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WI Land Stewardship Coordinator

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
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Overview: This position is a partnership between Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD) and Pheasants Forever (PF). The Land Stewardship Coordinator will conduct monitoring, planning, and habitat management work on public and private MMSD lands and easements. This is a full-time, permanent employee of PF that will work at MMSD and receive daily leadership from MMSD Senior Project Planner. This position will support the delivery of MMSD’s Greenseams® and Working Soils® programs. See below for a description and map of these Habitat Restoration Areas. 
 
Duties: The incumbent will assist with all aspects of managing the assigned MMSD lands and easement areas. Major responsibilities include (in no order of priority):
  • Conducting site assessments and preparing restoration and stewardship plans;
  •  Monitoring lands under ownership and easement and completing follow up actions;
  • Directing, supervising, and implementing habitat management work on MMSD owned lands and public and private easements;
  • Procuring supplies and equipment, purchase and/or rental;
  • Procuring Pheasants Forever chapters and ecological restoration contractors, including preparing requests for proposals (RFPs), contracting, and managing contractors and their work; 
  • Providing public information, including providing text and photographs for outreach materials and responding to public inquiries;
  • Coordinating with The Conservation Fund, MMSD staff, and stakeholders (examples include SEWRPC, WDNR, NRCS, Counties, municipalities, land trusts, farmers, and landowners);
  • Participating in scientific field studies and surveys;
  • Participating in training, mentoring, and evaluation of seasonal employees;
  • Facilitating and hosting interns, volunteers, and public tours;
  • Coordinate hunter inquiries;
  • Assisting with grant proposal preparation, submittal, and reporting; and
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
 
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • A solid understanding of restoration ecology, wildlife management, agricultural, and/or natural resource science. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the partners. Preference will be given to candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in wildlife management or restoration ecology;
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues, partner agencies, contractors, and the public;
  • Ability to work independently with little supervision;
  • Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather and walk through rough terrain;
  • Knowledge of wildlife ecology, wetland and grassland management including the ability to utilize various habitat management equipment and tools in the development of wildlife habitat;
  • Thorough knowledge of Wisconsin plant communities;
  • Ability to maintain, operate, and transport tools and equipment needed for broad range of habitat projects.
  • Prescribed fire experience and formal fire training;
  • Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills;
  • Valid driver’s license required.

Salary: $50,000+, depending on experience and qualifications + benefits (see our benefits summary at www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs)

NOTE: Personal vehicle usage will be required for this position, mileage reimbursement will be provided.
 
To Apply: Please combine your cover letter, resume, and 3 references into a single Word document or PDF file before uploading to the “Resume” section of your application on our Recruitment website at: www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs  *ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 
 
If you have additional questions, please contact Marty Moses, Wisconsin State Coordinator, at 608-712-8625 or mmoses@pheasantsforever.org
 
In 2001, MMSD in partnership with The Conservation Fund, launched a pioneering flood management program, Greenseams®, to protect important open spaces in the metropolitan area. Greenseams® purchases land and conservation easements from willing landowners in the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Oak Creek, and Root River watersheds. Properties are chosen for their proximity to water, their water-absorbing soils, floodplain and wetland features, environmental corridor and natural area designations, and their connection to public spaces.

MMSD along with other partners are also working to restore many of the Greenseams® properties to their native wetland, prairie, and forest habitats. To date, the partners have planted over 113,000 trees and restored over 900 acres of former agricultural lands. Once restored, these properties absorb more rain and snow melt, which slows water flow into the City of Milwaukee. They also act as buffers which filter out pollutants and increase water quality. These sites also offer invaluable habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and plant species, as well as offering important public access for hunting, trapping, and fishing as well as quite enjoyment of nature.
 
Since the program’s inception, MMSD has protected over 140 properties, preserving roughly 5,200 acres of flood-prone land within greater Milwaukee. This area includes 28 communities and 1.57 million people.
 
Another aspect of this position is the Working Soils® program. Working Soils® aims to permanently protect privately held farmland in the Milwaukee River Watershed through an agricultural land easement (ALE). ALEs allow landowners and producers to retain ownership and the right to work the land.
 
The Milwaukee River and its streams are degraded by excessive phosphorus, sediment, and bacteria from urban and rural stormwater runoff. Healthy soils store rainwater, recharge groundwater, and reduce water pollution. Protecting our land and water is key to sustaining the natural character of our watershed, as well as our resiliency to extreme weather.
 
Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.