Overview

Conservation Project Manager

Location: Rhinebeck, New York, and will require local travel to engage with partners and assess projects. The position also may work remotely within the greater Hudson Valley region with weekly visits to the central office.

Salary: $55,000 – $75,000 depending upon years of experience and qualifications.

Benefits: Health insurance, 403(b) retirement account, generous PTO, medical/family leave

Reports to: Executive Director

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For first consideration, apply by January 2, 2024

Position Summary

The Conservation Project Manager plays a key role in implementing Winnakee Land Trust’s acquisition work, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic plan and close coordination with WLT’s conservation, stewardship, community engagement, and development departments. Responsibilities include managing all land transactions; keeping accurate records of all real estate; ensuring compliance with standards and practices required for WLT to maintain its Land Trust Alliance (LTA) accreditation; evaluating landowner offers or inquiries; devising strategies for approaching landowners to discuss conservation options; supporting related stewardship and conservation program activities; and seeking public and private funding to support projects.

Essential Job Functions:

Land Acquisition Project Implementation

  • Negotiate and complete land acquisitions (fee title and easements; donations and purchase) with private landowners, governmental entities and/or other conservation organizations. 
  • Draft and negotiate easement documents, Purchase and Sale Agreements, Letters of Intent and related acquisition documents. 
  • Negotiate and complete leases and land transfers, including sale of land to private or public entities or sale of property interests. 
  • Manage and direct attorneys, appraisers, surveyors, environmental consultants, and other professionals associated with real estate transactions. 
  • Maintain acquisition pipeline, including tracking, record-keeping, and reporting. 
  • Manage unsolicited acquisition inquiries and opportunities. 
  • Prepare project materials to present to the Board of Directors for approval, including Board Committees such as Land Conservation, Land Stewardship and Finance. 
  • Review and maintain WLT compliance with Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Accreditation “Standards and Practices” and associated policies in coordination with other WLT departments. 
  • Maintain knowledge of relevant conservation real estate laws and regulations and related natural resources, land use, planning and development laws and regulations. 
  • Maintain positive and productive contact with private landowners, public agencies, and partner groups. 

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Conservation and Stewardship Programs Support, Planning and Coordination 

  • Assess and refine acquisition plan in collaboration with conservation and stewardship department staff.  
  • Support conservation and stewardship staff on real estate related issues associated with projects.
  • Assist in review of, and provide advice on, existing easement and fee lands documents as issues arise. 
  • Submit initial and annual property tax exemption forms with local assessors.
  • Coordinate and contribute to successful post-acquisition activities such as developing property transition plans, transferring ownership to external partners, following up with funders, and transitioning properties to our Land Stewardship team for long-term management of natural resources. 
  • Assess and update list of potential fee land transfer opportunities and identify priorities.  
  • Represent WLT at community meetings, with peer groups, and at professional meetings. 
  • Track local, state, and federal regulations and policies that may influence land acquisition projects. 

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Funding and Financing for Acquisition

  • Investigate potential funding opportunities (primarily public funding, but not exclusively) and apply for grants to support acquisition related projects in collaboration with the Executive Director and WLT Development and Stewardship staff. This includes developing, writing, submitting, and tracking grant proposals, and monitoring grant commitments to ensure timely completion of deliverables and submission of grant reports. 

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Administration 

  • Participate in project and departmental team meetings and planning sessions. 
  • Propose WLT acquisition policy updates/revisions which may become necessary to keep the organization current and to ensure compliance with LTA Accreditation.  
  • Participate in organizational annual planning including project level planning steps and estimated outcomes for specific actions. 

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Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources management, conservation biology, wildlife management, or a related field. 
  • Excellent communication skills. 
  • Experience with ArcGIS
  • Must have valid driver’s license

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Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with the following professional qualifications:

  • Two to three years of real estate experience; specific experience in conservation real estate highly desirable, including fee land, conservation easement and trail easement transactions, with demonstrated understanding of deal structure and sensitivity unique to this type of work; experience with complex real property transactions, and multi-party land acquisitions is also desirable. 
  • Familiarity with Land Trust Alliance accreditation standards; LTA real estate training desirable.
  • Experience in grant writing

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Physical Requirements and Work Environment

  • The employee must have the ability to navigate and traverse a variety of landscapes on foot or via off-road driving, at times in deep back country, in off-trail land conditions, sometimes in rugged terrain. 
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  
  • Ability to work in adverse weather conditions including but not limited to high heat, rain, snow, smoke, dust, and cold temperatures (within reason)
  • Ability to walk, hike, or stand for extended periods of time with others and alone in steep, rugged, brushy, and/or remote terrain under adverse weather conditions.