Land Use & Cultural Resource Manager

Department

Facilities

Personnel Definition

Service Professional, Regular Full-Time

Term of Employment

12 months/year, 26 pay periods

FLSA

Exempt

Supervision Received

The levels of supervision received (chain of command) are:

● Facilities Director

● President

Supervision Exercised

● Field Techs

● Student Interns/Fellows

General Statement of Duties

The Field Manager supports the mission, vision, and core themes of Blackfeet Community College, a 1994 Land Grant institution, by integrating outdoor laboratory and experiential classroom operations through culturally informed land stewardship, land-based education, and community outreach grounded in hands-on herd and field management. This position advances the College's commitments to student success, cultural preservation, academic excellence, and community engagement by aligning the Land Grant pillars of teaching, research, and Extension with sustainable land-use curriculum, integration of Piikani ecological knowledge systems, workforce development, and collaborative partnerships with faculty, Extension staff, tribal programs, and community stakeholders.

Specific Area of Duties

● Develop, implement and maintain a humane and culturally relevant conservation plan to manage daily operations.

● Conduct daily monitoring of Iinii health, behavior, and environmental conditions.

● Identify, document, and report signs of Iinii illness, injury, stress, or abnormal behavior including other livestock monitoring as needed.

● Coordinate veterinary care, including vaccinations, herd health, treatments, and herd documentation including livestock monitoring as needed.

● Implement strategies and actions to address trespass and stream mitigation.

● Coordinate herd movements, maintain grazing systems, and rotational pasture management consistent with sustainable land-use practices

● Maintain all permits for operation infrastructure and USDA animal health and quality assurance requirements.

● Support calving season monitoring, herd protection, and risk mitigation

● Ensure animal handling practices prioritize bison welfare and human safety

● Support experiential learning opportunities for students and community members through field-based demonstrations and applied herd management activities.

● Support sustainable land use research and curriculum development.

Qualifications

· Associate of Arts (AA) degree required.

· Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Animal Science, Agriculture, Cultural Resource Management, Tribal Resource Management, or a related field preferred.

· Equivalent combinations of education, professional training, certifications, and directly related work experience may be considered in lieu of preferred educational requirements.

· Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in agriculture, natural resources, environmental programs, cultural resource management, land management, technical field work, or related areas preferred.

· Experience working in higher education, Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), tribal governments, community outreach programs, or adult education settings preferred.

· Valid driver's license required.

· Must obtain First Aid and CPR certification within the probationary period following hire.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

Knowledge Required:

● Knowledge of large livestock or bison behavior, herd dynamics, and low-stress animal handling principles.

● Knowledge of livestock health assessment, disease recognition and prevention, vaccination protocols, and biosecurity practices.

● Knowledge of pasture and rangeland management principles, including rotational grazing, forage utilization, carrying capacity, and ecosystem health indicators.

● Knowledge of fencing systems, corrals, livestock handling facilities, water infrastructure, and agricultural facility maintenance.

● Knowledge of sustainable land stewardship practices, including erosion control, habitat conservation, and grassland ecosystem management.

● Knowledge of safe operation and maintenance procedures for vehicles, trailers, ATVs, tractors, and hand or power tools, including occupational safety practices for outdoor and livestock environments.

● Knowledge of record-keeping, documentation, and reporting practices related to herd, land, infrastructure, and program activities.

● Knowledge of Extension programming, applied research support, and experiential learning principles. Knowledge of culturally responsive practices, including integration of Piikanii

● knowledge systems, tribal governance structures, community engagement practices, and land-use priorities related to agricultural programming.

Skills Required:

● Computer skills for reporting, record-keeping, and communication in writing.

● Skill in herd and soil health management, including livestock observation and assessment, low-stress handling, rotational grazing implementation, and sustainable land stewardship.

● Skill in facilities development and maintenance, including inspection, repair, and upkeep of fencing, corrals, water systems, agricultural infrastructure, equipment operation, basic construction, and preventative maintenance.

● Skill in campus and community Extension and outreach, including data collection and reporting, field activity coordination, educational demonstrations and workshops, technical communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and field safety management.

● performing basic construction, troubleshooting mechanical issues, and completing preventative maintenance tasks.

● Skill in collecting, recording, and maintaining accurate data related to herd management, research activities, and infrastructure maintenance.

