Stewardship Project Manager, Coastal Mountains Land Trust

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Coastal Mountains Land Trust is a non-profit land conservation organization based in Camden, Maine that is dedicated to permanently preserving land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay region. Since 1986, we have conserved more than 9,700 acres of land. Currently, we own and manage 26 Preserves containing 76 tracts and hold and steward 56 conservation easements in the 15-town region we serve.

We accomplish our mission by:

• Working proactively and cooperatively with land owners to establish a system of conservation lands that feature:
1. habitat supporting biological diversity;
2. water resources, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, and the bay;
3. farms and forests managed for sustained productivity; and
4. scenic landscapes essential to our sense of place.
• Sustaining the natural and historic values or our conservation lands through a strong
• stewardship program based on monitoring, management, restoration, and enforcement.
• Providing opportunities for the public to access and explore natural places.
• Promoting public awareness for and support for land conservation through a broad outreach effort.
• Collaborating with towns, agencies, and other organizations to protect resources that meet exceptional needs in the communities we serve.
• Engaging volunteers to help implement our conservation work.

This position will be complementing four additional full-time staff positions at our organization which include an Executive Director, a Development Director, another Stewardship Project Manager, and Membership & Outreach Coordinator. Our organization is dedicated to the highest quality work, and operates as a learning organization with a work culture based on consensus and teamwork.

Scope of the Position

Coastal Mountains Land Trust seeks a qualified and motivated individual to manage our conservation easement program; oversee the management of select Land Trust Preserves; implement a broad range of stewardship projects; monitor preserves and conservation easements; maintain stewardship records; use of GPS and GIS for resource management and cartographic purposes; and recruit and manage volunteers. Additionally, the position will also assist with land conservation, outreach and project-related fundraising activities in support of the organization's mission. This position reports to the Executive Director; and works closely with other staff, interns, and volunteers.

1. Manage the Land Trust's conservation easement stewardship program including:

a. ongoing outreach and communication with private landowners;

b. annual monitoring of all conservation easements;

c. training and oversight of volunteers to assist with easement monitoring;

d. overseeing review and approval of landowner requests to exercise reserved rights;

d. negotiation and management of any and all necessary conservation easement enforcement procedures;

e. participation, through involvement with the Land Acquisitions Committee, in the drafting, review, and creation of necessary baseline documentation for all new conservation easements.

2. Oversee and manage Land Trust Preserves. This position will:

a. direct the development of ecological inventories and management plans for Preserves;

b. develop and manage baseline documentation and all management related documents for each Preserve;

c. implement stewardship projects such as public access infrastructure development, habitat maintenance or enhancement and removal of invasive exotic species;

d. conduct regular monitoring of Preserves and their trail systems, parking lots, and property boundaries;

e. work to engage the community in care and monitoring of individual Preserves.

3. Participate in the management and coordination of our stewardship committee, which reviews all matter related to the ongoing management of our conservation land holdings.

4. Assist with the ongoing fulfillment of stewardship practices and procedures, including maintenance of a detailed stewardship record-keeping system, necessary to maintain the Land Trust's National Accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance.

5. Utilize the global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) to aid in the stewardship of resources and uses of preserves and conservation easements and to prepare maps and spatial analyses for internal and external communications.

6. Foster and manage ongoing partnerships with other community organizations and groups to engage our community in the Land Trust's stewardship programs.

7. Assist with the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers involved with the stewardship program.

8. Participate actively in the Land Trust's community engagement efforts by responding to public inquiries and coordinating events and programs relevant to our stewardship program.

9. Maintain the office building property, including mowing, parking lot maintenance, sign maintenance, and other such tasks.

10. Other Duties: perform other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director.

Every effort has been made to make this description of duties complete. However, it neither states nor implies that these are the only duties required of the position. The omission of other tasks does not exclude them from the duties of the position if the work required is similar, related, or necessary for fulfilling the position.

Desired Qualification and Attributes of the Stewardship Project Manager

• Working knowledge of the issues important to the mission of the Land Trust
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience with a relevant organization or business.
• Experience overseeing land management activities including supervision of field staff and/or private contractors.
• Understanding of the process of negotiating and completing land acquisition transactions.
• Experience using GPS and GIS hardware and software, including ESRI's ArcGIS
• Ability to use and maintain hand and power tools and equipment, including basic carpentry skills
• Physically able and willing to traverse difficult terrain during inspection of conservation properties
• Ability to work independently
• Well-organized work style and capability to conduct multiple tasks concurrently
• Experience with computer software, including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
• Valid vehicle driver's license, personal vehicle with proof of insurance, and ability and willingness to travel to preserves and conservation easements
• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or experience commensurate with the needs of the position
• Articulate in public and possessing a pleasant personality featuring tact, patience, diplomacy, flexibility, and helpfulness
• Possesses rigorous standards of discretion and confidentiality.

Benefits of the Position:

• This is a full-time position with potential to lead the growth of Coastal Mountains Land Trust's Stewardship Program.
• Salary commensurate with experience. Annual salary increases are based on performance and as annual budgets permit.
• Competitive benefits package, including paid vacation, retirement plan, and health insurance.
• Training and career development opportunities available as annual budgets permit.
• Being part of a highly successful and dynamic conservation organization.
• Living in one of the 15 towns we serve – a series of highly scenic coastal communities with access to excellent outdoor, recreational, arts and entertainment opportunities.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer and provides a smoke-free, drug-free work place.

How to Apply:

Please email a single PDF document that includes a letter of interest (not to exceed one page), current resume and three references by July 15 th , 2015 to: stewardship@coastalmountains.org.  Please be sure to put “Your full name/Stewardship Project Manager Recruitment” in the subject line.

Candidates will be notified regarding the status of their applications.

Download this job description here .