The Land Protection Specialist works as part of a team to protect high-quality natural areas in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The current focus of this position will be to acquire fee-title and conservation easements on native prairie, primarily in western and central Minnesota.
You would join a team of eight other real estate professionals who cover the third largest geography of all TNC US state-based programs. We work closely with partners and field staff to implement a wide variety of conservation programs throughout our three states’ grasslands, forests, and freshwater systems. Our real estate team is annually deploying approximately $3m - $5m in transactional work, higher in some years. We are a recognized leader in The Nature Conservancy’s habitat protection work in the United States.
The Nature Conservancy is seeking an experienced professional to join the team responsible for the Conservancy’s land protection program in MN, ND, and SD.
The Land Protection Specialist (LPS) plays a critical role in negotiating, acquiring land and conservation easements, cooperative acquisition with government partners, developing and implementing landscape level land protection plans, and, where appropriate, transferring land interests to partner agencies. The LPS will work with landowners, Conservancy staff, citizens, and federal, state, and local agency professionals to promote protection programs on public and private land.
The LPS will travel extensively throughout Minnesota and to selected locations in North Dakota and/or South Dakota. One of the critical objectives for this position is initiating and developing relationships with landowners and partners in our highest priority conservation landscapes. This requires frequent travel to meet with people in these targeted places. These visits will often include off-road exploration of priority properties. Close coordination with the real estate and legal staff in the Minneapolis office is also essential. We estimate the travel requirements of this position will be 25% to 35%. This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with the Conservancy’s Auto Safety Program.
This position is funded with grants from the State of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment and is contingent on continued receipt of adequate funding. This remains the largest fully-funded state level conservation measure in US history, with consistent funding for conservation programs since 2009. Currently, funding from grants in hand should support the position for the next 2 years and is expected to extend longer, with additional grant requests submitted to the State.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic, results-oriented team focused on conserving some of the best natural areas in MN, ND, and SD. The work is fast-paced, challenging, and highly rewarding. With funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy amendment, and other sources, this team has grown to be one of the largest and most active real estate teams in The Nature Conservancy.
- Protect significant natural areas and priority landscapes in Minnesota and possibly North Dakota, and South Dakota using the full range of protection tools including fee-title acquisition, conservation easements, leases, administrative protection programs (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program, Reinvest in Minnesota), and other methods. This position will work on selected public grant projects and may assist with grant reporting.
- Work with field office staff and federal, state, and local government officials to protect natural lands for public and private conservation ownership. Consistent with chapter strategic plan and ecoregional portfolio designs, work with Deputy Director of Land and Water on transfers of existing Conservancy land to appropriate owners.
- Participate in a team effort to proactively implement landscape conservation and protection plans in cooperation with public and private partner organizations, agencies, and individuals.
- Work with field staff to identify top-priority landowners in all focus areas within the LPS’s landscape.
- Work with field staff to cultivate key relationships in priority conservation areas including local officials and key influencers.
- Respond to land protection inquiries and opportunities as appropriate, and represent the Conservancy to land owners, members, citizen groups, and local officials. Work with Conservancy professional, administrative and field staff members as needed to complete projects and follow TNC policies and procedures.
- Exercise proper financial management - meeting budgets, controlling costs, and recovering costs on cooperative transactions.
- Identify and help secure public and private funds to support the program.
- Help increase internal and external capacity for conservation.
- Experience bulilding relationship skills to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., landowners, Conservancy staff, federal, state, and local agency partners and government officials.
- Experience in excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English.
- Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Experience using common software applications such as Microsoft Office, web browsers, etc.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
- 5 years’ experience in natural resource management, similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge of and interest in current trends and practices in conservation, ecological land management, and natural resource preservation.
- Interest in Minnesota’s native prairies, their ecology and natural history, and the threats and opportunities for their future conservation.
- Familiarity with principles of land acquisition or similar asset acquisition, with experience completing real estate fee title and conservation easement acquisitions.
- Experience coordinating with a team to initiate and execute large and complicated transactions or projects.
- Demonstrated ability to perform well, and even thrive, under pressure.
- Proven ability to work well with many different types of people, including those that disagree with you or are antagonistic.
- Well-developed project management skills and experience.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple projects, set priorities, and organize time effectively.
- Attention to detail, particularly the ability to follow detailed policies and procedures, while working for broader conservation results.
- Experience with interest-based negotiations.
- Experience developing creative solutions to difficult problems.
- Basic competency using ArcMap GIS software.
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.