Berkshire Natural Resources Council
February 2023
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) is a nonprofit conservation organization in western Massachusetts that cares for the ancestral homelands of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, who were forcibly displaced from the region by European colonization. As a land trust, BNRC conserves land, protects wildlife and habitat, preserves local farms, and provides free access to the Berkshire outdoors for everyone, at over 55 nature reserves across the region. Since 1967, BNRC has helped conserve more than 100,000 acres of forest, fields, wetlands, and farmlands, and now holds over 23,000 acres of land and conservation restrictions and manages over 60 miles of trails.
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (El Consejo de Recursos Naturales de Berkshire) es una organización sin ánimo de lucro que conserva el terreno, protege la vida silvestre y el hábitat, preserva las granjas locales y contribuye a mantener los exteriores de Berkshire libres y accesibles para todos. El BNRC está contratando personal. Aunque el trabajo que se describe a continuación se inicia completamente o casi completamente en inglés, el BNRC agradece el interés de los candidatos bilingües que puedan ayudar a la organización a ser más inclusiva en su trabajo.
Description
BNRC is seeking two Stewardship Crew members to join its Stewardship team. The Stewardship Crew’s time will be primarily spent assisting BNRC’s Property Manager with maintaining BNRC’s 60 miles of hiking trails and 24 trailheads across the county. The crew will also conduct monitoring and boundary marking on BNRC’s fee-owned Reserves.
Other responsibilities may include assisting BNRC’s Trail Crew with trail construction projects and assisting BNRC’s Community Conservation Staff with hosting public programming and volunteer workdays.
This is a 40-hour/week position. The crew will enjoy a high level of independence and a large amount of self-motivation is required. These are field positions and the crew should expect to be outside nearly every day. The seasonal crew works from May 29th to August 18th, with some flexibility on both ends.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Regular maintenance of BNRC properties and trails including:
- Trailhead mowing and weed whacking
- Trail corridor widening
- Clearing trails of fallen trees
- Repainting trail blazes
- Trash collection
- Property Improvement projects, such as:
- Installing/replacing signs
- Constructing and installing kiosks, benches, and other infrastructure
- Marking of BNRC property boundaries
- Monitoring of BNRC’s fee-owned property
- Assisting with construction of new hiking trail and/or repair of existing trails with
guidance from Trails Manager. - Assisting with hosting volunteer workdays with guidance of Community Conservation
staff. - Other stewardship related tasks as required
Qualifications
- Ability to work unsupervised
- Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions
- Comfort with being alone in the woods
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Personal transportation
- Ability to hike for 5 miles over rough terrain
BNRC is an equal opportunity employer.
BNRC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, age, physical or mental disability,
marital status, genetic information, veteran status, being a member of the Reserves or National Guard, status as disabled or Vietnam Era veteran or status in any group protected against discrimination by federal, state, or local law.
We welcome applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, and veterans. BNRC is actively engaged in ensuring its properties are welcoming to all, and in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion
in all aspects of its work.
Though the job described above will begin entirely or almost entirely in English, BNRC welcomes interest from bilingual candidates who can support the organization in being more inclusive in its work.
Compensation: $17 per hour
Benefits Include:
- 3 paid personal days, with the opportunity for a season’s-end bonus.
- Personal vehicle mileage reimbursement