The Conservation Specialist (Specialist) helps advance land protection efforts for The Nature Conservancy in Kansas by assisting with fee title and conservation easement transactions in Kansas, particularly in the Flint Hills, Red Hills, and Smoky Valley Ranch areas. The Specialist also helps monitor easements, assists with other land management activities, and other duties as assigned.
The Specialist coordinates fee title, conservation easement, and other real estate transactions that further TNC’s conservation goals. The Specialist manages land protection projects, works closely with TNC staff and partners, maintains asset databases, creates maps, collects data, prepares environmental baseline inventories and assessments, and monitors conservation easements.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Process management for real estate transactions – Manages process for real estate transactions, including gathering, completing, and archiving documents (baseline reports, environmental assessments, surveys, appraisals and title reviews, etc.). Collaborates closely with TNC legal staff and other conservation staff.
- Project development – Supports TNC staff and assists with requesting funding for real estate projects (e.g. USDA funding).
- Easement monitoring – With other TNC conservation staff, monitor and report on existing conservation easements in Kansas.
- Mapping – Develop maps of project areas as needed.
- Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Project manager experience, specifically in coordinating complex projects with many stakeholders.
- Experience with interpersonal skills and collaboration.
- Track record of completing tasks independently and on time.
- Expeirence communicating verbally and in writing.
- Standard office technology experience, e.g. MS Office, databases, web browsers, cloud collaboration tools, video conferencing.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong attention to detail and great organizational skills.
- Experience with real estate transactions and contracts.
- Experience using project management frameworks.
- Able and willing to use science to guide decisions.
- Knowledge of ecological land management principles and current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and natural resource preservation is helpful.
- Grant writing experience a plus.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION
- Primarily office and computer work, with a small portion of work done outdoors. Outdoor work may be in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.