the work of contractors completing tree removal, prairie seeding, wetland construction and prescribed burning. The Coordinator is required to complete USFWS training modules and a federal background check. Frequent travel, including extended overnight trips (2-3 trips/month up to 2-5 days), to Fergus Falls, Morris, and other areas in western Minnesota is required.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ):

All employees of the Minnesota Land Trust are expected to embrace the ideals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and incorporate DEIJ principles throughout their work. All employees are required to be familiar with the Land Trust’s current DEIJ plan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist restoration program managers coordinate restorations with partners and/or other Land Trust staff (80%)

• Prepare scopes of work, bid packages and vendor contracts
• Coordinate bid awards with agencies and contractors
• Prepare maps and GIS data
• Ensure quality assurance and quality compliance for restoration projects including on-site inspections for contract compliance, documentation and project performance
• Support restoration planning and design activities
• Assist with seasonal field work
• Work with partners on restoration project development and implementation.

Support Restoration Program administration (10%).

• Maintain organizational record-keeping and project database
• Process invoices and other paperwork following procedure in a timely manner
• Participate in DEIJ planning and initiatives
• Assist with grant applications and reporting.

Participate in external communications. (10%)

• Communicate the Land Trust’s work in this area with staff, board, partners, volunteers, and landowners.
• Contribute to external outreach and communication efforts related to Land Trust fundraising or marketing program areas.

Position Requirements:

• Minimum of three years work experience in natural resource management or habitat restoration OR a bachelor’s degree in biological or environmental science and 1+ year of resource work experience.
• Understanding of the basic operational steps for ecological restoration projects and experience inspecting and evaluating the quality of habitat restorations, or natural areas.
• Experience writing or editing technical reports, documents, contracts or descriptions.
• Highly attentive to details and follow-through in communications for developing and maintaining work relationships with a wide variety of external partners and contractors.
• Experience being self-motivated and self-directed while working in a team environment to achieve organizational goals.
• Proficiency using maps, and other spatial data to orient work in the field.
• Capacity to complete extended workdays outdoors and occasional overnight stays in rural or agricultural settings.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using Project Management software applications (Birdview, Smartsheets, etc).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook programs.
• Self-directed to continue habitat restoration design and construction training.
• Experience using field survey equipment, field data collection and Esri ArcGIS programs.
• Proficiency with record-keeping and filing.
• Experience using all-terrain vehicles such as ATV, UTV and farm tractors.

Physical Demands:

This position is physically demanding and requires the following abilities:

• Ability to navigate in remote/rural, or urban settings.
• Ability to perform computer work at a desk for up to 8 hours.
• Ability to drive a vehicle for 8 hours to travel throughout Minnesota.
• Ability to work full days outdoors at all times of the year.
• Ability to walk up to 3 miles over uneven terrain.
• Ability to repeatedly lift 40 pounds.
• Ability to operate ATV, UTV, and other vehicles in off-road conditions.