Land Steward with McKenzie River Trust

120 Shelton McMurphy Blvd Suite 270, Eugene OR

Description

About the Position: The McKenzie River Trust (MRT), an Accredited Land Trust based in Eugene, Oregon, is seeking a full-time Land Steward to join our team. The Land Steward will work with MRT and partner organization staff and volunteers to sustain land and water conservation benefits across a range of MRT projects and partner initiatives. Based primarily in the field, the Land Steward will manage protected lands, monitor and document the effectiveness of restoration actions, help assess new project opportunities, and contribute to landscape-scale conservation initiatives through the Trust’s service area. Organizational Background: Since 1989, the McKenzie River Trust (MRT) has helped people protect and care for the lands and rivers they cherish in western Oregon. From the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, MRT envisions a future in which conservation lands are at the core of community efforts to sustain clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and diverse natural resource economies. We work at the intersection of ecological systems and human community needs to ensure the health of both in the face of changes in climate and land use. MRT protects over 7,000 acres of land through ownership and conservation easement. Grounded in science, we work collaboratively to heal, restore, and enhance regionally important natural systems, and connect people to places they care about. MRT is based in Eugene, and our work is centered in the upper Willamette River Basin, but we also carry out work in the Umpqua, Siuslaw, and coastal river basins. In 2021 we opened our first field office on the central Oregon coast. On Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Having invested in staff training in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) for several years, we are currently crafting a DEIJ commitment statement and plan. For over 30 years, the McKenzie River Trust (MRT) has pursued our mission by focusing on habitat diversity and health, river dynamism, and wild landscapes. But we need to more explicitly acknowledge that people and communities have been and continue to be part of these ecosystems, and that the helping people part of our mission compels us to ensure that our work benefits and engages all people, not just some. Bringing DEIJ values to bear in our work will support us in maintaining the landscape-scale vision required to address climate resilience and community resilience as we work to maintain the ecological integrity of western Oregon’s landscapes. We have work to do. We encourage all candidates, particularly those with diverse backgrounds in culture, education, and professional experience, to apply for this position. Applicants’ materials are redacted of personal information to help reduce potential implicit bias by hiring managers ahead of review. Please do not reach out directly to MRT staff members, allow us to contact you regarding the next steps in the hiring process. To Apply: Please visit to read the full position description. To apply, prepare a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages each) describing your interest addressed to Eli Tome, Director of Conservation. Send that letter and a resume, both in pdf format, via email to [email protected] and include Land Steward in the subject line of the email. Hiring Timeline and Process: This announcement was posted April 8th, 2022 and is open until filled. The first round of applicants will be reviewed the first week of May, and applicants will be notified of the next steps in the review process beginning May 6, 2022. The Hiring Manager and one other hiring committee member will independently score qualified and highly qualified candidates using a hiring matrix. Once all qualified applicants are scored, the hiring committee will compare applicant scores and address any significant discrepancies in scoring. The top tier of applicants will move forward through the hiring process, including a phone interview/screening, a zoom interview, and an opportunity to gather with other MRT staff members in person. There may be a writing sample required as part of the interview process. MRT hiring processes can take up to two months, the Hiring Manager will keep applicants informed of the process throughout. All non-successful applicants will be offered an opportunity to speak with a member of the hiring committee for feedback on their application if requested.