Title: Stewardship Assistant – Individual Placement

Reports to: Samantha McCann, Stewardship Manager, The Nature Conservancy – SC

Locations: Based in Mt. Pleasant, SC

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt (675-hour AmeriCorps National Service Term)

AmeriCorps Education Award: $2,817.14 upon completion of term of service.

Stipend: $700/week living stipend + $180 additional benefits stipend – paid bi-weekly  

Start/End date:   01/21/25 – 05/23/25 - 18 weeks

Positions Available: 1

Position opened until filled. 

Southeast Conservation Corps: SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.

The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. The SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.  

Site Description: Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change and conserving lands, water, and oceans at an unprecedented scale. We are providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Serving in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities. For more information about The Nature Conservancy, visit The Nature Conservancy: A World Where People & Nature Thrive (nature.org).

The Nature Conservancy South Carolina Stewardship Team is responsible for monitoring and stewarding our conservation easement & preserve portfolio. Our 161+ property portfolio of conservation easements protects over 187,000 acres from development, throughout South Carolina.  We work with landowners to ensure the conservation values on their property are protected. We have six public preserves protecting over 13,000 acres throughout the state.

TNC South Carolina also holds leadership positions in the South Carolina Land Trust Network which works with and helps 20+ land trusts in the state and government entities to boost conservation efforts, and provide conservation data for all to use.

Overview:  To better steward the lands we own & protect we have implemented a seasonal stewardship program to help with easement monitoring and our preserve work. This will be the third year of us having an AmeriCorps Steward!

The Stewardship Assistant will collect and improve data on existing infrastructure on our lands. Having this information in our geodatabase is crucial in tracking changes to each property over time, ensuring the conservation values are being protected.

Our public preserves and other lands we own are stewarded by our full time Land Steward. The Stewardship Assistant will join the Land Steward in land improvements and other misc tasks when a second person is needed for safety or quality purposes.  Examples include when using a boat to access properties, or when the Land Steward is operating a chainsaw.

Position Responsibilities:

The Stewardship Assistant will monitor assigned conservation easements, which includes using an iPad to collect infrastructure data and document the site visit in order to complete a monitoring report. They will assist with preserve work, including but not limited to joining on-site visits, trail improvements, and using an iPad to log work completed. When not in the field the Stewardship Assistant will enter data into our database.

1.CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING & STEWARDSHIP

• Read and understand each conservation easement document and related files before visiting the property.
• Drive to a property, using provided mapping applications to find the location and plan the route.
• Access property by foot or vehicle to complete monitoring visits.
• Use the Landscape app on iPad to take photos and log observations.
• Use the Field Maps app to review & update infrastructure data.
• Complete the annual conservation easement monitoring report.

 Training: conservation easement 101, how to use the applications, systems, and databases we utilize (ESRI's Field maps, ArcGIS Online, Smartsheet, Microsoft Teams, Box, Landscape Conservation Software, etc.)

Potential enironmental/human risks involved with this work plan activity: uneven terrain, exposure to bugs and other wildlife, hiking off-trail/unmarked paths, slippery/wet conditions, camping for up to one week required, being prepared for working in hot conditions, and camping in cold conditions

PRESERVE STEWARDSHIP

• Assist Land Steward with tasks on our preserves and other lands we own, included but not limited to accompanying them on saw work or boat trips for safety purposes.
• Play a role on pre and post storm event tasks (checking preserves, helping address damage)

 Trainings that you will provide to prepare the intern for this activity: Ecoregions of South Carolina, how to use the applications we utilIze (Field Maps, Landscape Conservation Software)

Potential environmental/human risk involved with this work plan activity: Potential environmental/human risk involved with this work plan activity: uneven terrain, exposure to bugs and other wildlife hiking off-trail/unmarked paths, slippery/wet conditions, kayaking and boat rides will be required.

DATA ENTRY

• Enter data into Landscape database, finding information in e-files on Box (cloud based file storage) or in physical files
• Scan physical files and save them in Box, upload to Landscape if needed

Trainings that you will provide to prepare intern for this activity: Intro to TNC SC's databases, systems, and applications

Potential environmental/human risk involved with this work plan activity: body strain from sitting for several hours at a time, eye strain from looking at computer screen for long periods of time.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field
• Must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Must be able to hike on uneven terrain, off-trail on unmarked paths in hot, cold, or wet conditions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 year related field experience

AmeriCorps Qualifications:  To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. 

Service Schedule:

The position lasts approximately 18 weeks (4 months), from January through May. The Individual Placement will serve a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday with lunch breaks each day.

Professional Development:

At The Nature Conservancy South Carolina we are invested in your professional development during your season. We will provide trainings on interview skills, cover letters, resumes, and professional networking. There will be ample opportunities during the season to network with partners and other organizations in the conservation community.

We will provide additional trainings on conservation/public land history, botany 101, ecoregions of South Carolina, current issues and strategies for conservation in the southeast, and general presentations to help your understanding of the conservation field.

Housing:

Housing is unavailable for this placement. All applicants must live within driving distance of the reporting office in Mt. Pleasant.

Transportation:

A personal vehicle is required to get to the service site and/or office. The Individual Placement will also drive an agency vehicle for this position. The driver must pass a background check, review, and sign The Nature Conservancy’s Vehicle Safety Agreement. The Individual Placement must also pass Conservation Legacy’s driver background screening to drive.

Compensation:  The Individual Placement are paid a living stipend of $700 + Additional benefits of $180 totaling $880 per week before taxes, via direct deposit. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal education award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Serve effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service requirements.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Outdoor Skills (where appropriate):

Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. 

Additional Notes:

All applicants are required to perform a criminal history check, offers of employment are contingent upon results.

This program is available to all eligible applicants, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion. 

To Apply: 

Follow the SECC link and complete the application. Please include 3 references, a resume, and a copy of your transcripts (unofficial is okay). You can put the references in a word doc and upload it alongside your resume. A cover letter is encouraged.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Samantha McCann

Stewardship Manager

The Nature Conservancy of South Carolin

samantha.mccann@tnc.org

Office: 843-800-1269

Mobile: 512-521-6891 (preferred)

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson

Individual Placement Program Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org 

Phone: 423-322-4976