Rangeland Technician

National Audubon Society

4d•$24 - $26

About The Position

The Rangeland Technician will report to the Senior Program Manager, Columbia Plateau, and will work closely with agricultural producers to implement Audubon’s Working Lands conservation program across the Pacific Northwest, including the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program. Audubon’s Working Lands program aims to benefit birds and habitat by improving private landowners’ ability to implement bird-friendly land management actions. The technician will help engage, cultivate, and enroll producers into conservation programs, and assist them with carrying out on-the-ground management actions. A core component of this work is the creation of Habitat Management Plans (HMP), which outline adaptive grazing and habitat improvement strategies. The Rangeland Technician will assist in developing, updating, and implementing HMPs with landowners to support practices such as regenerative rotational grazing, habitat restoration, and invasive weed control. This position will collaborate regularly with Working Lands staff across Audubon, local, state and federal partners as well as other nonprofit organizations to ensure landowners receive accurate information and access to technical and financial assistance opportunities. The candidate for this position will need to be based in eastern Washington, preferably in Spokane, Kennewick or Yakima.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in range management, ecology, natural resources, wildlife biology, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
Experience (1–3 years) in rangeland, grassland, or agricultural fieldwork—such as grazing management, habitat restoration, monitoring, or working lands conservation.
Basic knowledge of sagebrush-steppe or grassland ecology, including familiarity with common native plants, invasive species, and general rangeland management practices.
Ability to conduct field monitoring, including bird identification (by sight and sound preferred but not required), vegetation sampling, and basic habitat assessments.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to engage and work respectfully with ranchers, landowners, and local partners.
Ability to maintain organized project notes, data sheets, and simple reports.
Basic proficiency with GPS, mobile data collection tools, and willingness to learn GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS).
Understanding and appreciation of ranching culture, working lands conservation, and collaborative approaches to land management.
Ability to hike over uneven terrain and lift up to 25 lbs., with or without accommodation.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel regularly across Audubon’s service areas (mileage reimbursed).
Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends for workshops, meetings, or field events.

Nice To Haves

Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.
Experience working with NRCS, Conservation Districts, or similar partners on grazing, habitat, or cost-share programs.
Previous experience assisting with writing Habitat Management Plans or similar conservation plans.
Experience using ArcGIS for simple mapping tasks.

Responsibilities

Serve as an on-the-ground technician for Audubon’s Working Lands program in Washington, with a focus on improving sagebrush-steppe and grassland habitat for priority bird species.
Build and maintain strong professional relationships with ranchers and landowners.
Communicate program goals clearly and help landowners understand requirements and opportunities.
Assist in developing and updating Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) in coordination with the Senior Program Manager, including gathering field data and drafting plan components.
Assist landowners in implementing practices identified through Habitat Management Plans (HMPs), including adaptive grazing, habitat restoration, invasive species control, and rotational grazing infrastructure.
Conduct bird and vegetation monitoring, including point counts, photo points, vegetation transects, and basic habitat assessments to track program effectiveness.
Provide basic technical support and connect producers with local, state, federal (NRCS), and Audubon resources that can help fund conservation actions.
Support timely execution of landowner agreements and maintain organized project records.
Coordinate with local conservation professionals (NRCS, WDFW, Conservation Districts, NGOs) to share information and ensure landowners receive accurate guidance.
Participate in community outreach events, workshops, and field days to promote Audubon’s Working Lands program.
Represent Audubon in a professional, collaborative manner with partners and the public.
Assist with grant-related reporting and documentation.
Complete project-related administrative tasks, including maintaining up-to-date field notes, project tracking, and compliance documentation.
Attend relevant training opportunities to build range ecology, grazing management, and Working Lands program knowledge.
Maintain consistent communication with supervisor and administrative staff.
Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding efforts.
Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.
Maintains and fosters culture of safety.
Perform other duties as assigned.