Description
Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT), a regional land trust located in Sudbury,
Massachusetts, seeks a qualified professional to expand SVT’s outreach to
landowners and accelerate the pace of land protection in the region.
SVT’s Land Protection team helps to identify and assist landowners seeking to
protect their land through conservation easements, gifts and bequests, or sale
to conservation partners. The Land Protection Specialist reports to the
Director of Land Protection.
About SVT
Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) conserves natural areas and farmland in 36
communities around the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers of Massachusetts.
We protect some of the region’s most important forests, wetlands, and
grasslands—natural areas that support wildlife habitat, working farms, and
recreational trails.
SVT is accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission. SVT
cares for more than 5,300 acres on 181 properties, maintains more than 65
miles of hiking trails, and provides an array of public educational programs
and recreational outings. We collaborate with numerous partner organizations,
and our work is supported by 2,900 members and 200 volunteers. We accomplish
our work through an all-volunteer Board of Directors and 13 staff members.
About This Position
SVT has a goal to protect an additional 12,000 acres of land by the year 2050.
To accelerate our work, we must engage more landowners and we must help our
allies. Thus, the Land Protection Specialist will play an important role in
community outreach and collaborative work. Desired qualities include
creativity, curiosity, collaborative spirit, desire to work with and engage
non-traditional partners, and willingness to apply and test new, innovative
approaches.
Responsibilities :
- Assist in identifying, researching, and prioritizing properties for protection.
- Initiate and cultivate relationships with landowners, conservation partners, and other possible allies in order to identify potential land conservation projects.
- Negotiate all aspects of land conservation transactions, including gifts of land or conservation restrictions, leveraged purchases or bargain sales, and limited development projects; work with other staff, committee members, board, and conservation partners to successfully complete conservation projects.
- Provide education regarding conservation options, including tax strategies that may benefit landowners considering land conservation.
- Manage all logistics of multi-party real estate transactions, contracts, and budgets - while maintaining detailed and accurate documentation.
- Actively participate in the fundraising necessary to complete conservation projects. (continued)
- Through outreach and trainings, share knowledge and best practices that will help SVT’s allies to protect land locally.
- Work with partners in more urbanized sections of our service area to plan and carry out “nontraditional” conservation projects, such as the protection of urban wilds, establishing community gardens, and tree planting initiatives.
- Work with other staff to ensure that all land conservation transactions are adequately documented, including written reports, database management, GIS maps, and other means.
- Attend SVT outreach and fundraising functions, as necessary.
- Seek opportunities to stay current and familiar with the current state-of-the-art legal, technical, and pragmatic best practices for conservation acquisitions of all kinds. Maintain working knowledge of current trends, developments and activities occurring in the local, state, and national conservation communities.
Qualifications :
- A Bachelor’s degree and three years’ experience in land conservation, planning, or community organizing; a graduate degree in natural resource management, planning or a related field may be substituted for one year of experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to convey complex concepts to a lay audience.
- Experience managing complex, multi-faceted, multi-partner projects.
- Understanding of Massachusetts land conservation methods and planning tools.
- Working knowledge of GIS.
- Demonstrated commitment to a collaborative approach to solving problems.
- An ability to establish effective, close working relationships with a wide range of people and organizations.
- Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and databases.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for land conservation.
- Experience in community organizing and outreach a plus.
- Willingness to adjust work hours according to the needs of the organization and to occasionally work in a variety of terrains and weather.
- Must embrace and participate in a small-office culture where everyone chips in to a great variety of tasks.
- Must be willing to perform other duties as assigned.
Additional Information
- Full-time, exempt 37.5-hour/week position.
- Includes earned sick time.
To Apply :
- Please email resume, cover letter, and three references to hr@svtweb.org.
- Emailed submissions should include the subject line: “LPS_[last name]”.
No phone calls, please. The job will remain open until filled. Expected start
date: September 2020.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sudbury Valley Trustees aims to create a
thriving, inclusive workplace that values each member of our team and reflects
and effectively serves the diverse communities of Boston’s Metrowest region.
SVT is committed to fairness and equity throughout our internal operations.
Inclusion and diversity are priorities as we strengthen and continue to
diversify our team and expand the constituency in all aspects of our work.
Location
Sudbury, MA, USA
Category
External
Posted
2020-07-20 00:00