Deadline: Sun, 05/01/2022 - 12:00pm Employer: Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards Job Field: Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Other Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: Virginia Location Detail: George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Virginia Job Description: Position Title: Wilderness Ranger Positions Open: 1 Position Duration: 25 weeks – Starting early May Status:Temporary/Seasonal Compensation: $17/hour Position Supervisor: Wilderness Program Manager Location: Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Natural Bridge Station, VA—Saint Mary’s, James River Face, Thunder Ridge, Priest, Three Ridges and Ramseys Draft Wilderness. Application Deadline: Application will remain open until position is filled. The 2022 SAWS Wilderness Ranger (Ranger) is a field-going position working on up to six different federally designated wildernesses (listed above) across the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests in Virginia. The Ranger will conduct basic trail maintenance, collect needed wilderness data, lead volunteer efforts, and engage with visitors. Wilderness trail maintenance will include clearing downed trees, corridor brushing, and removing trash from the trails to ensure trails conform to Forest Service standards. Unauthorized trails will be decommissioned and rehabbed in priority areas. Data collection will include recreation site inventories, solitude monitoring, and user developed trail inventories in priority wilderness areas. Additionally, Ranger will regularly engage with visitors on topics that may include wilderness ethics and Leave No Trace education, landscape orientation, safety awareness, and/or information about the natural environment such as local plants, animals, and geology. The Ranger will also plan volunteer days—recruiting and leading volunteers on stewardship projects. Throughout the season, Rangers will continue to develop and maintain a strong, positive relationship with the U.S. Forest Service and nearby partner organizations on behalf of SAWS. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Complete Wilderness Stewardship Performance deliverables and data collection (described above). Coordinate with US Forest Service staff and partners on project work. Craft and curate media (blogs, photography, video, etc.) to share for reporting and documentation. Model and practice Leave No Trace principles in the field. Follow SAWS policies and procedures in the field including COVID-19 policies. Maintain an inclusive, safe, fun, and positive working environment. Maintain high standards for project completion. Interact with visitors in ways that create a welcoming environment. Qualifications: Enthusiasm for the SAWS mission. A shared commitment to our values. Desire to learn about federally designated wilderness, wilderness character, and natural resource management. Excellent interpersonal communication skills. Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain. Ability to work in a remote and primitive setting. Ability to camp overnight for multiple nights. Excellent data organization skills. Ability to complete deliverables with minimal supervision. Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Additional Helpful Qualifications Knowledge of Leave No Trace principles including backcountry camp and travel practices. Experience with the ESRI Collector and ArcGIS software. Degree or professional experience in environmental studies, natural resources, geospatial information systems, or a related field. Knowledge of natural resources of the region. Miscellaneous: Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) is a conservation non-profit dedicated to providing stewardship to protected public lands in the Southern Appalachian region, including in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Founded in 2010, SAWS partners with federal agencies, including the Forest Service, to supplement existing stewardship efforts and provide additional support for training, skill-building, and community engagement. SAWS works to support safe, equitable access to public lands, preserve natural resources, and develop the next generation of conservation stewards. SAWS is headquartered in Asheville, NC with an office in Roanoke, VA. SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe, inclusive work environment, free from discrimination of any kind. We are committed to working towards equity in the outdoors and in conservation, including by celebrating diversity, fostering inclusivity, and recognizing and working to address past injustices and barriers to equitable access. As a partner of the U.S. Forest Service, we require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Prospective employees must show proof of vaccination prior to employment at SAWS. Requests for medical or religious exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Salary: $17/hr Benefits: Leave No Trace training First aid and CPR Certification Crosscut Saw Certification Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training Wilderness 101 course Wilderness Stewardship Performance training Opportunities for professional networking Sick time accrual Opportunities for pro-rated gear deals Mileage reimbursement for work related travel How to Apply: Please head to our website to apply: https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernessstew… Questions regarding the application may be submitted via email to Eric Giebelstein, Deputy Director, at ericgiebelstein@wildernessstewards.org SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe, inclusive work environment, free from discrimination of any kind.
Please head to our website to apply: https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernessstew… Questions regarding the application may be submitted via email to Eric Giebelstein, Deputy Director, at ericgiebelstein@wildernessstewards.org SAWS is an equal opportunity employer and provides a drug-free workplace. SAWS values a safe, inclusive work environment, free from discrimination of any kind.
