The Conservation Associate provides project management, research, and other general assistance to program staff working toward the achievement of conservation, transaction, partnership and stewardship goals.
The Conservation Associate will provide a variety of support services for land conservation and transaction programs in Washington (specifically forests, stewardship and conservation transactions), including project management, team coordination, information management, and other support as needed. Essential functions include:
Program Support (70%)
Perform multiple supporting functions related to closing transactions, property ownership and stewardship including the following:
- Assist with real estate and other transactional matters, including responding to landowner inquiries, creating project records, preparing project packages, and routing for approvals.
- Enter data and manage corporate and legal databases that document information related to transactions, legal ownership, and stewardship, and otherwise maintain electronic and physical program files.
- Document and compile all information necessary to pay taxes, maintain and apply for tax exemptions, and pay fire assessment dues.
- Manage, write, and update private leases on properties owned by the Conservancy.
- Gather information, prepare reports and otherwise assist in complying with property monitoring obligations.
Program Coordination (30%)
- Assist with documenting program accomplishments, and metrics tracking and evaluation.
- Schedule and coordinate logistics for special meetings and events.
- Generate external and internal program communications and content, including maintaining internal intranet sites for assigned program areas and generating program publications and reports.
- Serve as project manager for special projects, as directed. This includes managing and/or tracking project timelines, tasks and deliverables.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
Level of Position: This is a junior position and duties are performed under general supervision and established guidelines.
- Does not supervise any staff, but may supervise volunteers, interns, or temporary staff.
- Financial responsibility may include paying taxes and assessments, purchasing, processing invoices, contracting with vendors, and assisting with budget tracking.
Within the scope of the position, the Conservation Associate will:
- Work within scope of programs’ strategic goals;
- Communicate on behalf of supervisor and/or team members with internal and external sources, including staff, donors, vendors, and business relations.
- Act independently on assigned tasks and exercise independent judgment based on analysis and experience, referring difficult questions and unusual problems to supervisor;
- Coordinate projects with several variables, working within a defined timeline and budget;
- Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information.
- Perform non-routine analysis, research and follow-through.
- Ensure compliance with Conservancy policies and procedures, and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
- May act as a resource to others to solve problems and act in supervisor’s stead when instructed;
- Provide input through project teams for the improvement of existing programs.
- Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
- Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Experience working across teams and communicating with a wide range of people.
- Experience coordinating multiple projects.
- Experience in business writing, editing and proofreading.
- Experience with common software applications such as Microsoft Office suite.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and complete tasks independently within assigned time frames, with assignments sometimes coming from a number of sources.
- Ability to apply research skills and coordinate project information from a number of sources to populate databases, prepare reports and manage electronic files.
- Tech-savvy and proficient with video conferencing, electronic document management, Skype for Business, SharePoint and other common office software.
- Strong administrative and organizational skills including attention to detail and numerical ability.
- Ability to plan, administer and record results of work-team meetings and activities.
- Experience utilizing databases for data entry and report production.
- Coursework, training or experience working in environmental science, natural resource management, environmental conservation, law or finance.
Estimated starting salary: $53,000 - $57,000/annually, dependent on qualifications and experience.