Community & Lands Steward

Overview

Mahoosuc Land Trust (MLT) seeks to add a dynamic individual to our small, collaborative team of five full-time staff.

This position blends hands-on land stewardship with volunteer engagement and community-facing programming. It is ideal for someone who enjoys working outdoors and building relationships that inspire people to care for conserved lands.

The Community & Lands Steward will work at the intersection of land stewardship and community outreach and engagement. MLT is a growing and evolving conservation organization with a 37-year history of working to conserve lands and waters in Western Maine and Northern New Hampshire.

We care for and conserve forests, wetlands, farmland, and numerous public lands offering year-round recreation opportunities. We conserve land under our own ownership and in partnership with private landowners through conservation easements. With a mission to Inspire Action Through jobshiringnearme.org, we provide thousands with experiences to know and appreciate the natural world and to take action in their backyards and communities.

Stewardship Context

MLT’s Stewardship Team currently consists of 2 staff, a 12 member Stewardship Committee, and 30-40 regular volunteers. This team is responsible for managing and maintaining:

• 30+ miles of recreational trails
• 4 Androscoggin River boat landings
• Many miles of property boundary
• 11 publicly accessible recreation sites, kiosks, and trailhead parking lots
• Annual monitoring of 35+ locations across ~26,000 conserved acres

The Community & Lands Steward plays a key coordinating and leadership role within this stewardship system.

Position Summary

The Community & Lands Steward blends land stewardship with volunteer engagement and community outreach, creating and managing opportunities for the community to engage in the conservation, maintenance, and care of MLT’s conserved lands.

This position also coordinates and/or delivers public programming including natural history walks, guest speakers, webinars, and related events.To inspire action through conservation the Community & Lands Steward will lead in enhancing and activating the spaces and relationships to do so.

This is a highly people-facing role that combines physical, technical, and interpersonal work.

The successful candidate is an outgoing, self-directed leader who can engage volunteers and the general public in caring for our lands. They will be comfortable working outdoors independently and in leadership roles, and able to perform the physical, technical, and communication tasks required to steward MLT’s conserved lands.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position (32–40 hours/week, negotiable).
Salary range: $40,000–$45,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits include:

• Health insurance contribution
• 3% annual retirement contribution
• Paid time off
• 11 paid holidays
• Mileage and cell phone reimbursement
• Hybrid working opportunities
• Professional development support

Some evening and weekend work is required, particularly during the field season and for community events.

Responsibilities

Stewardship (Approx. 45% – primarily April through October)

• Work with the Stewardship Director to complete management objectives of preserves, including boat landing and recreation trail construction and maintenance, and trailhead improvements
• Ensure property maintenance and oversight in coordination with the Stewardship Committee
• Work on property enhancements and coordinate work with volunteers, contractors, or project partners, with support from the Stewardship Director and Stewardship Committee

Volunteer Recruitment & Community Outreach (Approx. 35%)

• Recruit, train, supervise, and recognize volunteers engaged in land stewardship work
• Schedule and host regular volunteer stewardship events (trail maintenance, invasive plant management, tree planting)
• Work with the Habitat For All Director to develop and deliver program content, including guided hikes, natural history walks, sit spots, guest speakers, and webinars
• Support volunteer stewards assigned to individual properties
• Provide support at major organizational events, including taking a leadership role in building MLT’s Winterfest offerings
• Work with the Partnerships Director on stewardship- and volunteer-related communications (e-News, outreach materials)

Technology, GIS & Mapping (Approx. 10%)

• Work with the Stewardship Director to update and improve user-friendly maps and brochures for MLT properties
• Work with the Partnerships Director to integrate property information with fundraising and outreach campaigns
• Train volunteers in mobile and tablet-based data collection tools (Landscape jobshiringnearme.org Software, GaiaGPS, iNaturalist)
• Assist with maintaining organized GIS and spatial data systems

Property Monitoring (Approx. 10%)

• Work with the Stewardship Director to oversee annual monitoring of MLT properties and conservation easements consistent with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices
• Coordinate and support volunteer stewards’ annual monitoring responsibilities

Qualifications & SkillsPersonal Qualities

• A love of the outdoors and commitment to conserving land for future generations
• A personable communicator with a genuine interest in building relationships
• Action-oriented, energetic, collaborative, and creative

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience managing lands for conservation, recreation, habitat restoration, or sustainable forestry
• Experience working with the public and leading groups in outdoor settings
• Experience teaching or facilitating nature-based learning
• Experience in trail work or land management, with ability to identify maintenance needs
• Availability for occasional weekend work (approximately two days per month during field season)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic, non-structured environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking
• Familiarity with Google Drive and common office software
• Ability to hike 5+ miles over rough terrain while carrying tools and equipment
• Valid driver’s license and reliable, insured vehicle
• Satisfactory pre-employment background check

 Candidates who meet most, but not all, of the qualifications are encouraged to apply.