Closing Date: 1/5/2026Applicants are encouraged to apply early as applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

About Land Trust Of Santa Cruz CountyFounded in 1978, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County brings diverse communities and organizations together to protect and connect people to the lands that define this special place. We protect and steward farmland, watersheds, wildlife habitat, and land for public access in and around Santa Cruz County to support the environment, economy, and quality of life for future generations of people and wildlife.
We understand the critical role land plays in addressing climate change and calibrate our preservation efforts through this lens. At the same time, we know that land is cherished when people connect to it directly. From that perspective, we partner with groups and individuals to preserve and steward land that people can access, enjoy, and fall in love with.

We engage the entire county in our efforts to get bikers, hikers, birders, farmers, ranchers, and everyone who cares about the local environment and our uniquely beautiful vistas to become active stewards of the land.

The Land Trust aspires to be an organization that is representative of the communities we serve. We are looking for people with a passion for nature, land protection, and teamwork. We encourage everyone to apply for our available positions even if they don’t meet all the hiring criteria listed in the job description.

Overview of the Position  The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, a nonprofit organization that has helped protect more than 19,000 acres of important habitat and farmland over the last 45 years, is seeking a Public Access Assistant. This position supports safe, welcoming, and responsible public access at the San Vicente Redwoods trail system by supporting visitor experience, monitoring trail conditions, and performing light trail work and facilities maintenance.
This role involves regularly hiking the full 8-mile trail system over a three-day work week and clearly communicating site conditions and needs to the Public Access Manager. The position averages 10 hours per week, scheduled across three days during trail open hours (9:00 am–5:00 pm), including one weekend day and occasional holidays. The preferred schedule is Monday (3 hours), Thursday (3 hours), and Saturday (4 hours), with flexibility based on operational needs. This is a field-based position reporting to the SVR Trailhead at 12001 Empire Grade.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Engage with VisitorsProvide friendly, informative communication on trail etiquette, property rules, and natural resource protection.Monitor trail and visitor use; educate visitors about prohibited activities and report illegal activity to the supervisor.Assist visitors with kiosk registration and general property questions.
• Patrol Trails"Patrol with Purpose” by hiking trails, maintaining trail corridors, and documenting hazards or needed maintenance.Remediate off-trail use to discourage trespass and protect sensitive habitat.Assist with light trail maintenance, including clearing drains, cutting back poison oak, and removing small trail blockages using hand tools.Assist with light habitat management and restoration, such as weed control and erosion mitigation.
• Maintain FacilitiesClean and restock bathrooms.Collect and remove trash.Replenish dog waste bags, brochures, and other visitor materials.Maintain a daily logbook of tasks, observations, and needs.Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Ability & Experience: Engage with partners and visitors using respectful and inclusive communication.Physical ability to walk long distances on steep, uneven terrain and perform manual labor (digging, lifting up to 40 lbs., squatting, pulling).Comfort managing risk in outdoor environments with natural hazards (poison oak, wasps, wildlife, hazard trees, tickborne illness, etc.).Ability to work independently and stay productive.Experience safely operating hand tools (handsaws, shovels, loppers, etc.).Collaborative mindset, especially when balancing recreation with natural resource protection.Clear, accurate record-keeping and communication skills.Commitment to the mission and values of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, including equity, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship.  

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Ability & Experience: 1–2 years of experience in land stewardship, public access, outdoor recreation, or related fields.Experience with trail maintenance, rural road work, erosion control, or weed management.Experience enforcing rules and communicating expectations with visitors in a tactful, respectful manner.Basic knowledge of outdoor safety practices, including first aid or emergency preparedness (Land Trust will provide training as needed).Understanding of natural, agricultural, cultural, and open-space resource conservation activities in Santa Cruz County.Knowledge of local ecosystems and land management issues.Ability to identify California native plants (especially in Santa Cruz County).

The pay range for this role is:
25 - 30 USD per hour(Santa Cruz Office)