Saratoga PLAN (PLAN) is hiring a Summer Stewardship Technician to assist with a variety of tasks related to safeguarding the conservation values on our preserves and easements. Reporting to the Conservation Director, the Summer Stewardship Technician will work closely with all PLAN staff, committee members, volunteers, and community partners, with a focus on management plan updates. This position will be approximately 30% field based, and 70% office based. Anticipated position term is May-August (flexible).

Responsibilities: 

• Assist Conservation staff to update Management Plans for fee title preserves.
• Consolidate biological inventories, invasive species, and restoration data, reports, and project information into one location for fee property files.
• Research natural resource management best practices to safeguard conservation values on the properties and create SMART objective goals and actions for staff to implement.
• Create conservation value maps, trail maps, kiosk maps, or other useful maps using ESRI ArcPro.
• Assist with conservation easement and fee title property monitoring, preserve and trail maintenance, restoration projects, and community engagement workshops or workdays.
• Attend partner organization’s hikes, educational walks, and programs to educate attendees about Saratoga PLAN’s mission and work.
• Lead invasive species detection and monitoring, reporting, and management plan drafting using tools such as iMapInvasives.
• Work with communications staff to help develop content for education and promotion, e.g., blog posts,social media content, photos from the field, etc.

Ideal skills and experience:

• Currently enrolled at a university studying one of the following: Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Biology, Forestry Environmental Science or similar field.
• Experience with ESRI ArcPro, iMapInvasives, or other mapping software and apps.
• Excellent skills with Microsoft Office 365 Online suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
• Strong reading and writing skills, with the ability to comprehend and interpret scientific research and data. 
• Strong organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and record-keeping.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical activities such as hiking in steep terrain and working on outdoor stewardship projects as well as long hours at a computer.
• Ability to work well in a small team environment while also having the ability to self-direct and motivate to achieve the above listed job duties.