Conservation Practitioner

Juneau, Alaska (AK)

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 35 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus  to learn more.                                                   

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.
 

The Conservation Practitioner develops, manages and advances conservation programs, plans and methods for large-scale geographic areas and is a skilled collaborator with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders. 
 

The Conservation Practitioner  provides technical leadership and support to a business unit or Division by planning, directing and implementing stewardship programs.  S/he works closely with the Southeast Alaska Program Director.  S/he addresses critical threats to natural systems and individual species,  S/he fosters and implements traditional and innovative conservation strategies, analyses, and tools, employs a full range of protection tools to acquire varying degrees of legal interest in land and utilizes a variety of strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation priorities.  S/he coordinates and fosters community support, collaborating with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders in pursuit of effective conservation across the forest landscape and associated watersheds. S/he leads Chapter efforts for the amendment and implementation of the amendment of the Tongass Land Management Plan; development and implementation of strategies for young growth management, specifically to address fish, wildlife, and habitat needs, with associated agreements with the US Forest Service, industry, Native entities, and other partners and stakeholders; and supports the development of watershed and ecosystem-based plan, community forest plans, community-based stewardship projects, terrestrial and aquatic restoration projects, and associated monitoring.
 

• Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
• Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors and contractors, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets; negotiating and implementing a Master Stewardship Agreement with associated implementation contracts.        
• Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.           
• Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
• Leads and participates on diverse teams or projects in support of forest and watershed conservation activities.
• May participate in field data collection activities.
• Designs community-based stewardship projects and aquatic and terrestrial restoration projects in areas where large expanses of harvested timber stands and some intact old growth stands surround scattered, rural villages.
• Evaluates management plans and options for conservation and sustainable management of old and young growth forests.
• Collaborates and coordinates with a wide range of partners and stakeholders in developing and implementing conservation and management options that cross land ownership boundaries.
• Programmatic scope may require cross-boundary work and relationships.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

• BA/BS, forestry, natural resources, or related sciences, and 5 years of experience in natural resource management, natural resource-related business or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements. 
• Experience in forestry, natural resource management, sustainable management businesses, or related activities.
• Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
• Experience developing partnerships (government, Native entities, communities, and others).
• Negotiation skills.
• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in pertinent field (e.g., natural resource management, forestry, conservation biology, other ecosystems or environmental science/studies, or natural resource economics, or related field of study).
• 7-10 years of experience in conservation practices or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of land management conservation practice and conservation science.
• Supervisory experience.
• Ability to explain ecosystem values and conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and natural resource preservation.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Ability to complete tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).

To apply to position number 43049, submit resume and cover letter as one document. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 8, 2015.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration.

If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
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The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.