Santa Cruz Island Preserve Coordinator

Ventura, California, USA.

The Coordinator has a regularly scheduled rotation that will consist of 7-12 days on-island every 2-3 weeks and mainland office days to equal an average of 40 hrs/wk.

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The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

The California Chapter is TNC’s largest state program and one of the largest, most dynamic conservation organizations in the country. With approximately 275 employees, from financial analysts and fundraisers to ecologists and economists, we are currently invested in 14 strategies to address the biggest challenges facing California and the world, including numerous community-based projects designed to increase the pace, scale, and effectiveness of conservation. Over the past six decades, we have protected 1.4 million acres, 5,000 miles of streams, and 3.8 million acres of ocean habitat in California and off the coast.

The Nature Conservancy has owned and operated the 46,000-acre Santa Cruz Island Preserve, located 25 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, since 1978 as a center for large-scale ecological research and restoration and a site to cultivate support for TNC’s mission. The Preserve Coordinator is a critical member of the team that maintains the island’s natural and built environments and provides support to the Conservancy’s island visitors. The Coordinator works broadly with the island team on the maintenance, improvement and use of visitor facilities, grounds, roads, utilities, and equipment, to accomplish our conservation, research and philanthropic goals.

The Coordinator enables a safe, high-quality experience for island visitors and events. They directly assist with housekeeping, preparing facilities and grounds, managing supplies and recreational equipment, gardening, and supporting catered meal service, when provided. They orient Preserve users and oversee resource allocation and use. The Coordinator actively participates in logistical planning and administrative support. They organize and oversee volunteer activities. Where needed, the Coordinator guides Preserve users on technically challenging terrain in vehicles or on foot. As representatives of TNC they communicate TNC’s mission and vision and share knowledge about the island’s unique ecology and history with visitors.

The Coordinator is required to work both independently and in collaboration with a team of staff, contractors and partners. They must be able to shift between intersecting priorities, attending to and communicating with others about an extensive array of Island activities and challenges. Due to the island’s remote location, rugged geography, and communication technology challenges the Coordinator must exercise careful judgment, communicate proactively and operate with flexibility and responsiveness. They apply established policies and protocols in response to emergencies on a 24-hour basis. Ability to attain Wilderness First Responder certification and maintain first aid supplies is required.

The Coordinator has a regularly scheduled rotation that will consist of 7-12 days on-island every 2-3 weeks and mainland office days to equal an average of 40 hrs/wk. This schedule may fluctuate based on programmatic needs and requires the Coordinator to be flexible. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

If you’re looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join the California Chapter as the Santa Cruz Island Preserve Coordinator!

We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to be an integral part our team. Due to the remote nature of the island work environment, being safety-oriented, methodically organized, and a strong communicator are key in this role. Come join TNC and apply today!

• Bachelor’s/Technical/Vocational degree and 1-2 years of experience in facilities or land management, outdoor education, or adventure hospitality industries (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timelines.
• Experience leading staff, volunteers, or other groups (preferably outdoors).
• Commitment to applying the principles of conservation and sustainability in day-to-day decision-making.
• Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.
• Experience with communication via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
Ability to perform physical work, often under adverse conditions or in inclement weather, including lifting 40lbs, bending, kneeling, and walking up to 5 miles on moderately steep terrain.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working and/or living in a remote setting.
• Familiarity with any of the following:
  • Event management including logistical planning and/or moderately complex customer service processes.
  • Outdoor recreational industry or the maintenance and oversight of a guest, research station or other facility.
  • Stewardship of protected areas (e.g. national or state parks, national forests or BLM lands or conservation preserves, or equivalent combination of education and experience).
  • Equipment maintenance and operation (e.g. two-way radio, power tools, 4WD vehicles, forklift, riding mower, chainsaw, tractor)
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.

Each person who works at TNC contributes to our goal of protecting nature for future generations. We’re proud to support the health and wellbeing of the people we employ. We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other benefits that support work-life balance.

If you’re interested in working with us, please apply—we’d love to hear from you.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

The starting pay for this exempt position is $68,640 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA and state of employment is California.

To apply for job ID 55740, submit your materials (resume and cover letter) online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 8:59 PM PST on Wed, February 26, 2025. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.