Coordinator, Conservation Biology – Central Ontario - East

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its supporters have protected 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

Purpose and General Description

The Coordinator, Conservation Biology – Central Ontario - East (CO-E) supports the Program Director in conservation efforts in the CO-E sub region with a focus on the Rice Lake Plains, Napanee Plain and Eastern Lake Ontario Coast Natural Areas. CO-E encompasses an area stretching from Lake Ontario to the edge of the Canadian Shield, east from the GTA to Kingston and Prince Edward County (ecological districts 6E-7, 6E-8, 6E-9, 6E-13, and 6E-15). The objective of the program is the delivery of NCC’s mission of protecting biological diversity through collaborative, strategic, science-based land conservation and stewardship. The Coordinator, Conservation Biology is responsible for the stewardship and administration of NCC properties in these Natural Areas and contributes to strategic conservation planning by working with staff and partners to identify other significant areas of biological diversity, threats, opportunities and strategic conservation actions.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conservation Planning and Reporting

• Coordinate the preparation of baseline inventories and property management plans, and assist with writing and implementing Natural Area Conservation Plans;
• Plan and organize field work and reporting required to implement property management plans for NCC-owned properties;
• Assess the biological and strategic values of lands under consideration for securement, and key challenges for their stewardship;
• Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the status of conservation targets and threats on properties transferred from NCC to conservation partners;
• Coordinate partnerships and work plans with local land stewards, conservation organizations/agencies, First Nations, and contractors;
• Develop annual work plans and budgets for stewardship activities.

2. Property Management and Stewardship

• Supervise and implement stewardship activities on NCC properties and adopt innovative solutions to address threats to conservation targets;
• Monitor conservation easements, leases and life estates, including on-going land-owner relations;
• Work with the public and partners to abate critical threats and liability issues on NCC lands and lead Conservation Volunteer events, with support from NCC Ontario’s Conservation Coordinator;
• Work with administrative staff to ensure the enrollment of all NCC eligible properties into applicable tax incentive or reduction programs;
• Ensure that NCC’s Land Information System is populated with accurate and complete sub regional stewardship data, including required digital layers;
• Ensure all liability issues are dealt with promptly and accurate records are maintained for insurance related matters;
• Ensure that conditions of all agreements (e.g. landholding agreements) are administered in a timely fashion.

3. Development and Fundraising

• Identify new resources, prospects and programs to help achieve strategic conservation goals;
• Assist the Program Director in advising Development staff of funding priorities, amounts and deadlines for ongoing stewardship needs;
• Assist regional staff and local fundraising volunteers to identify, cultivate, request and report on funds from both existing donors and new prospects, including individuals, businesses, foundations, government sources, and non-government organizations including cottager associations;
• Assist with property tours for donors, partners or the media;
• Assist in writing communications material.

4. Community and Partnership Liaison

• Maintain positive, productive and open relationships with neighbouring landowners, lessees, project volunteers and local partner organizations and agencies;
• Represent NCC in appropriate external relations and communications functions relevant to NCC’s science and stewardship activities in the sub region, including public speaking, meetings, and media relations, to build awareness and support for the conservation programs of NCC and its partners.

5. Other

• Work with the Program Director and others to coordinate and manage contractors, suppliers and seasonal technicians working on science, stewardship and other initiatives in the Central Ontario-East sub region;
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director or Ontario Director of Conservation.

Required Skills and Attributes

• A Bachelor’s Degree in ecology, conservation biology or related discipline with 3-5 years of directly related experience;
• Knowledge of the Rice Lake Plains, Napanee Plain and Eastern Lake Ontario Coast landscapes and the conservation of its biodiversity;
• Demonstrated experience with Ecological Land Classification;
• Superior botanical, terrestrial and/or aquatic species inventory and identification skills;
• Demonstrated experience with planning and implementing of prescribed burns, and other direct habitat restoration tools and techniques;
• Familiar with COSEWIC and COSSARO designated species and recovery plans;
• Familiar with Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre and other sources of biodiversity information;
• Knowledge of the principles of conservation biology and planning;
• Demonstrated experience in researching and reporting on conservation projects;
• Experience in delivering land/resource management programs in a rural community;
• Previous experience working with land owners to implement land use/land management changes preferred;
• Project management skills, including excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills, and attention to detail and timelines;
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and to help manage and report on their time;
• Demonstrated ability to organize and supervise volunteers;
• Comfort working in a team setting and capable of easily communicating with a wide range of people from the public and private sectors and local First Nations;
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
• Flexibility, reliability, self-motivation, and ability to work independently;
• Proficient with MS Office Suite;
• Entrepreneurial, with a strong ability to prepare and manage timelines, goals and expectations wisely;
• Must be prepared to travel, work flexible hours at times and work in remote and rugged areas;
• Must have a valid class “G” driver’s license and ability to rent a vehicle in Ontario;
• Must have their own reliable transportation;
• Committed to the cause and mission of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

To Apply

1. Fill out our brief questionnaire: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CFYKLGD
2. Email your application to the email address provided at the end of the questionnaire.

To be considered for this position, please ensure your:

- email subject line is “Coordinator, Conservation Biology, Central Ontario - East”
- cover letter is a maximum of one page long
- cover letter and resumé are saved together in one pdf file
- pdf file name is your: First name Last name (e.g. “Jane Smith.pdf”)

Applications that do not fulfil these submission requirements will not be considered.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2017 (11:59 p.m. EST)

Late applications will not be considered.

No telephone calls please.

We thank everyone who applies for their interest in the Nature Conservancy of Canada; however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

For positions situated in Ontario:
At the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) we strive to promote diversity in the workplace and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.
NCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, we will provide accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process. If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please inform Human Resources staff of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require.