Land Conservation Manager

~ We are citizens, businesses, schools and government working together to restore our home river. For too long, the Elizabeth River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, has been infamous for pollution. Instead of lamenting the problem, we prefer to take hope from her strengths. ~

From the Great Bridge Lock to the naval base, you can see the importance of the Elizabeth River every day in Hampton Roads. She gives us our work and our play. The Elizabeth River Project is the non-profit leading community efforts to restore the environmental health of this great harbor river while affirming her value to our port economy.

Position Overview

The Elizabeth River Project seeks a Land Conservation Manager to lead local land conservation efforts within the Elizabeth River watershed. This position will support the Living River Restoration Trust, a sister organization of the Elizabeth River Project. Open space is rare within the Elizabeth River watershed; as a result, urban parcels of high ecosystem value are our greatest priority.

The Land Conservation Manager will coordinate easement acquisitions, land donations, and spearhead long-term land conservation efforts such as: identification of funding sources, property research, due diligence, document preparation, site evaluations, and project stakeholder engagement. The Land Conservation Manager will work with the Living River Restoration Trust board for the strategic growth of the land conservation program, including maximizing high priority acres and enhancing program funding. The Land Conservation Manager will also promote the land conservation program through marketing and outreach.

Responsibilities

• Work with municipalities, scientists, real estate experts, and other stakeholders to develop and evaluate conservation opportunities in the Elizabeth River watershed
• Negotiate land transactions that will protect priority lands in perpetuity
• Support communication amongst all parties throughout land negotiations
• Coordinate transactional due diligence and record keeping
• Ensure transactions comply with established practices and policies
• Maintain accurate documentation in paper and digital formats
• Sustain positive relationships with property owners and their representatives
• Visit conserved lands to ensure easement provisions are being upheld
• Utilize remote methods to monitor easements in an effort to augment site visits
• Assist with development of a sustainable easement acquisition plan
• Represent land trust initiatives at conferences, meetings, workshops, and in the community at-large
• Support logistical needs during board meetings
• Maintain an electronic presence through habitual social media posts, website updates, and e-newsletter releases
• Lead marketing efforts on behalf of the land conservation initiative
• Assist with development of educational and outreach materials
• Generate grant proposals for land conservation projects and related capacity building efforts
• Contribute to special projects on an as-needed basis

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with background in environmental planning, land conservation, land use planning, law and/or real estate
• Self-starter able to work independently; energized and motivated by opportunity to pioneer a new program
• Working knowledge of land conservation principles and familiarity with federal and state land conservation rules
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and ability to negotiate
• Familiarity with social media formats and on-line marketing and outreach
• Experience with conservation due diligence and stewardship including: survey management, appraisals and environmental assessments, baseline documentation reporting, and development of conservation and related land management plans
• Ability to conduct field assessments
• Research facility with GPS, ArcGIS, Google Earth, soil surveys, public land records, and maps
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web manager
• A valid driver’s license
• A criminal background check will be conducted
• A positive, can-do attitude

Compensation

• Join a professional team of more than twenty individuals who work to restore the environmental health of an urban river.
• A competitive, full-time professional salary will be commensurate with qualifications.
• Generous benefits include eleven paid holidays, two to four weeks of paid vacations depending on seniority, paid life and disability insurance, cost-share of medical insurance, and a flexible work schedule.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter, resume and three professional references to Marjorie Mayfield Jackson.
• No phone calls please.
• Email submissions are accepted, but please also provide hard copies:

Elizabeth River Project
475 Water Street Suite C103A
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704