Easement Project Coordinator - Remote

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

2d•$65,000 - $75,000•Remote

About The Position

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an American nonprofit conservation organization 501(c) with a mission to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. This mission closely parallels the goals and mission of one of DU’s biggest partners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and specifically their conservation easement programs administered through the Farm Bill. The NRCS’s Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program Floodplain Easements (EWPP-FPE) restore and conserve thousands of acres of wetland and grassland habitat each year. In partnership with NRCS, DU is assisting NRCS with the delivery of conservation easement programs to increase NRCS’s capacity to meet growing funding levels. This position will be home-officed, however, will be expected to travel for team meetings and trainings held by DU and NRCS as necessary. The Easement Project Coordinator is a remote position that will support the implementation of NRCS conservation easement programs under the Farm Bill, to restore and conserve wetlands, grasslands, and farmlands nationwide. This position plays a crucial role in helping NRCS enroll and acquire conservation easements. This position will provide direct support to their NRCS Team lead and requires someone that is detail oriented, highly organized, experienced in project management, possesses exceptional communication skills, and is highly motivated to be a part of a large-scale conservation effort. This position involves providing high-level project management functions to team members including tracking project deadlines and expiration dates, maintain data integrity and reporting, development of requisition packages for easement due diligence services, reviewing application and acquisition packages to ensure compliance with NRCS policy. The successful candidate will be a part of an enthusiastic team comprised of federal staff, Ducks Unlimited staff, and other contractors.

Requirements

Preferred candidates must have a bachelor's degree in business administration or wildlife, environmental science, restoration ecology or related conservation field, preferably a M.S.
The successful candidate must have demonstrated the ability to think strategically, manage multiple assignments with different deadlines, and adopt new approaches in response to changing circumstances.
The candidate must be willing and able to travel as needed, including some overnight travel.
This position will consist of office work; no fieldwork will be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in private land conservation, conservation easements, agriculture industry, contract administration and/or state, local, or government operations.
The ability to learn and translate information into action.
Experience and proven ability to encourage collaboration among diverse project partners, with an ability to create and thrive in a team environment.
Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work activities and complete tasks to meet deadlines.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with proven ability to convey information clearly.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability, style, and personality to foster collaborative problem-solving and resolve or diffuse conflict.
Computer literacy with proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and database management programs is key.
Ability to work independently and maintain a high level of productivity in a remote work environment.

Responsibilities

Maintain tracking spreadsheet(s) or project management tool to assist in easement project management.
Following NRCS policy standards, review easement agreement packages and quality check them to ensure each is complete and accurate.
Regularly communicate the status of each task associated with a project to NRCS State Office staff and/or eligible entity.
Tracking each assigned easement project actions from obligation (project start) through acquisition (project completion) will be done following current NRCS protocols.
Analysis of project completion timelines and proposed actions necessary to complete acquisition.
Work with NRCS State Office or EPD staff to review application packages and document decisions. Work with Field or State offices and/or eligible entities to compile items needed for program application, fund obligation and closing.
Assist NRCS with naming and uploading all documents to appropriate NRCS Business Tools, including Conservation Desktop (CD), ProTracts, National Easement Staging Tool (NEST), National Easement Acquisition Tool (NEAT), Document Management Solution (DMS), and Program Activity Management Solution (PAMS).
Develop and review requisition packages for completeness. Enter packages into appropriate software system to order any needed due diligence items.
Complete an easement success story for each assigned project following acquisition.
Participate in regular team meetings to ensure project coordination follows timelines, and any issues are resolved or elevated quickly.
Coordinate cross discipline meetings to keep projects moving forward. Capture concepts and actions from meetings and turn them into tangible actions to assist NRCS Project Manager.
Draft letters, agendas, and meeting outlines based on team feedback.
Produce and maintain a current summary of completed projects – accessible to DU and NRCS for reporting.
Maintain a solid understanding of ACEP and RCPP policy, bulletins, national instructions, and program deadlines by Fiscal Year.
Assist the NRCS Easement Program Division (EPD) with State ACEP support and other projects as assigned based on individual State needs.

Benefits

comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage
three weeks paid vacation
paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays
401(k) plan (including partial employer match)
tuition reimbursement

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