Land Preservation Specialist

Morris Land Conservancy is a member-based nonprofit land trust organization founded in 1981 to protect open space in northern New Jersey. The Conservancy has helped to preserve over 10,000 acres of open space and farmland throughout northern New Jersey. We currently assist 30 municipalities in implementing their Open Space Plans, negotiate with local landowners, complete grant applications to acquire land, and provide expert advice to local Open Space Committees in order to preserve open space and farmland in their communities. The Conservancy is located in a beautiful Wild Acres Park in Montville, New Jersey and has a full time staff of fifteen. 

Job Description:

Morris Land Conservancy is seeking to hire a Land Preservation Specialist to join our conservation team to protect northern New Jersey's beautiful open space. The Land Preservation Specialist will work closely with the Land Preservation Manager on landowner outreach and grant applications to finance land preservation projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in land conservation, experience in negotiating contracts, excellent writing skills, and be dependable, organized, and a goal oriented team player who enjoys working with people.

Required Skills:

* Minimum three-years related experience in land use planning, conservation, public policy, or law; and/or 
* College degree in an environmental or natural resource protection field of study, public administration, planning, and 
* Excellent writing skills 
* Comfortable with public speaking, good communication skills 
* Experience in negotiating contracts 
* Able to attend evening meetings
* Ability to complete projects with minimal supervision 
* Computer experience: Word, Excel, Publisher, Access 

Responsibilities: 

* Work with local governing bodies, Open Space Committees, and Farmland Preservation Committees to implement Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plans to achieve preservation goals and objectives; 

* Responsible for initiating, coordinating, and completing complex land transactions between single landowners and/or multiple partners for the protection of natural resources and recreational lands through fee acquisitions and easements; including cultivating partnerships between State and County agencies to develop land acquisition strategies, secure funding, and determine long-term land management; 

* Provide recommendations to Open Space Committees and governing bodies for identifying, prioritizing and securing public and private funding for land preservation activities; 

* Responsible for conceptualizing and developing community/landowner outreach activities, including land preservation workshops; 

* Produce, propose and present land preservation techniques for local municipalities; 

* Develop grant applications and public presentations for land preservation protection projects on behalf of local municipalities; 

* Manage the due diligence associated with land acquisition projects. 

Start Date: Position is available immediately - effective July 1, 2007 

Application Process: The Conservancy will review resumes and interview strong candidates during July.