Matador Ranch Assistant Manager

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Matador Ranch Assistant Manager supports annual stewardship projects at the Matador Ranch & Grassbank Preserve (Ranch) and occasionally supports stewardship projects elsewhere within the Montana’s Business Unit (BU) and Northern Great Plains (NGP) team.

The Assistant Manager will support and at times implement the operations of the Ranch and other TNC preserves as needed, including expansion of additional grass banks. The Assistant Manager will work closely with the Matador Ranch Manager to coordinate, prioritize and execute Ranch operational needs, including livestock and grazing management, hunting access program, facility and infrastructure maintenance, equipment repair and maintenance and mechanical repair, and noxious weed control and treatment program.

This position works as part of a team repairing fences, maintaining grounds, tools, and equipment, and interacting with visitors and donors. They will assess and document conditions of grazing-associated infrastructure (fences, pastures, and water systems). They will assist ecological monitoring and other stewardship projects, including mesic area and grassland restoration and prescribed fire, conducted on preserves. The position requires safe operation of a variety of equipment (trucks, ATVs, tractors, skid-steers, and trailers).

This position requires frequent interaction with landowners, partners, and staff, and the Assistant Manager must be able to maintain positive and professional relationships in a rural setting.

• Implement Ranch and grazing operational projects.
• Work independently and make decisions based on analysis, experience, and context with respect to timeline(s).
• Use GIS and or other mapping tools to document the location and condition of ranch features, noxious weeds, and ecological data.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, under physically demanding circumstances, requiring long hours.

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience in natural resource or agricultural management or similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Relationship-building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, and internal scientists.
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
• Experience with communication via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
• Experience supporting land management and natural systems projects.
• Knowledge working with ranching operations: fencing, water systems, livestock.
• Skilled in operating various types of equipment safely and efficiently (e.g., lawn mower, chainsaw, UTV, ATV or OHV, trailers, two-way radio, or similar equipment).

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, sustainable land management, natural resource preservation, and low-stress livestock handling.
• Ability to recognize plant and animal species.
• Experience working with community-based or collaborative settings to create shared outcomes for various groups of people.
• Ability to negotiate and or manage agreements, contracts, or budgets.
• Familiarity with GIS is highly preferred.

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 Auto Safety information page. 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 range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $53,000-$57,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where…