Stewardship Coordinator

~ The Bainbridge Island Land Trust (BILT) mission is to preserve and steward the diverse natural environment of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all. ~

BILT preserves natural areas, shorelines, forests, streams, working landscapes and scenic vistas by holding conservation easements, facilitating land acquisitions, stewarding protected lands, restoring properties, engaging stakeholders and educating the community about land conservation and stewardship. From its inception in 1989 to date, BILT and its community partners have used these tools to preserve more than 1,275 acres of land.

BILT is an Accredited Land Trust and has a dynamic and engaged staff team and Board of Directors. Information about BILT and its conservation work can be accessed on our website.  

Position Overview 

BILT is seeking a Full-Time Stewardship Coordinator to support the organization's conservation efforts on Bainbridge Island in the State of Washington.

The Stewardship Coordinator is a key member of our team responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust's conservation easements and owned properties, currently totaling 53 properties. These conservation properties include 46 easements on privately owned property, 5 easements on public access areas, and 7 BILT-owned lands constituting over 800 acres.

The Stewardship Coordinator is the first point of contact with landowners, neighbors, and community partners on a variety of issues. Additionally, the Stewardship Coordinator recruits, trains, and works with a team of volunteers who assist in the monitoring and maintenance of BILT's lands.

The Coordinator works closely with BILT's Conservation Director and the Stewardship Committee to manage BILT's conservation lands and prioritize restoration or land management issues. The position also supports the Land Trust's efforts with new projects including conservation easement establishment, new property acquisitions, and restoration efforts. 

Responsibilities 

Lands Monitoring and Maintenance 

• Responsible for establishing communications with private conservation easement landowners and for monitoring conservation easements and owned lands to ensure the property is being used in accordance with the terms of the conservation easement.
• Coordinate with landowners on site monitoring visits, provide recommendations on stewardship best management practices, and assess compliance with the terms of the easement on each property in conjunction with lead steward volunteers.
• Coordinate, conduct and/or attend annual monitoring visits to all conservation easements and owned properties.
• Collect field data using photos, GPS unit, and field notes and prepare reports and maps for protected properties using ArcGIS and other tools.
• Work in conjunction with the Conservation Director to become the main point of contact with our conservation easement landowners, building relationships, and providing year over year continuity.
• Be a responsive resource for conservation easement landowners to help answer technical questions about their easement, their land, or link them with community resources.
• Review all conservation easement monitoring reports generated by Lead Stewards, identifying and tracking easement issues, and developing resolution paths with direction from Conservation Director and Executive Director.
• Prioritize and coordinate stewardship efforts on conservation easements and owned properties, utilizing volunteers, and trained crews (such as our Student Conservation Corps), in conjunction with the Land Trust's AmeriCorps Stewardship and Volunteer Associate.
• Responsible for the accurate documentation of all monitoring and interactions with conservation easement landowners and accurate filing of the documents.
• Maintain organizational files documenting stewardship monitoring on all conservation easements and owned lands.
• Oversee the filing and record keeping of property documentation, including assisting with the implementation and use of Salesforce - Land Tracker.
• Coordinate and perform field work and mapping associated with conservation easement amendments and violations.
• Act as key staff to support the Stewardship Committee, including preparing materials, giving presentations and/or reports, and assisting with meeting notes and follow-up tasks.
• Work with Conservation Director, Executive Director, the Stewardship Committee and the BILT board to resolve violations to conservation easements.
• Support Conservation Director and Projects Committee with project work.
• Prepare baseline documentation for new conservation easements. Assist with the creation and implementation of Management Plans on owned lands.
• Support Phase II Conservation Plan effort. May include GIS data entry and analyses. 

Community Programs 

• Engage and inspire volunteers in conjunction with the BILT AmeriCorps Stewardship and Volunteer Associate.
• Manage the Land Steward program, including assisting with volunteer recruiting, orienting volunteers, coordinating annual goals and projects, leading training sessions, and providing resources to volunteers. Work with BILT's AmeriCorps Stewardship and Volunteer Associate who will assist with these tasks.
• Plan and implement annual Stewardship Monitoring Lead Steward Volunteer Training Program. Coordinate additional stewardship volunteers to participate in monitoring visits and develop new lead stewardship skills.
• New program: Develop volunteer training and regular volunteer support to our conservation easement land owners for stewardship work parties that align with protection of conservation values.
• Act as BILT representative to other Bainbridge Island invasive species control efforts where there are coordination needs, such as the Weed Warriors, Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District, Let's Pull Together, etc. 

Qualifications 

Required:   

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, natural resources management, forestry, or related field.
• Two to four years of Land Trust, natural resource research, conservation land management or other related work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, organize, engage, and manage volunteers.
• Working knowledge of Pacific NW native species, management of common invasive weeds, common land management issues, and restoration techniques.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong public speaking skills.
• Proficient and demonstrated experience using GPS to collect field data and working with that data with ArcGIS geodatabase format.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Experience using a digital camera and photographic data management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Organized, detailed, and able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability and willingness to work some non-standard hours for BILT events.
• Valid, insurable driver's license/record. 

Physical Work Requirements: 

This position is subject to activities beyond typical indoor environmental conditions of a professional office setting. The essential physical requirements of this position include: 

• Capable of lifting up to 35 pounds of mass occasionally and/or to frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to safely and correctly use hand tools associated with restoration work, and ability to instruct and supervise others in the use of same tools.
• Travel over a variety of terrain, including, but not limited to, steep grades, stairs, wet ground, etc.
• Communicate accurately and effectively with co-workers, volunteer leadership, landowners, BILT internal audiences including BILT Board of Directors, and other partners.
• Ability to sit or otherwise remain in a stationary position at a computer workstation for the majority of the work day.
• This position includes travel that requires the ability to drive a personal vehicle. 

Additional Requirements: 

• Because this position involves contact with members of the public and youth (potentially including at-risk populations), a criminal history and background check will be conducted on final candidates prior to beginning employment.

Compensation: Anticipated salary range $33,000 to $37,000, depending on experience. Full-time position benefits include: 

• Paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave
• Medical insurance
• Professional development
• Supportive and professional office setting 

To Apply

• Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to email a letter of application outlining the reasons why they should be considered for the position, a writing sample, and a résumé demonstrating their qualifications and strengths.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible but no later than the close of business October 31, 2014.
• Qualified candidates will be considered for hiring prior to this date.