Conservation Easement Program Coordinator

The Nature Conservancy•North Charleston, SC

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Conservation Easement Program Coordinator (CEPC) is an essential position for the stewardship of TNC land interests in South Carolina. This position will focus on the stewardship of over 160 conservation easements covering over 190,000 acres in South Carolina. Covering virtually every habitat type and ecoregion in the state, these acres are critical to achieving our goals for landscape scale conservation in South Carolina. The CEPC will work with easement landowners and other TNC staff to assure conservation easements are in compliance with terms set forth in easement documents. The CEPC will also serve as a subject matter expert to guide landowner actions toward high quality land management that meets habitat goals set forth in the easements. The CEPC will use GIS and data systems to track the use of reserved rights on easement properties, and raise emerging compliance issues within internal TNC teams for their resolution. This position will also assist other stewardship and conservation staff in the management of TNC fee lands, and the transition of conservation properties in and out of TNC ownership. The CEPC will also engage with land conservation teams and partnerships in knowledge sharing and best practice development as time allows. The Conservation Easement Program Coordinator’s primary function is to assure all TNC easements in South Carolina are monitored annually and remain in compliance with the terms set forth in easement documentation. The position will be the primary contact to easement landowners and provide guidance to assist landowners with easement-compliant land management and use decisions. The CEPC will track and record landowners’ use of retained rights into TNC data systems, and work with the GIS Manager on the housing and acquisition of data and relevant remote-sensing products. As time allows, the CEPC will assist other TNC staff with fee land and preserve management duties. The CEPC will plan and execute the easement monitoring workload directly, and in part by recruiting ancillary resources such as contractors and interns. The CEPC will work with TNC teams in- and outside the South Carolina Business Unit to assure adequate budgeting and operational support for this work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience managing staff or volunteers.
Relationship-building experience in working closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, and internal scientists.
Experience completing tasks independently concerning timeline(s).
Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
Experience in training.
Valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
Must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Nice To Haves

Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
3-5 years’ experience in natural resource management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
Familiarity with principles of land acquisition or similar asset acquisition.
Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.

Responsibilities

Assure TNC conservation easements in South Carolina are monitored annually.
Serve as the primary contact to easement landowners, and as a subject matter expert guiding landowners toward best land management practices compliant with their easements.
Identify emerging and extant conservation easement compliance issues, and serve as the subject matter expert to internal TNC issue resolution teams.
Report to the South Carolina Business Unit’s Stewardship Program Manager and will work in coordination with other TNC land protection and management staff as needed.
Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
May recruit and supervise contractors and interns to assist execution of the workload.
Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.