Conservation Stewardship Manager @ Southern Conservation Trust, Inc.

Southern Conservation Trust, Inc.

Application Info

Conservation Stewardship Manager

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The goal of SCT’s stewardship program is to uphold the conservation values of our protected lands in perpetuity. The Stewardship Manager is a full-time position that reports to the Director of Conservation and Stewardship and is responsible for overseeing the landowner communication for and annual monitoring of 250+ conserved properties throughout the year, as well as contracts with hunters/caretakers/lessees on a portion of the Southern Conservation Trust’s private preserves. Such stewardship duties may include:

Land Stewardship:

  • Management of SCT’s stewardship program at the direction of the Director of Conservation & Stewardship

  • Creating and maintaining records of all stewardship activities and landowner updates in Landscape conservation software/Google Drive

  • Responsible for overseeing all annual monitoring and reporting of conserved and owned properties

    • Setting up annual conservation easement visits and obtaining landowner updates, assigning visits to the rest of Conservation & Stewardship team, conducting 150+ visits each year independently

    • Reading baseline reports, GIS mapping, and recent property communication in advance in order to effectively monitor conserved properties

    • Coordination of owned property visits

    • Management of monitoring reports on conserved and owned properties, with Director of Conservation & Stewardship

    • Interacts with landowners, conveys basic conservation and easement information, and work parties as needed

  • Document and manage potential easement violations in conjunction with SCT’s Policies. Work with staff, Director of Conservation & Stewardship, and Executive Director and potentially the Land Committee to obtain a resolution

Environmental Services:

  • Land management consultations with landowners and coordination of land management plans

  • Participation in contracted environmental services, including but not limited to land management plans, wildlife surveys, drone surveillance, and boundary posting

Conservation & Owned Lands:

  • Assist the Director of Conservation & Stewardship and Senior Conservation Biologist with new conservation easement projects including the development of baseline documentation reports, management plans, and legal conservation easements

  • Initial site visits on prospective conservation easements, meeting with landowners

  • Working with the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule cleanups and volunteer days on owned, non-public properties

  • Management of all hunting leases, as well as other leases on SCT’s owned, non-public properties

  • Coordinate all owned, non-public lands visits (quarterly in state, twice a year out of state) and maintain properties in Landscape software

Management/Capacity Building/Other:

  • Work with the Fundraising Manager to pursue grants and other funding sources to support conservation and exemplary land stewardship on conservation easement and owned properties

  • Supervising and training the Stewardship Associate in current stewardship protocol

  • Manage SCT’s Annual Land Stewardship Budget within the confines of the SCT Master Budget

  • Manage SCT’s subscription and support with Landscape software

  • Management of annual drone registration/permitting

  • Management of SCT’s stewardship vehicles, including annual maintenance and scheduling

  • Attend staff meetings as well as Land Committee and Board meetings as necessary

  • Attend occasional weekend and evening fundraising and community relations events

  • Respond to public inquiries in a timely and professional manner

  • Provide the Marketing Coordinator information needed for developing marketing and public use

materials for SCT

  • As well as contributing to team effort by performing other related duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Skills:

  • Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in forestry, wildlife or natural resources with at least 5 years of professional experience

  • The ability to work independently with excellent time management skills and able to manage multiple ongoing activities

  • Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to listen and effectively and tactfully present information to and communicate with landowners, land managers, foresters, Board and Committee members, and other staff

  • Good writing skills with the ability to effectively develop monitoring reports, stewardship documents, landowner correspondence, technical papers, popular articles, social media posts, and other writings as assigned

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, Adobe Acrobat, and GPS technology. Competent with cell technology

  • Working knowledge of common land management practices, including prescribed fire and forestry techniques utilized in the Southeast

  • An understanding of conservation easements and a willingness to expand personal knowledge of the topic

  • Must have a philosophical agreement with consumptive and sustainable uses of wildlife and forest resources. An active outdoors person and/or hunter is preferred

  • Strong and reliable work ethic; ability to rigidly adhere to maintenance and management schedules

  • Some weekend or evening work may be required on occasion

  • Ability to document, in writing, work performed

  • Must pass a nationwide background check

  • Must become drone certified within 90 days of employment

  • In addition to the competencies identified above, the Stewardship Manager must possess a valid driver's license and demonstrate the ability to safely operate 2 and 4-wheel Drive vehicles and UTVs

Desired Skills:

  • A Master’s Degree is preferred but not required, A graduate degree can be substituted for up to 2 years of professional experience

  • Preference for prescribed burner certification in Georgia

  • Preference for an understanding of Southeastern ecosystems, flora, and fauna

  • Land trust or experience with legal deeds preferred

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to do physical work related to various maintenance and fieldwork activities

  • Ability to lift and carry tools and heavy (30+ pounds) field equipment

  • Ability to drive for local and regional travel

  • Ability to work in inclement weather

  • 75% travel to easement locations within the Southeast

  • May require long hours in isolated settings

  • Must not be deterred by natural elements

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The position directly manages the Stewardship Associate. The position will regularly interact with the public, land owners, and volunteers.

BENEFITS:

Founded in 1993, the Southern Conservation Trust (SCT) is a 501(c)(3) tax- exempt, Georgia non-profit corporation that acquires and preserves land throughout the southeast, currently totaling 65,000 acres. This position plays a key role in the stewardship of conserved properties. SCT seeks an energetic professional to join our team in this full-time position. The position is based in Fayetteville, Georgia with a 13-state focus, and offers an impactful, demanding work opportunity at one of the south’s leading conservation organizations.

  • Full-time position, working 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work model possible following 90 days of employment. Flexible hours are offered based on workload, weather, and events schedule

  • In the first year of employment, we offer 10 vacation days and 10 paid holidays per year

  • Medical insurance; premiums are covered at 75% for employees. Other voluntary insurance includes vision and dental insurance. A $50,000 company-sponsored life insurance policy is provided for each full-time employee

  • We offer a 401k with a match of up to 2% of the first 4% after 90 days of employment

  • We offer an extremely collaborative, encouraging, and mission-driven team, and provide resources for professional development and continuing education opportunities

The Southern Conservation Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

It is the intent and ongoing policy of the Southern Conservation Trust to afford equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and to conform to applicable Local, State, and U.S. Federal laws and regulations.

How to Apply: Please send an application to the Southern Conservation Trust’s Director of Happiness, Angela Goddard at angela@sctlandtrust.org with “Stewardship Manager” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2022. Please include the following with your application:

1. Cover letter

2. Resume

3. 2 or more professional references

4. A writing sample addressing a topic related to the position and/or conservation

Mid-level

Nonprofit- NGO

$42,000 - $52,000 Depending on Experience

Location

Hybrid (Fayetteville, GA, USA)

Category

External

Posted

2022-11-21 00:00