Position Announcement

Mohonk Preserve, New York State’s largest member and visitor-supported nature preserve, is seeking a team member to fill the part-time seasonal position of Land & Boundary Steward. If you love working in the outdoors and have experience in land and boundary patrol, maintenance and documentation, we have a place for you!

Land & Boundary Steward –Seasonal

Who We Are:
Located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, Mohonk Preserve is New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve. We manage over 8,200 acres of mountain cliffs, forests, fields, and streams and welcome over 300,000 members and visitors each year who come to hike, run, rock climb, boulder, bike, enjoy winter recreation and enjoy and experience nature.

Based in a vibrant university community, Mohonk Preserve offers a great working environment in one of New York’s greenest counties, with all-season recreation, access to Preserve lands, a dynamic, committed team of conservation professionals and long legacy of conducting ecological research and environmental education. The Preserve is also the “Home of the Gunks,” one of America’s premier rock-climbing destinations.

Our Mission & Vision:
Our mission is to protect the northern Shawangunk Ridge and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. Mohonk Preserve supports thriving and resilient natural environments that are welcoming to all who explore, play and work here, and those who seek peace, wellbeing and inspiration amid its lands. To read more about our Vision and learn more about the Preserve visit https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/

Our Core Values

  • Teamwork: We trust each other and value collaboration and accountability.
  • Transparency: We are clear, honest and ethical in our decision-making and communications.
  • Belonging:  We welcome everyone and treat all with respect and compassion.
  • Exploration: We value curiosity, education and innovation as pathways to learning and growth.
  • Stewardship: We are committed to responsibly stewarding Mohonk Preserve in service to the land and the community.

Company Culture & Team Experience

  • Mission‑driven and conservation‑focused environment – At Mohonk Preserve, the work culture is built around a shared commitment to protecting the northern Shawangunk Ridge and promoting environmental stewardship.
  • Passionate, dedicated colleagues – Staff are hardworking, mission‑aligned, collegial and committed to stewardship, conservation science and environmental education.
  • Embedded in a vibrant outdoor community – As the “Home of the Gunks,” staff work in a
    region known for rock climbing, hiking, and year-round recreation, reinforcing an active, nature-centric workplace culture.
  • Opportunities for learning and environmental research – Employees and interns benefit from along legacy of ecological research, with structured internships and exposure to conservation science.

About the Position:
As Land & Boundary Steward, you’ll be responsible for the patrol, maintenance, and documentation of a portion of Mohonk Preserve’s nearly 80 miles of fee property boundary, areas of the Preserve’s off-trail interior, and the conservation easements in the Preserve’s portfolio.

We are seeking a land protection professional with working knowledge of mapping programs and tools – current ESRI ArcGIS applications (required); other mapping tools, e.g., Gaia, Avenza, and ability to read and evaluate the landscape. The Steward will prepare written monitoring reports for all sections of fee boundary and conservation easements monitored in accordance with Mohonk Preserve and Land Trust Standards and Practices.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations:

    • Inspect, witness, document and maintain Preserve fee land boundary and other land parcel lines to affirm actual boundaries with historic/legal records, and to prevent unauthorized trespass, occupancy, or other encroachment.
    • Prepare written monitoring and/or baseline data reports for fee-owned lands and conservation easements of the Mohonk Preserve in accordance with Land Trust Standards and Practices.
    • Prepare written monitoring and/or baseline data reports for fee-owned lands and conservation easements of the Mohonk Preserve in accordance with Land Trust Standards and Practices.
    • Assist with maintenance and management of property files, survey files, and GIS data.

What You’ll Bring:
At Mohonk Preserve, our priority is finding the best candidate for the job. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the qualifications or have a less traditional background.

    • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Environmental Science, Land and Natural Resource Management, Forestry or other related fields of study OR equivalent combination of education and experience
    • Working knowledge of mapping programs and tools – current ESRI ArcGIS applications required
    • Ability to read and evaluate the landscape
    • Ability to effectively use map and compass, land surveys and aerial photos for navigation and interpretation of the landscape
    • Ability to use technological tools for fieldwork
    • Commitment to ensuring that all people are respected and welcomed at Mohonk Preserve
    • Valid Driver’s license
    • Bonus skills
        • Bi-lingual (Spanish/English)
        • Experience with a non-profit land trust or other land resource agency or comparable field of work
        • Knowledge of Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Standards and Practices
        • Knowledge base of the natural and cultural history of the region

Physical Demands:

    • Ability to traverse and navigate deep, backcountry, off-trail land conditions of varying, sometimes extremely rugged, mountain terrain while carrying equipment for up to 8 hours at a time
    • Frequently works outdoors
    • May require standing, walking, hiking, climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching
    • Uses a computer keyboard, reads, writes
    • Occasional events indoors or outdoors outside standard office hours and in other locations around the Preserve

Total Rewards Package:
This is a part-time, seasonal (maximum of 1040 hours), non-exempt position

    • Hourly wage: $21.70
    • On-site housing available
    • Mohonk Preserve membership for duration of the position
    • Mohonk Preserve membership for duration of position
    • Access to lands and some activities of Mohonk Mountain House resort

Eligibility for certain benefits is dependent upon a variety of factors including employment status.Location:

Location:
Mohonk Preserve’s main offices are located at our Visitor Center in Gardiner, NY. This position will be based out of the Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center (DSRC) on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House resort. Mohonk Preserve offers hybrid work schedules at this time – coordinated with their supervisor and depending on the job, staff may be able to split time working remotely, as well as in the office and in-person on the land. This position requires a minimum of three days onsite. While daily schedules are flexible, general working hours are weekdays 9am-5pm. Mohonk Preserve is a smoke-free campus.

How to Apply:
Email resume and a one-page cover letter tying your experience to specifics in the job responsibilities to: landprotection@mohonkpreserve.orgwith the subject line “Land & Boundary Steward 2026.”
Please attach your resume and cover letter as a single document, PDF preferred, if possible, with your first and last name as the file name (e.g., First Name_Last Name.pdf). Application deadline March 20, 2026.

The anticipated start date for this position is June 8, 2026 (flexible).
The anticipated end date of this position is on or around December 18, 2026
No phone calls please

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Mohonk Preserve is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where employees from diverse backgrounds can thrive and support our mission. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation during the application process, please contact Human Resources.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Mohonk Preserve does not currently offer employment visa sponsorship.

This job announcement is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties assigned.

Banner photo by Gerald Liddelow