Muleshoe Preserve Steward

What We Can Achieve Together:

What We Can Achieve Together:
The Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Steward is responsible for day-to-day maintenance and land management operations at a remote preserve in southeastern Arizona. The position maintains Preserve headquarters, including historic buildings, infrastructure, and equipment; implements management plans and ecological restoration projects with a priority on protecting the Preserve's aquatic and riparian systems; periodically supervises seasonal staff, volunteers, and contracted crews when present on the Preserve;

and occasionally hosts visitors, donors, researchers, and partners. The Steward is also responsible for maintaining clean and functional housing and facilities for Preserve visitors and staff, including hands-on custodial work. This is a fixed-term position expected to be funded October 2026 - June 2027 and could change based on business needs. Housing at the Preserve is provided and is a requirement of this position.

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We’re looking for someone who is passionate, motivated problem-solver.

• Facilities and Infrastructure Management (~45%) Maintain historic buildings, staff/guest housing, shop facilities, utilities, roads, trails, fencing, vehicles, and equipment. Perform preventive, routine and corrective maintenance; determine when to complete work in-house vs. use contractors.
• Land Management and Restoration (~30%) Implement Preserve management plans focused on aquatic systems. Build and maintain erosion/grade control structures, conduct invasive species control, perform native seed/plant collection and planting, and collect monitoring data.
• Crew, Contractor and Project Leadership (~15%) Plan, schedule and supervise activities of seasonal staff, interns and volunteers, contracted crews, and work groups. Scope, plan, and carry out improvement projects independently and collaboratively; oversee contractors, inspect completed work, and coordinate multi-day remote crew operations.
• Visitor and Partner Programs (~5%) Host donors, trustees, staff, researchers, partners and the public. Lead field trips/interpretive walks, support events and workshops, monitor visitor use, and communicate Preserve rules and stewardship practices.
• Administration, Records and Planning (~5%) Develop and maintain Preserve records, including maintenance schedules and service records. Maintain monitoring databases for data such as streamflow, precipitation and rare species observations.

Responsible for day-to-day maintenance and land management operations at the Preserve. Works with infrequent direct supervision at a remote duty station approximately 2.5 hours from the nearest Conservancy office and one hour from the nearest town, accessed by a road that may become impassable during and after significant rainfall. Regularly required to make sound, independent field decisions within established Preserve management priorities, low-impact stewardship practices, and minimum-tool principles, consulting with their supervisor on matters with significant ecological, operational, or financial implications and collaborating on larger or more complex projects.

Exercises sound judgment in work affecting Preserve infrastructure, historic structures, and sensitive riparian and restoration areas, where outcomes may be difficult to reverse, and identifies situations requiring supervisory, specialist, or contractor review before proceeding. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous…