Job Description: Stewardship Coordinator

Terms:  Part-Time, Exempt (20/week)

Compensation starting range: $20.82- $21.86 per hour

Anticipated start date: Late April/Early May

Bexar Land Trust, Inc. dba Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas

Green Spaces Alliance’s mission Our mission is to sustain the natural environment and enhance urban spaces through land conservation, community engagement, and education. It is Green Spaces Alliance’s vision to ensure that all San Antonians have access to the benefits of healthy lands, such as clean water, fresh air, nutritious food, and improved mental and physical health. As the region’s only accredited conservation land trust, GSA works to:

• Protect natural land and water resources through collaborative efforts that include land donations, conservation easement agreements, public/private partnerships, and fee for service acquisitions;
• Nurture and support a vibrant network of 28 community gardens offering our assistance through trainings, site development, accessing resources, and sharing best practices between gardeners and volunteers;
• Cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards through our Picture You World nature photography workshops, engaging over 500 young people, ages 8-18, in experiential programming;
• Engage all people in the San Antonio community in nature-based programs that enhance connectivity to our natural areas and cultivate meaningful interactions within our neighborhoods and green spaces;
• Create educational experiences for those young people interested in future careers in ecological and environmental fields; and workforce development and on-ramps for those entering the green job workforce.

Position Summary:  Stewardship Coordinator

GSA’s Stewardship Coordinator provides in-the-field and project management support to the Land Conservation and Stewardship and the Urban Land and Water (ULW) Departments.  Key responsibilities include conducting annual monitoring surveys on GSA held conservation easements and fee simple properties and coordinating stewardship activities guided by conservation plans, which are both integral to adherence to standards that maintain GSA’s accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This position also coordinates with the ULW community garden program to provide installation and maintenance support to GSA's volunteer garden stewards at 28 network gardens.  Coordination of both land stewardship and community garden activities will require detailed project planning and collaborating with a diversity of community volunteer groups as part of the GSA network.  These efforts will also support GSA’s vision to provide opportunities for in-the-field educational opportunities for student work groups; and offers opportunities for building experience in cultivating community networks around engagement in nature-based activities.

Responsibilities 

Under direction of the Land Conservation and Stewardship Director:

• Assists in monitoring all GSA conservation easement and fee lands, assessing each property for liabilities, changes, encroachments, and need for stewardship work
• Coordinates project activities around stewardship of GSA owned properties
• Provides coordination support for stewardship and restoration activities within GSA conservation easements
• Assists in the creation and fielding of the GSA Geospatial Decision Making tool in concert with GSA volunteer Geographic Information Systems Professionals
• Recruit and organize volunteer support as needed for stewardship workdays
• Assist with the recordkeeping of Land Conservation monitoring and stewardship activities, in keeping with the accepted standards and practices of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
• Assists in developing educational content at GSA’s Bulverde Oaks Nature Preserve and other GSA special events related to land conservation activities; occasionally facilitating educational programs.

In coordination with the Urban Land and Water Director:

• Create and oversee a schedule of work days for assisting garden stewards with garden maintenance projects as guided by the ULW garden plan
• Assist in the development of project plans for new installations or major garden work days, to include a budget for the purchase of materials, inventory of equipment, scheduling volunteers and staff, site and work plan
• Recruit and organize volunteer support as needed for community garden workdays
• Coordinate the 3- to 4- person GSA garden apprenticeship team around garden projects
• Assist the ULW team with community engagement events and volunteer recruitment efforts to help cultivate a local network of garden support and bring meaningful connections within the community around the gardens.

Required Qualifications

• Completed coursework or hold a degree in natural resource management, environmental science, geography, or agriculture (transcripts requested)
• One year of experience in project coordination
• Experience reading and interpreting maps and surveys 
• Beginner skills in ArcGIS software, GPS and map-making
• Skills in establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships
• Physical ability and willingness to work outdoors, in uneven terrains; and ability to lift 25 lbs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite software
• Valid Class “C” driver’s license; access to or ownership of reliable vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

• Intermediate skills in ArcGIS software, GPS and map-making
• One year of experience conducting ecological field surveys
• One year experience in landscape or garden hardscape and bed installation
• Experience in organizing volunteer groups and planning volunteer event related work days
• Interest in regional conservation issues and urban green space planning

Terms, Compensation, Benefits

The Stewardship Coordinator position is a part-time hourly (exempt) position, with anticipated workload of an average of 20 hours per week.  Work hours are flexible and based around project coordination and scheduling, to include regular weekday hours, early evening, and weekend hours.  The Stewardship Coordinator reports directly to the Land Conservation and Stewardship Director.

Compensation starting range is $20.82- $21.86 per hour

Mileage reimbursement at 0.65/mile for use of personal vehicle for GSA project travel

As a part-time position, a full benefits package is not offered; part-time accrued paid time off is offered with a maximum of 60 hours/year.

Culture & Values

The GSA office and staff are team oriented. The environment is casual, collegial, and committed to conservation ethics and goals. GSA seeks to hire team members who helps advance equity conscious outcomes. Diversity is embraced, recognizing that a resilient ecosystem is only possible when all identities are included.