● Skill in planning and coordinating field activities, prioritizing tasks, and managing time effectively in remote outdoor environments.

● Skill in communicating technical information clearly to students, faculty, tribal partners, and community members.

● Skill in delivering educational demonstrations, workshops, and field-based instruction.

● Skill in identifying potential safety hazards and implementing risk mitigation strategies in field and livestock settings.

Abilities Required:

● Ability to independently manage herd and soil health in dynamic outdoor environments, including sound decision-making related to animal health, grazing management, rangeland conditions, safety risks, and regulatory compliance.

● Ability to support facilities development and maintenance through safe operation of equipment, performance of physically demanding tasks, infrastructure oversight, risk mitigation, and timely response to operational and environmental challenges.

● Ability to advance campus and community Extension and outreach efforts by coordinating multiple responsibilities, maintaining accurate documentation, communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders, mentoring students in experiential learning settings, and integrating culturally responsive practices and Piikani ecological knowledge into agricultural programming and land stewardship.

● Ability to safely work around large livestock, including bison (Iinii), in open pasture and confined facilities while maintaining composure under pressure and implementing appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

● Ability to perform physically demanding tasks in variable and extreme weather conditions, including traversing uneven terrain, lifting and carrying supplies, and operating machinery and equipment.

● Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple responsibilities, including herd management, infrastructure maintenance, research and instructional support, and community engagement activities, while maintaining operational continuity.

● Ability to assess pasture conditions, forage availability, and rangeland health indicators and adjust grazing strategies to support sustainable land management.

● Ability to interpret and apply institutional policies, tribal regulations, USDA animal health requirements, and occupational safety standards in field-based settings.

● Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation related to herd health, land management, inspections, permits, and program operations.

● Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, students, Extension staff, tribal departments, contractors, and community partners, while communicating clearly and professionally in oral and written formats.

● Ability to support and mentor students in experiential learning environments while modeling professionalism, safety, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and culturally responsive practices, including integration of Piikani ecological knowledge systems into daily operations and long-term land stewardship planning.

· Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural practices, environmental stewardship,

land-based programming, or related technical field experience preferred.

· Strong communication, organizational, and community engagement skills

required.

Complexity

The position requires independent judgment and decision-making in dynamic outdoor environments, balancing short-term operational needs with long-term sustainability goals. Responsibilities include herd and soil health management, such as livestock observation, low-stress handling, rotational grazing, and rangeland assessment; facilities development and maintenance, including inspection, repair, and upkeep of fencing, corrals, water systems, and agricultural infrastructure; and campus and community Extension and outreach, including applied research support, experiential learning, educational demonstrations, technical communication, and collaborative engagement with faculty, tribal programs, and community partners. The role integrates technical agricultural knowledge with culturally responsive practices and tribal priorities, requiring adaptability, safety awareness, and the ability to coordinate multiple responsibilities simultaneously while translating knowledge into practical, community-facing applications.

Personal Contacts

Has contact with personnel in all departments, students, Board of Trustees, Blackfeet Tribal departments and programs staff, and other related entities and persons that are necessary to conduct the day-to-day business operations of the Department.

Physical Demands

Work is performed in both office and outdoor field environments and requires substantial time outdoors in varying and sometimes extreme weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow. Duties require frequent walking over uneven terrain, standing for extended periods, bending, kneeling, climbing, reaching, and working in confined livestock handling facilities. The position requires the ability to lift and carry materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds regularly and occasionally more with assistance. Operation of trucks, trailers, ATVs, tractors, and other agricultural equipment is required, along with the use of hand and power tools involving repetitive hand movements, gripping, pushing, and pulling.

Work involves direct interaction with large livestock, including bison (Iinii), which may pose unpredictable physical risk and requires quick reaction time, balance, and situational awareness. Visual acuity is necessary for monitoring livestock health, observing pasture conditions, operating equipment, and completing documentation, and hearing ability is required for safe communication and equipment operation. Office-based duties require extended periods of sitting. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation in accordance with applicable laws.

Guidelines

This position will be guided by:

● Position Description

● BCC Policies and Procedures Manual

● BCC Catalog

● All applicable tribal, federal and special policies, laws, rules and regulations as they apply.