Working Lands Conservation Specialist

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Rocky Mount, VA

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Working Lands Preservation within the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a Conservation Specialist to promote working lands conservation and manage related projects throughout the western region of Virginia. The Office of Working Lands Preservation was created by the General Assembly to focus on the conservation of Virginia’s forests and farms. Projects are primarily open-space easements and also include outreach to internal and external partners on a range of tools to conserve and sustainably manage working lands. Travel is required to project locations within the western region and occasionally to DOF headquarters in Charlottesville. This position will be based in Salem or Rocky Mount with opportunities for teleworking arrangements.

Requirements

Demonstrated excellent presentation skills; effective oral, written, and inter-personal communication skills
Experience with working lands conservation tools, including open-space easements and local planning methods
Knowledge of general land conservation strategies and familiarity with the legal, financial, and scientific considerations involved in land conservation
Familiarity with national conservation easement and stewardship issues, trends, and policies, including the Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices
Strong ArcGIS competency with the ability to create maps, edit, and manipulate data.
Physical fitness appropriate for extensive examinations of land and excellent field work skills including use of maps and GPS
Able to manage a dynamic project portfolio, complete projects, and meet deadlines
Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility
Ability to travel throughout the region with overnight stays occasionally required
Able to keep accurate and detailed records
Proficiency using a PC, Microsoft Office software
Valid driver’s license

Nice To Haves

Knowledge or experience related to tools and strategies to promote the intergenerational transfer of property or business interests
Five or more years of experience managing conservation real estate projects or stewarding tracts with perpetual conservation restrictions
Demonstrated knowledge of real estate transactions including but not limited to appraisals, title work, environmental due diligence investigations, surveys, maps, closing procedures, aerial photos, zoning, tax, and policy issues.
Virginia-specific knowledge of local planning regulations, taxes, land use issues, and conservation grant funding programs

Responsibilities

Serve as an agency expert on open-space easements and other conservation tools
Initial outreach and communications with landowners
Conduct in-depth due diligence for easement and fee simple acquisitions
Lead the negotiation, development, and closing of open-space easements
Generate project maps to document the property and conservation values
Work closely with citizen-landowners, real estate professionals, agency coworkers, other state agencies, grant-making organizations, local planning districts, county governments, and non-profit organizations to complete working land conservation projects
Perform outreach and education about working land conservation tools, including participating in the agency’s Generation NEXT Program with Virginia Cooperative Extension
Provide technical, professional, and other assistance to local governments interested in developing additional working lands preservation policies and programs
Coordinate with state partners on conservation planning and funding initiatives
Coordinate with non-governmental partners on joint outreach and educational efforts
Contribute to monitoring and stewarding open-space easements
Participate in staff meetings and training activities
Maintain accurate records