The Montana Land Steward develops, manages, and advances conservation programs, plans, and methods related to TNC’s property interest portfolio in Montana.
The Montana Land Steward provides technical leadership and project support to the Montana business unit and plans and directs property interest monitoring programs, enforcement, and stewardship. The position requires an ability to build relationship and trust with a broad spectrum of partners in both the private and public sectors. The Montana Land Steward addresses critical threats to natural systems and individual species, fosters cross-site learning among conservation community partners, and supplies conservation planning teams with site or landscape level information relevant to the planning process. The Montana Land Steward develops and implements conservation strategies and employs a full range of protection tools to acquire or transfer varying degrees of legal interest in land and implements a variety of strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation priorities. The Montana Land Steward coordinates community support, ensures the stewardship of a portfolio of conservation easements and coordinates multiple projects, sets deadlines and manages completion.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Leads the Conservation Easement and Fee Monitoring program for the Montana Chapter, working closely with contractors, landowners, landscape/program managers, legal staff, and the conservation information manager.
- Works with legal and landscape staff to resolve enforcement, legal, and stewardship issues on conservation easements
- Conducts or provides support for fee land acquisitions, land sales, conservation interest acquisitions, land management and other projects as needed.
- Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
- Supervises technical, administrative and professional staff with responsibility for performance management, training and development.
- 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.
- Frequent travel is required.
- Experience managing staff 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.
- Experience in training.
- 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, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
- Familiarity with principles of land acquisition or similar asset acquisition.
- Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
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.