Hubbard Conservation Fellow

What We Can Achieve Together:

Designed for recent college graduates, the Hubbard Fellowship bridges the gap between school and career by providing a comprehensive range of experiences with a conservation organization.   Fellows provide crucial capacity to The Nature Conservancy to help achieve our mission, but the position is also designed to ensure fellows learn about and participate in as many parts of conservation work as possible.  In addition to duties prescribed by their supervisor, there is latitude for fellows to shape their fellowship experience based on their interests and needs. Please see and follow the directions under “How to Apply” below.

We're Looking for You:

Land management will be prominent among the Fellow’s duties, including prescribed fire, invasive species control (including herbicide application), fence repair, seed harvest, and more. Additional work will include data collection, numerous outreach and communication activities, and fundraising. The Hubbard Fellow will travel to multiple Conservancy sites, attend conservation-related meetings and conferences, and shadow Conservancy and partner staff in various capacities. In addition, the Fellow will plan and conduct an independent project catered to the Fellow’s individual interests and career objectives.  See http://prairieecologist.com/hubbard-fellowship/ for more details.

This 12-month, full-time position will require irregular hours and will include extensive outdoor physical labor under adverse conditions. The Hubbard Fellow is supervised by the Director of Science and Stewardship and may oversee the activities of short-term staff and volunteers. This position is located at the Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies, in a rural part of central Nebraska at Wood River, Nebraska, and will run from February 1, 2027 through January 28, 2028. Housing is provided at The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns, and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.

Financial responsibility may include working within a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development and fundraising targets. 

Networks with various groups, including landowners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members and the general public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy programs/preserves. 

May work under minimal and/or distant supervision; may supervise staff; may make some independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context. 

May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

May work outside standard business hours.

What You'll Bring:

BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree in in biology, natural resources management, environmental studies, or related field, with graduation date of December 2026 or earlier.

Experience working outdoors.                  

Demonstrable leadership experience.

Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Valid driver's license and a good driving record. 

Qualified as or able to meet qualifications for Prescribed Fire Crew Member (http://www.tncfiremanual.org/RXCM.htm).                                                                                                 

Desired Qualifications:

Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

1 – 2 years related experience in custodial and ecological land management or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Some experience managing volunteers or entry level staff.

Ability to recognize plant and animal species to complete preserve management activities.

Knowledge/understanding of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation/conservation or similar field.

Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).

Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers). 

Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

HOW TO APPLY

Scroll to the bottom of this page and click 'Apply Now'.

Attach your resume and cover letter as ONE document.

Cover letter should be 500 to 1,000 words and should express why you are interested in the Fellowship, why you are qualified, why nature and conservation are important to you, how the Fellowship would help you with your future career, and specify the degree level you will possess by the end of December 2026.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is $17.85 hourly rate. 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.