The Nature Conservancy seeks a Protection Specialist to support the Chapter’s land and water protection activities across Idaho. S/he will use the full range of protection tools including gift, easement, purchase, lease registry, conservation brokerage, water agreements and cooperative projects with federal, state, and local government, conservation organizations, and other partners as appropriate.
The Protection Specialist provides technical leadership and support to achieve land and water protection as guided by the Chapter’s 3-Year Strategic Plan. S/he will prepare and review legal documents, draft conservation easements, track real estate activity, prepare project documentation, assist with closings, and resolve general real estate related issues. The Protection Specialist will work closely with The Nature Conservancy’s legal staff, Idaho conservation staff, and collaboratively with landowners, other non-profits, corporations, government agencies and foundations. S/he will demonstrate deep knowledge of real estate principle, Western conservation issues, and an ability to assist in seeking public and private funding for land protection throughout Idaho.
- Coordinates, assists, and negotiates complex real estate transactions around Idaho which can bind the Conservancy legally and financially.
- Acts as a centralized resource providing conservation staff transactional real estate, strategic assistance, and project coordination on projects around Idaho.
- Drafts, reviews, and edits legal documents required for land and water protection activities.
- Effectively tracks the status of all aspects of real estate projects including deadlines, payment schedules, due diligence, permits, leases, transfers, and contracts.
- Assists conservation staff and legal team with interpreting and enforcing real estate related agreements, such as conservation easements and purchase and sale agreements.
- Acts as liaison between Idaho staff and TNC’s legal team on all matters relating to land and water protection. This includes coordinating communications, distribution/development of document templates or key policy changes, resolving conflicts, and providing appropriate document review.
- Leads and manages all aspects of property disposition, including the conservation buyer and tradeland programs for the Idaho Chapter. Develop relationships with partner organizations and agencies necessary to support these efforts.
- Coordinates closely with the other Protection Specialist to complete the legal, contractual and other processes of carrying projects to completion from initial contact to negotiations to closing. This includes timely completion of Conservancy’s project approval process through the Chapter, Region, Worldwide Office and Board of Directors.
- Acts as a liaison between the Idaho Chapter and partner public agencies such as Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Idaho Department of Lands.
- Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- 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.
- This position requires frequent travel within Idaho and may require working evening and weekend hours.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in developing and managing multiple projects and timelines.
- Experience being on or leading project teams.
- Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
- Experience in training and curriculum design.
- Must have valid driver's license.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-5 years’ experience in natural resource management, conservation, real estate or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
- Relationship building skills to work closely with a variety of partners, e.g.,., media, legal staff, government officials, internal Scientists.
- Familiarity with principles of land acquisition.
- Familiarity with conservation easements, including drafting, monitoring and enforcement.
- Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
- Experience using geographic information systems.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
- Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.