Director of Land Conservation and Easement Stewardship – Hybrid

Established by six community members in 1963 to halt an industrial project from destroying iconic Storm King Mountain in the Hudson Highlands, Scenic Hudson has long been considered a leader in safeguarding the Hudson Valley’s irreplaceable landscapes — including the region’s productive family farms — while advancing balanced and sustainable development, and protecting our land, air and water from pollution and other threats.

Our Mission:

• To sustain and enhance the Hudson Valley’s inspirational beauty and health for generations to come.

Mission of Position:

• Lead Scenic Hudson’s 12-member high-functioning multidisciplinary Land Conservation team.
• Provide strategic and supervisory oversight to take on the highest impact, complex, innovative projects that safeguard critical landscapes and connect people to the Hudson River, with a focus on climate resilient landscapes, connected assemblages, significant scenic landscapes, productive and regenerative farmland, and urban spaces that connect historically marginalized communities to the benefits of open space.
• Oversee conservation easement stewardship.

Supervises:

• Two Assistant Directors of Land Conservation,
• Land Project Manager/Agricultural Specialist
• Senior Land Project Manager
• Senior Land Transaction Attorney; with partial oversight of Senior Program Officer’s work

Reporting to:

• Executive Director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Land Programs

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and 5 – 15 years of professional experience in a related field such as land conservation, land use planning, real estate, environmental
  studies (minimum five years’ experience in real estate transactions in a non- profit organization).
• Excellent leadership, management and delegation skills, with proven experience in directing high-performing professional staff.
• Ability to mentor staff and guide individual professional development plans.
• Strong entrepreneurial, strategic program leadership, and research and writing skills.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data in order to lead strategic initiatives, inform decision-making, set priorities, and measure program outcomes.
• Successful experience in developing, directing, and managing multiple projects.
• Good grounding in managing budgets and tracking financial transactions.
• Must be detail oriented, self-directed, motivated, have ability to persist over long-term projects, and work effectively within deadlines and shifting priorities
• Knowledge of current political, socio-economic and conservation trends and issues in the Hudson Valley, New York State, and federal government.
• Ability to lobby to meet program objectives.
• Track record in achieving tangible outcomes in land conservation and/or real estate transactions, and articulating an inspiring conservation vision for staff and the public.
• Demonstrated commitment to Scenic Hudson’s mission and willingness and ability to travel throughout the Hudson Valley with some evening and weekend commitments required.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Lead a high-performing team of interdisciplinary specialists in strategic acquisitions and dispositions, conservation planning, real estate law, geographic information systems and analyses, and conservation easement stewardship.
• Oversee and provide support to project managers on land and conservation easement acquisition, and other conservation real estate negotiations and transactions which further Scenic Hudson’s strategic plan and conservation priorities (including the conservation-driven disposition of lands to public and private partners).
• Oversee negotiations, due diligence, and closings of all real estate transactions; directly manage certain highest-profile transactions.
• Develop, refine, and execute strategic conservation priorities and conservation initiatives for the organization.
• Create and manage partnerships with federal and state agencies, local governments, land trusts, and community groups for conservation of important lands.
• Ensure Scenic Hudson’s land conservation program complies with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices and Scenic Hudson’s status as an Accredited land trust by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Oversee the Accreditation renewal process for Scenic Hudson Inc. and all affiliated organizations.
• Develop and deliver compelling presentations to the board of directors of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust on project proposals, conservation initiatives, and other issues.
• Develop and deliver compelling presentations to partners and other audiences on trends in land conservation, specific land protection projects, and promote the work of Scenic Hudson.
• Manage capital and operational budgets efficiently and effectively.
• Develop, secure, and administer grants and donations (public and private) and other funding to successfully complete conservation projects (in coordination with the Development and Finance teams).
• Assure all land records, documents, legal papers, and files are in good order and maintained in an accessible manner, consistent with best management practices and industry standards.
• Coordinate closely with other teams within Scenic Hudson on land-related initiatives and management.
• Coordinate closely with the Policy and Advocacy team on advocacy campaigns and issues affecting land conservation and easement stewardship objectives.
• Engage in direct advocacy on issues as needed by the Policy and Advocacy Team.
• Provide general assistance to the Executive Director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and when necessary, to other appropriate staff.

Compensation:

• Full Time, with competitive benefits and a salary range of $115,000 to $140,000.
• Bonus eligible

To Apply

• Please submit a resume and cover letter as one combined document along with a writing sample as part of your application.
• Please apply on our website: www.scenichudson.org.
• No phone calls please.

Scenic Hudson provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type. Decisions related to all terms and conditions of employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.