A unique opportunity exists for the right candidate to become the Resident Conservation Steward of Whip Hill Manor and Estate.

Position Title:

Resident Conservation Steward Whip Hill

Department: Conservation

Date:7/16/25

Reports to:Commission

Statement of Duties:  The employee, as Resident Conservation Steward, is responsible for overseeing the operational functions of Whip Hill Manor and Estate and promoting community relations and performing other responsibilities incidental to these duties as requested by the Conservation Commission. 

Supervision Required:   Under the general direction of the Conservation Commission, the employee plans, prioritizes, and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard operating practices.

Accountability: Duties in addition to caretaking of buildings and property include improving community relations, developing onsite programs, creating a trails natural history guide, developing land management policies, sourcing adequate funding as liaison to Conservation Commission.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree preferably or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  Prior work in Conservation and/or Education related fields with public outreach desirable.                                                        

Special Requirements:   Valid Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. A successful Criminal Offender Record Inquiry (CORI), a satisfactory physical examination which will include a drug screening, completion of a pre-employment screening process. As a condition of employment, the employee must maintain physical condition in order to perform job duties in a safe and efficient manner.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

 Physical Demands:  Moderate to strenuous physical effort may be required. Activities such as walking over varied terrain, standing, lifting, carrying or moving objects (up to 50 pounds)employee may be required to kneel, climb, stoop, bend and reach in order to retrieve materials and/or equipment. Ability and willingness to work in various weather conditions.

 Visual/Auditory Skills: The employee is required to constantly read documents, personal computer screens and written reports for general understanding and routinely for analytical purposes.  The employee must have the auditory ability to listen and comprehend. Eyesight and hearing at or correctable to “normal ranges”.

Judgement:  Work requires the employee to examine, analyze, and evaluate facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Independent judgment is used to analyze or evaluate specific situations to determine appropriate actions.

Complexity:  The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practices relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work in a timely and safe manner.

Work Environment:   The work environment involves residing primarily in the on-site residence as a condition of work and everyday discomforts typical of an office setting as well as frequent exposure to outside elements when conducting outdoor work exposed to department equipment/machinery, traffic, and loud noises. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting and working conditions can be very unpleasant during inclement weather conditions. The employee is required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, sponsored planned events and in order to respond to non-planned or emergency events on a 24/7, 365 days per year basis.

Nature and Purpose of Public Contact:  Employee has constant interaction with co-workers, the public and with groups and/or individuals who have conflicting opinions or objectives, diverse points of view or differences where skillful negotiating and achieving compromise is required to secure support, concurrence and acceptance or compliance; or one-on-one relationships with a person who may be under severe stress, where gaining a high degree of persuasion may be required to obtain the desired effect. 

Occupational Risk:  Duties generally do not present occupational risk to the employee.  Personal injury may occur through employee failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures.  Examples of personal injuries may include bruises from falls, cuts or burns, or muscular strains from lifting or carrying equipment or materials.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed in a 20 hour work week. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is incidental to, similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assist and coordinate with Resident Caretaker with shared responsibilities in maintenance of buildings, trail system, trees, plants, and upkeep of property.  Protect natural resources and assist in the development of capital equipment replacement list to implement maintenance improvements. 
• Develop education center as environmental wildlife sanctuary, establish friends group, promote as meeting space for Town use, grant writing and application.  Advocate for conservation activities and implement environmentally friendly education and outreach through collaborative efforts.  Ecological knowledge of habitat and outdoor environment is helpful.
• Open Whip Hill to the public, the house must be cleaned and ready for use. Be present and responsible for the care and maintenance of premise during scheduled events.
• Report quarterly to Conservation Commission to include project scope, maintenance logs, and record keeping of activities, inventory and repairs.
• Abide by limitations set by the Conservation Commission on personal use of Town facilities.
• This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and/or the requirements of the job change.