Natural Resource Coordinator - Hybrid (HHFT)

Position Title: Natural Resource Coordinator - Hybrid (Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail)

Reporting to: Park Director, Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail

Our Mission: To create and steward a 7.5-mile linear park along the Hudson River that solves existing safety concerns around visitation, provides welcoming access to people of all abilities, restores and protects natural resources, and enhances quality of life for local communities.                                 

Mission of Position: The Natural Resource Coordinator (NRC) will coordinate the natural resource program for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. They will be responsible for developing operational planning, staff training, scheduling, and completing daily natural resource tasks.  The NRC will report directly to the Park Director and will work collaboratively with the Community and Visitor Relations Manager to coordinate the Invasive Strike Force volunteer program.  They will be responsible for creating and leading a natural resource internship program, and coordinating consultants, citizen science volunteers, academic researchers on invasive species management, ecological restoration, and sustainable shoreline projects.  They will also involve reporting to and working collaboratively with natural resource professionals from state, local and other regulatory and partner agencies such as New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and others.  They will work independently, and/or collaboratively to advance the mission of HHFT and contribute to the organization’s “ecological excellence” in natural resource management to foster resilient and biodiverse ecological communities along the Fjord Trail corridor.

Principle Responsibilities may include:

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Monitoring

• Perform trail construction monitoring for endangered and threatened species including timber rattlesnake and fence lizard. 
• Assist in development of operational guidelines for avoiding or mitigating impacts to rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals in the project area.
• Coordinate monitoring studies on rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species in the project area.

Invasive Species Management/Ecological Restoration

• Coordinate Invasive Species Management Plan and implementation.
• Participate in the HHFT Ecological Working Group.
• Coordinate the volunteer Invasive Strike Force.
• Coordinate with partner agencies, Scenic Hudson, LH PRISM and others on management efforts and training opportunities.
• Monitor for novel pest infestations and attend training and regional meetings regarding monitoring and treatment. 
• Coordinate plant and seed collection, propagation, installation and care for restoration activities.

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)-Planted Shelf Monitoring

• Design/implement/coordinate monitoring program for SAV planted shelves on Shoreline Trail. 
• Organize and participate in outreach activities regarding our SAV monitoring program.

Outreach/Environmental Education

• Deliver presentations on natural resource projects or research conducted by HHFT to community groups, partners, school groups, or academic groups.
• Develop curriculum and lead citizen science programs for volunteers, community groups and school/collegiate groups. 

Qualifications: The Natural Resource Coordinator will have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or a minimum of three years with management of parks, public lands or natural resources.  Additionally, they will have experience, skills and/or interest in the following areas:

• Local terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna
• Invasive species management
• Ecological restoration
• Sustainable shorelines
• Research, monitoring and sampling protocols for tracking restoration projects and rare and threatened species
• Regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal environmental laws, codes and statutes and a familiarity with navigating administrative procedures for permitting,
• Geographic information systems specifically ESRI ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth Pro and other ESRI products
• Computer literacy in MS Office or Google Suite environment including presentations, and database management programs
• Work plan development, goal setting, public presentation, memo and technical report preparation, and supervision of interns and volunteers
• Strong leadership and communications skills, organizational skills, and be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment with periodic tight deadlines and complex multi-agency coordination
• Analytical and creative problem-solving ability
• Interest in land conservation, outdoor recreation, and advancing environmental justice issues

Desired Licenses/Certifications:

• NYS DEC Endangered/Threatened Species: Scientific (or ability to obtain)
• NYS DEC Pesticide Applicator or Technician License
• ISA Certified Arborist
• iMap Invasives Training

Must have ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Must have driver’s license and own transportation. Some evening and weekend hours are required. 

Compensation:  Salary range $59,000 - $65,000 with competitive benefits.

Benefits:

• Full-Time, competitive benefits including:
• Hybrid schedule
• Generous PTO schedule
• Opportunities for professional development

Contact: Please submit resume and cover letter with your application. Further information can be found on our website: https://hhft.org/news/opportunities/. No phone calls please.

Background:  The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail will be a new 7.5-mile riverfront linear park in the Highlands region of the Hudson River Valley. This is an opportunity to join the dynamic and growing team that will ultimately build, manage, and program the new linear park. The Fjord Trail, in its design and future programming, will emphasize accessibility to a variety of outdoor experiences for all ages and abilities to enjoy – from rugged hikes to shoreline walks to immersive forest and marsh meanders. Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. is an independently operated non-profit subsidiary of Scenic Hudson, Inc. 

Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and Scenic Hudson define Environmental Justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people regardless of their ability, culture, education, gender, heritage, income, or race in efforts, decisions, and actions that impact their environment, health and livelihoods. 

Hudson Highland Fjord Trial and Scenic Hudson are Equal Opportunity Employers promoting and celebrating excellence and cultural diversity. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, representation, and inclusion, and strive to serve all people in the Hudson Valley by evaluating all our projects, strategic initiatives, and outcomes through that lens.