The Land Protection Specialist will be part of the Pennsylvania Chapter’s Resilient Lands and Waters Conservation Program. This position will be responsible for initiating and implementing land protection activities to conserve and maintain connectivity between the Central & Northern Appalachians for climate change adaptation. The Central Appalachians are home to one of the healthiest, most biologically diverse temperate broadleaf forests on Earth. The Land Protection Specialist will reach out to willing landowners in the prioritized areas and develop new protection projects. The Specialist will work closely with local land trusts and other partners to identify best avenues of protection. The Specialist’s work with result in priority parcels within the resilient network moving towards permanent protection.
The Land Conservation Specialist, in coordination with the Land Conservation Manager, will support the implementation of a strategy to accelerate the pace of land protection in the Kittatinny Ridge landscape. The Specialist develops and implements conservation strategies and employs a full range of protection tools to acquire varying degrees of legal interest in land and implements a variety of strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation priorities. The Specialist will work closely with project staff and partner organizations to assist with landowner and public outreach, perform site evaluations, and provide project oversight, management, and coordination. S/he is responsible for helping to implement the Conservancy’s land protection priorities, initially focused in the South-Central portion of the Kittatinny Ridge landscape. Key to this position is the desire and ability to initiate, establish, and maintain productive and respectful relationships with private landowners and public agencies. S/he will be based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania but will also work with Conservancy staff and partners in other TNC offices and adjacent states who are working toward similar goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Work within the scope of and advance the strategic land protection priorities of Pennsylvania Chapter’s Resilient Lands and Waters Program.
- Initiates and develops new protection projects.
- Works with partners and local land trusts to advance land protection.
- Identifies funding sources for projects.
- Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently and on short notice, sometimes on weekends.
- 3 years of related work experience in conservation, real estate or other related experience.
- Experience managing staff, contractors or volunteers.
- Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.
- Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
- Must have valid driver's license.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
- 3-5 years’ experience in natural resource management, conservation, real estate, or similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience initiating and managing real estate transactions.
- Experience conducting outreach to private landowners.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple projects at the same time.
- Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
- Experience with principles of land and water protection, management, and restoration.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
- Experience using Geographic Information Systems.
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.