Conservation Program Manager

~ Since 1991, the Minnesota Land Trust has been working hand-in-hand with landowners and local communities to protect Minnesota's increasingly threatened lands and waters. ~

We focus our efforts on critical landscapes across the state, protecting undeveloped shoreline, shallow lakes, undisturbed forest, prairies and other important areas. Land adjacent to already protected land (such as state parks, national forests, and Wildlife Management Areas) are prioritized, thus creating effective "complexes" of land that benefits wildlife and improves water quality. 

Position Overview

The Minnesota Land Trust is seeking a skilled Conservation Program Manager to implement its 2017-2027 Conservation Agenda in Minnesota.

The Program Manager is responsible for achieving the Land Trust's conservation goals within its Lake Superior, Border Lakes and Mississippi Headwaters program areas principally through the completion of conservation easement projects with private landowners. In addition, the Program Manager sets the stage for program success by: 1) crafting conservation plans that prioritize and target the Land Trust's work, 2) building effective partnerships that enable the Land Trust to maximize its impact and harness the contributions of others, and 3) procuring resources to support the program(s).

The Program Manager works closely with other Land Trust staff as a member of the Conservation Team, landowners and our project partners – municipal governments, public agencies and conservation organizations. In addition, the Program Manager will represent the Land Trust in various public settings, and participate in fundraising and stewardship activities.

Location of the position is flexible, and may be based either out of the Land Trust's Duluth or St. Paul offices. Program responsibilities may shift over time due to organizational priorities, funding availability and staffing needs.

The Program Manager reports to the Director of Land Protection and does not supervise other staff. He/she may manage subcontractors and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of conservation easement projects — assessing the conservation merits of identified properties, negotiating with landowners, drafting easements and baseline documentation, record-keeping and other tasks essential to a conservation easement transaction.
• Build effective partnerships with governmental and non-governmental partners to implement the Land Trust's Conservation Agenda.
• Assist in developing conservation plans that target the Land Trust's work in program areas.
• Assist in the administration of the Land Trust's grants that fund conservation easement activity. Maintain rigorous project- and grant-related records; uphold archival standards for related information.
• Draft correspondence, memoranda, requests for proposals, contracts and other complex documents; assist in the development of appropriate maps and GIS data.
• Participate in communication and outreach activities related to land protection projects.
• Work with the Director of Land Protection, Stewardship Director, staff attorney and other Land Trust staff to implement other projects or programs as requested.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• A master's degree in natural resources, real-estate law, land management or other related conservation field.
• A minimum of 3 years' demonstrated experience managing complex projects and/or conservation real estate transactions.
• Demonstrated experience and excellence in project management, record keeping and data management.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment with a wide variety of individuals – landowners, stakeholders, partners, staff, Board members – in achieving organizational goals.
• Self-motivated, well organized and self-directed, with attention to detail and the follow-through essential for conservation real-estate transactions.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Minnesota, with occasional overnight stays. Ability to traverse uneven terrain over long distances, in remote settings, and all times of the year.
• Proficiency with PC computer systems and Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Scientific knowledge of and field experience with Minnesota's landscapes and natural resources.
• Experience with Minnesota's land and water conservation programs and state/federal grant programs including the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
• Proficiency in the understanding and generation of maps, natural resource information and other spatial data. Proficiency with GIS programs.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter and resume as a single PDF to Sue Martinez. Deadline is Sunday, July 22, 2018.