Conservation Easement Steward

~ The non-profit Westchester Land Trust (WLT), founded in 1988, is the leading land conservation organization prioritizing the entirety of Westchester County and eastern Putnam County and was one of the first land trusts in the nation to be accredited through the independent Land Trust Accreditation Commission. ~

WLT has protected nearly 9,000 acres across 260 conservation easements, preserves, and other lands. We have a small professional staff of 7, and all work together as a team to achieve WLT’s mission to protect and to steward our region’s priority conservation lands.

Position Overview

WLT is looking for an enthusiastic team member to oversee a growing portfolio of over 200
conservation easements in the position of Conservation Easement Steward. The ideal candidate finds equal excitement in both investigating unique protected ecosystems and in producing highly detailed and organized documents to meet the evercritical policies and procedures of WLT’s Land Policy Manual and Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices.

The chief responsibility is performing annual monitoring of our conservation easements. The position also assists in preserve stewardship projects, conservation programs, and events. This is an exciting entry level position offering exposure to the land trust fundamentals of land conservation and management. The position is about 60% field based, and 40% office based.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Complete WLT’s annual monitoring responsibilities for its ever-growing portfolio of 209
  easements;
• Make annual site visits to conservation easements to ensure compliance with easement
  terms and WLT policies; multiple visits may be necessary for some properties;
• Manage all routine correspondence with easement owners including scheduling and
  inquiries;
• Produce all records documenting monitoring visits as required by WLT and LTA
  standards including maps, reports, letters, memos, photos;
• Identify and document potential easement violations with data and testimony; work with
• Director of Stewardship towards resolution;
• Cultivate strong working relationships with easement landowners;
• Continuously look for opportunities to improve effectiveness and efficiency of all aspects
  of conservation easement monitoring including databases, software, equipment, and
  procedures;
• Support WLT preserve stewardship including ecosystem management and maintenance;
• Assist in the creation of Baseline Documentation Reports, Property Condition Reports,
• Preserve Management Plans, and Property Profile Forms for potential acquisitions, as
  needed;
• Assist WLT staff with preserve, conservation, and development programs including
  volunteer days, field walks, student lessons, fundraisers, and other special events;
• Help with recruitment, supervision and evaluation of interns and volunteers;
  Participate in WLT’s collaboration with other organizations, agencies and individuals to
  increase public awareness of WLT goals and mission;
• Submit content that supports WLT communications including social media, newsletters,
  and other outreach material; and
• Assist other WLT staff with projects as needed.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in preferred fields of natural resources, conservation, biology, ecology,
  forestry, surveying, or related field; and
• Cumulative one-year work experience in related field preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to independently walk several miles per day over rough terrain in poor weather;
  Proven aptitude for interpreting and producing accurate, highly detailed, and legally
  technical documents;
• Ability to work in a professional office environment, both in the office or remotely, as
  may be required in response to pandemics or other emergency circumstances.
• Reliable personal vehicle and valid driver’s license;
• Excellent interpersonal written and oral skills;
• Facility in communicating with people of all ages and backgrounds;
• Proficiency with use and interconnection between GIS and field apps, or strong ability to
  quickly master;
• Proficiency with industry-specific computer software (Microsoft Office, Adobe, internet); and
• Willingness to assist in preserve management including use of hand tools, power tools,
  and other physically demanding work..

Compensation

• Salary is $45,000-$47,000, plus eligibility for annual merit bonus.
• Benefits: Competitive benefit package including health insurance, retirement plan/employer
  match, generous PTO.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to email a cover letter and resume.
• Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until position filled.
• No phone calls please.
• Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed.

Westchester Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer and acts in accordance with applicable law in all of our hiring and employment practices