Land Conservationist

~ The mission of Hennepin County's Environment and Energy Department (EED) is to preserve and enhance Hennepin County's environment for future generations through the responsible management of wastes and natural resources and the promotion of environmental stewardship. ~

Employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work, competitive pay, real work-life balance, generous benefits and opportunities to grow. We want our employees to succeed--not only at work, but as they move through life and its milestones. Learn more here.

Position Overview

The Hennepin County Environment and Energy Department is seeking a Land Conservationist to protect, restore, and diversify wildlife habitat and natural ecosystems, focusing on the County's remaining ecologically significant areas and natural resource corridors.

This position will primarily focus on outreach to owners of parcels that are high priorities for land protection, assistance to landowners with the process of securing conservation easements, planning and design of land restoration and enhancement, coordination with land protection/restoration partners, and tracking of program results.

This is a limited duration, benefit earning position that may last up to two years. This position is located at the Hennepin County Environment and Energy Department, 701 fourth Avenue South, Suite 700, Minneapolis and Hennepin County Public Works Department facility at 1600 Prairie Drive, Medina, MN.

Responsibilities

• Establishing professional relationships with landowners through outreach efforts and in-person contact to understand landowner goals and motivations, to support efforts to secure conservation easements on high priorities for land protection.
• Responding to inquiries and leads related to potential conservation easement projects, performing initial field visits, assessing potential projects, and directing landowners to appropriate conservation technical or financial assistance resources.
• Managing individual land protection projects, including initial landowner contacts; leading landowner assistance, navigation, and negotiation; coordination with land protection partners; review of conservation easement appraisals, terms sheets, and habitat management plans.
• Managing individual land restoration/enhancement projects, including regular and effective communication among internal team members, consultants, partners, and landowners; review of ecological restoration or planting plans; review of hydrological restoration construction plans; development of scopes of work, bid materials, and project specifications; track budgets and schedules; oversee work of contractors.
• Interpreting orthophotography, analyzing natural resource data layers in ArcGIS, and using professional skills (e.g., ecological, biological) to evaluate existing and potential vegetative cover/habitat.
• Tracking Program deliverables and accomplishments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in physical or natural sciences, environmental health, industrial hygiene, public health, engineering, natural resources management, ecology, environmental science, soil science, botany, biology, public or business administration, or a field closely related to the assignment and 6 or more months of experience in work related to the assignment.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit
• Experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• Invitations to interview will be based on an assessment of education and experience. The successful candidate must pass an in-depth background check upon conditional hire.
• Experience:
  • Establishing direct outreach to private landowners.
  • Utilizing ecological system identification, assessment, and restoration.
  • Designing and implementing natural resources restoration project.
  • With remote sensing of natural resource data layers, ArcGIS for data analysis, editing and creation.
  • Writing and managing the implementation of property restoration plans.
  • Preparing, submitting and administration of natural resource grants.
• Knowledge of:
  • Federal, state and regional land conservation grant programs and requirements, as well as grant reporting procedures.
  • Land protection and restoration partnership resources including nonprofit (e.g. Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Conservation Corps), government (e.g. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Board of Water and Soil Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MN Department of Natural Resources, Watershed Districts and Organizations).
  • Conservation easements – their purpose, elements, and limits.
  • Contract processes, documents, and requirements.
• Ability to:
  • Work  both in office and field environments.
  • Lift up to 40 pounds.
  • Manage multiple active projects.
  • Read, understand, and summarize a variety of legal, technical, and planning documents; maps; and aerial photos.
  • Communicate both verbally and in writing.

~ Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community. ~