Conservation Easement Program Manager

We're Looking for You:
If you're looking for a career where you can find meaning and purpose, come join our Chapter as the Conservation Easement Program Manager! Not only will you fulfill conservation objectives in the beautiful state of Arizona, but you'll contribute to conservation goals through many networks!
We're looking for a passionate and dedicated person. Along with your conservation easement/land acquisition experience, systems Leadership, creativity, and the ability to influence without authority are key in this role. Come join TNC and apply today!
The Nature Conservancy in Arizona's Protection program employs a range of protection tools to acquire legal interests in land, including conservation easements and full fee acquisitions. The CEPM works as part of the Arizona Protection program to assure protocols are met for holding such land interests. The CEPM leads annual monitoring of conservation easements across the state of Arizona, through on the ground visits, review of aerial/satellite imagery. They will also be responsible for coordinating TNC staff and volunteers who assist with monitoring responsibilities and other projects. The Arizona business unit uses mobile GIS tools (Field Maps) for compliance monitoring and this position is responsible for addressing challenges with the technology (with support from TNC GIS experts), training staff, and using the tool for all monitoring visits. The CEPM is responsible for maintaining strong landowner relationships and is a central point of contact, both internally and externally, for the Arizona conservation easement program. This position will develop and apply a solid understanding of laws and principles governing conservation easements. The CEPM also works closely with other staff to ensure that conservation values are addressed when acquiring new conservation easement properties and may assist in acquisition projects.

A. Conservation Easement (CE) and Fee Land Monitoring (approximately 55%)
1. Ensure required annual monitoring of all TNC CE and fee properties in Arizona's land portfolio. This includes conducting on the ground visits and tasking other staff with monitoring responsibilities across the state, training staff to conduct monitoring visits, managing monitoring report filing process, and entering information into TNC's land database.
2. Coordinate with landowners, their representatives, and regulatory agency staff to ensure compliance with terms and conditions of CEs.
3. Review compliance issues with TNC legal staff and communicate with landowners.
4. Complete all reporting to maintain Land Trust Alliance Accreditation compliance.
5. Perform data analysis and produce required reports.
6. Provide hardware and software support, including Field Maps program for monitoring activities.

B. Conservation Easement (CE) Interpretation/Approvals (approximately 20%)
1. Serve as central point of contact on landowner engagement.
2. Coordinate with TNC legal staff and execute specified actions.
3. Complete TNC documentation requirements on actions, and file appropriately.

C. Support for Protection Program, including GIS support (approximately 20%)
1. Participate in regular Protection Team meetings.
2. Provide GIS support to Protection program, including producing project maps using ESRI products.
3. Assists with protection projects, as needed, including development/review of CEs and baseline documentation reports on new acquisitions.
4. Assist in responding to inquiries from general public, staff, etc. related to Protection program.
5. Accomplish or assist in accomplishing TNC data requests and other research and file search needs.
6. Assist in preparing reports following TNC's project approval process, including producing maps in GIS.
7. Assist in due diligence steps for land acquisitions.
8. Provide technical support for water protection efforts (water rights research and filings, well registration filings, compiling data for adjudication efforts).

D. Participation in AZ Chapter functions and administrative tasks (approximately 5%)
1. Participate in Arizona Chapter and TNC-wide meetings and efforts.
2. Completion of administrative functions such as performance reviews, expense reports, and timecards.
3. May supervise staff, interns or volunteers.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Manage—conduct, organize, oversee and track—the annual conservation easement and fee property monitoring program required to comply with internal policies and maintain Land Trust Alliance Accreditation, and ensure properties are utilized in accordance with the terms of conservation easements via on-the-ground monitoring and landowner engagement.
- Collaborate with team members, legal staff and landowners to respond to requests for approvals or resolve any conservation easement violations.
- Under minimal supervision, make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Maintain records related to easement compliance actions, including electronic/paper files and databases.
- Provide GIS technical support for Protection Department mapping needs.
- Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- May coordinate the transfer of easements, easement-appurtenant fee properties, or fee properties or conduct conservation easement due diligence.
- Travel: occasional within Arizona with possible over-night stays as well as within U.S. with over-night stays.
- Occasionally required working long hours, weekends, and holidays.
- Occasionally lift, push, pull, carry 25 pounds.
- Other duties as required.

What You'll Bring:
- Bachelor's degree and 3 years' experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Project management or compliance program management experience, with proven organization and follow-through skills.
- Experience with ArcGIS software (ArcGIS Pro preferred).
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
- Experience working closely with a variety of partners, i.e., landowners, ranch managers, government officials, scientists, attorneys.
- 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 completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Valid driver's license.
- Youth certified (within initial 30 days of employment complete internal youth oriented training; annually thereafter).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-5 years' experience in natural resource management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with conservation easements and/or other conservation land acquisitions, including drafting, reviewing, and stewarding easements and other related legal agreements.
- Experience with Field Maps mobile GIS application preferred.
- Familiarity with conservation easements and principles of land acquisition.
- Experience training and/or managing staff or volunteers.
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means and ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

NEXT STEPS
To apply for job ID 54116, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, October 30, 2023. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

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An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.