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The Preserve Manager – Santa Barbara County (Preserve Manager) will be responsible for co-managing two preserves in Santa Barbara County that have been permanently protected for conservation purposes. The larger of those preserves – Gaviota Tarplant Ranch Preserve – is a 2,731-acre preserve located south of Lompoc, CA that includes annual and perennial grassland, coastal oak woodland, coastal scrub, riparian, and wetlands. The second preserve – Harris Farm Preserve – is a 34-acre property that lies within a larger privately-owned farm along the Gaviota coast. The species that command the stewardship focus on both of these preserves is the State and Federally Endangered Gaviota tarplant. Other significant species that reside within the larger preserve include Mesa horkelia, Kellogg’s horkelia, and California red-legged frog. CNLM is gradually assuming full perpetual management and monitoring responsibilities for both preserves. Both preserves require conservation grazing to be used as a management tool for the benefit of Gaviota tarplant.

The Preserve Manager will work closely with other CNLM staff (including a second Santa Barbara County Preserve Manager), grazing operators, landowners, botanists, contractors and other partners , in conducting all the management and monitoring activities needed to protect and conserve the Gaviota tarplant. This solicitation is for the preserve management position focused on grazing and rangeland management.

The Preserve Manager will focus on the stewardship of Gaviota tarplant populations and habitat conditions and contribute to applied research and adaptive management in support of this species. The Preserve Manager will be involved in overall management of the Preserve, and preparing budgets, plans, and reports; however, the areas of emphasis for the rangeland management focus specifically includes:

• Implement a grazing management plan to support Gaviota tarplant habitat.
• Manage grazing as a vegetation management tool to implement the goals of the management plan.
• Conduct effective communications and relationships with grazing operators and monitor grazing effects (e.g., RDM surveys).
• Determine and implement, as appropriate, other vegetation management tools such as pesticide application, mowing, mechanical removal or prescribed burns.
• Collaborate with partners to promote the protection, conservation, and expansion of Gaviota tarplant on the preserves.

The Preserve Manager will be involved with technical advisory committees composed of researchers, regulatory personnel, and other collaborators, which will provide input towards management. The Preserve Manager will provide resource management in accordance with the conservation values and regulatory requirements of the Preserve, CNLM’s stewardship standards and practices (which also reflect and exceed Land Trust Alliance standards), and the preserve-specific management plan. Other activities will include revising management plans; preparing annual budgets, work plans, and reports; analyzing data as needed; and active engagement of contractors needed for specialized services. The position of Preserve Manager requires maintenance of a home office for which CNLM provides a stipend. A company vehicle may be provided at management’s discretion. There is a considerable degree of autonomy (and responsibility) associated with the position because of CNLM’s organizational structure which focuses on preserve management rather than high levels of administration and supervision. In addition to the management of the Preserve, the Preserve Manager will contribute to CNLM’s expertise and documentation of ‘best management practices’ for managing rare and protected plant and animal species particularly with respect to ‘conservation-directed grazing’. Grazing is a stewardship approach practiced on several other CNLM preserves, and the Preserve Manager will join the team of other staff towards acquiring and sharing experience in this discipline. They will participate in internal and external stewardship and conservation science events and, as needed, participate in the acquisition of new preserves.