The Flint Hills Initiative Manager (Manager) coordinates and implements a comprehensive landscape initiative to help conserve the intactness of the last expanse of tallgrass prairie and to protect and enhance native plant and animal communities using a wide range of conservation tools, such as conservation easements and stewardship assistance.
The Manager is responsible for implementing and achieving internal conservation priorities. They will oversee and represent the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with government agencies and advisory committees. They will assist philanthropy staff in securing public and private funds for land protection (mostly conservation easements). The Manager will identify potential acquisition projects, and respond to land protection inquiries. The Manager will oversee management of Conservancy preserves in the Flint Hills, and supervise the Flint Hills Stewardship Initiative Manager. They will report to the Director of Protection and Stewardship.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Direct and oversee the Conservancy’s landscape conservation efforts in the Greater Flint Hills landscape in Kansas.
- Assist the Conservancy staff in Oklahoma with conservation efforts on the Oklahoma portion of the landscape.
- Oversee natural resource management at Conservancy preserves in the Flint Hills so they can be held up as a model for stewardship and collaboration.
- Support organizations with similar missions in the Flint Hills, such as the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition and Tallgrass Legacy Alliance.
- Supervise the manager of the Flint Hills Stewardship Initiative, a new Conservancy project that will provide stewardship assistance on Flint Hills ranches protected with easements.
- Collaborate with diverse groups, including landowners, conservation partners, government officials, and the public to recruit support for conservation of the Flint Hills.
- Negotiate real estate transactions.
- Assist philanthropy staff with fundraising for Flint Hills projects.
- Recruit and supervise staff and interns as needed and as funding is available. Responsible for performance management, training, and development of direct reports.
- Able and willing to travel frequently (up to 50%), sometimes on short notice/ or weekends.
- May be required to work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Must have, or be able to acquire and maintain, a valid driver's license.
- Experience with, or expert knowledge of, native rangelands.
- Knowledge of current trends and strategies in conservation and land protection.
- Experience in managing multiple projects and timelines.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
- Experience developing partnerships (partners, community, government).
- Supervisory experience.
- Literate with standard office software, including Microsoft Office, video conferencing, and cloud collaboration.
- Experienced working on teams and independently.
- Experience communicating with diverse stakeholders verbally, in writing, via interpersonal communication, and through presentations.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Natural resource knowledge and experience in the Flint Hills.
- Master’s degree in natural resources management, conservation biology, or a related field.
- 5 years or more of related work experience in conservation, rangeland management, real estate or other related experience.
- Experience with GIS.
- Experience engaging with a wide variety of partners-- private stakeholders, community organizations, government agencies, nonprofits—to establish and achieve a shared vison.
- Able to work well in a highly matrixed, decentralized, collaborative organization.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
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.