What We Can Achieve Together:

The Moses Coulee Preserves Steward (MCPS) works as part of a small team under the direction of the Moses Coulee Program Manager to manage a 24,000-acre system of preserves and conservation easements in Central Washington’s shrub steppe, including the Moses Coulee Preserve.

The Moses Coulee Preserves Steward plans and implements on-the-ground stewardship and restoration for the Moses Coulee Preserves system, oversees contracts and agreements, addresses critical threats to shrub steppe habitat and associated species, ensures cultural resource protection in accordance with the preserves cultural resources management plan, coordinates research and monitoring, assists with data management, and forms strong relationships with tribal entities, partner organizations and the local community.

This is a three-year term limited position. It is a full-time (35 hours per week), hourly position with full benefits.

We’re Looking for You:

If you’re looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join TNC as the Moses Coulee Preserves Steward. Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives in the beautiful state of Washington, but you’ll contribute to achievement of our conservation goals through many networks.

We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to manage the shrub steppe habitats at some of our largest preserves in the state.

Independence, creativity, and the ability to influence without authority are key in this role. It is important to be comfortable interacting with neighbors, staff from other parts of the state, and partners with a wide range of backgrounds who may have differing beliefs than your own. Enthusiasm for incorporating climate change into all aspects of work, including reactive measures such as anticipating the ecological consequences of a hotter, drier climate, as well proactive measures such as choosing to minimize the carbon footprint of our work, is essential. A desire to connect Central WA communities and partners with our work and this landscape is also a key part of this role. We invite you to become an active and valued member of the Stewardship team and support the success of TNC’s entire Washington chapter. Come join TNC and apply today!

Essential Functions

The MCPS will assist the Moses Coulee Program Manager and other colleagues with stewardship projects on the 24,000-acre Moses Coulee preserves in Central Washington shrub steppe. The MCPS will lead monitoring and restoration work on the preserves.

• Land management (50%)

• Project management and administration (40%)

• Community engagement (10%)

Responsibilities & Scope

• Coordinate and implement stewardship tasks that support conservation goals of the preserves, such as habitat restoration, monitoring, wildfire recovery, sustainable grazing, invasive plant management, maintaining preserve signage, trail maintenance, mapping, and data organization.

• Manage contracts, partner coordination, neighbor relations, and project implementation.

• Help coordinate maintenance, repairs, and overnight guests at the 5000 ft sq, 20-person capacity Moses Coulee Field Station, and perform housekeeping as needed.

• Assist periodically with stewardship projects on other TNC preserves located throughout eastern Washington.

• Safely operate and maintain tools and equipment (e.g. lawn mower, chain saw, tractor and implements, two-way radio, UTV, sprayers, seeders, etc.).

• Implement required safety protocols associated with fieldwork in remote locations and tool and equipment operation.

• Map, monitor, & maintain fence lines, removing or modifying those in priority wildlife areas. Maintain signage.

• Conduct ecological monitoring of plant and animal communities, including learning about local shrub steppe ecology and species identification.

• Maintain, organize, and update data using tools such as Box, Microsoft Excel, and ArcGIS FieldMaps.

• Communicate conservation efforts, such as post-fire restoration treatments, conservation grazing programs, and invasive plant control to stakeholders, partners, and the public.

• Serve as direct liaison with WA’s Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager for stewardship work parties, partner engagements, and other initiatives to connect people with the Moses Coulee Preserves.

• Coordinate volunteer site stewards, volunteer work crews, and seasonal staff.

• Conduct compliance monitoring for fee and easement properties.
  

Work Environment & Schedule

• This is a 3-year term position, from approximately February 2026 – January 2029.

• On-site housing is available at Moses Coulee Field Station located in an isolated setting 25 miles east of Waterville, Washington.

• TNC has no local office. If not living on-site, a home office arrangement will be established, and must be located within 70 miles of the Moses Coulee Field Station located at 375 Moses Coulee Road, Waterville, WA.

• Will work under minimal and/or distant supervision; will make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.

• Will work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances, with responsibility for personal safety.

• Schedule is generally Monday to Friday, 35 hours, with fluctuations due to seasonality of fieldwork, and occasional weekend work is required. Flexible work arrangements are available.

• This position requires willingness to spend periodic overnights at the Moses Coulee field station, be comfortable with overnight situations both alone and when guests are present, and maintain adequate daytime presence to deter unauthorized activities in a remote location.

• Willingness to undertake periodic overnight travel to Seattle or other WA locations for organizational meetings.

• Applicant will be expected to meet TNC’s Youth Safety qualifications for volunteer events.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience working independently and communicating effectively in a remote setting.

• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English.

• Experience using common software applications such as Box, Microsoft Word and Excel, web browsers, etc.

• Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), including ArcGIS Online

• Experience identifying plant and animal species of eastern Washington to complete preserve management activities.

• Experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously and complete tasks independently with respect to timelines, budgets, partner constraints, and organizational processes and procedures.

• Experience in shrub-steppe conservation, land management and natural resource preservation/conservation or similar field.

• Possess or be able to obtain Washington State Pesticide Applicator license.

• Must have valid driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ experience in natural resource management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Spanish language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• Experience managing staff or volunteers.

• Experience managing contracts and ensuring compliance with stipulations.

• Experience in training others in fieldwork associated with land stewardship.

• Experience building relationships to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.

• Advanced technological skills, including remote sensing, mapping, and data management.

• Enthusiasm for learning plant and animal species of Eastern Washington.

• Experience, coursework, or training in Integrated Pest Management principles.

• Experience leading interpretive activities in nature-based settings.

• Knowledge of livestock conservation grazing principles.

• Experience with riparian restoration in arid landscapes including process-based methods, beavers, and natural analogs.

• Experience with invasive plant species control in arid landscapes.

Salary Info:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $31.82 - $33.81 per hour ($57,920 - $61,540 annually) for base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

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

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

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.