Director, Land Protection

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) is a statewide conservation organization dedicated to protecting land essential to the character of Maine; its coastline and islands in particular. Since 1970, the Trust has conserved more than 137,000 acres, including productive farm and forest land, important scenic and recreational shorelands, ecologically sensitive areas, bold headlands and 300 coastal islands.

MCHT protects land through conservation easements; fee donations; fee purchases; and partnerships with land trusts, municipalities and other government agencies. MCHT also promotes responsible land conservation statewide through its Maine Land Trust Program that supports a network of local land trusts. MCHT is a membership-supported organization with a very active board of directors and advisory council. 

Position Overview:

This Director of Land Protection oversees MCHT's direct land conservation activities and represents MCHT in collaborative ventures with partner organizations in Maine and nationally.

The successful candidate will embody the values of the organization: someone who loves the coast and its communities and believes it is important to preserve their spectacular beauty, ecologically significant areas, traditional public access, and the working coastal lands, harbors and features that characterize Maine.

A key part of the role will be to implement expanded approaches to land conservation that promote human and community well-being in the Maine coastal area and beyond.  

This postion reports directly to the President and is an integral member of MCHT's senior management team and works closely with staff as well as the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and other volunteer leaders to guide the organization's conservation efforts. This postion can be based in either the Topsham or Somesville offices.

In this collegial setting, the Director of Land Protection is primarily charged with strengthening MCHT's land protection efforts in an overall environment of uncertain public funding and evolving land conservation techniques and strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Providing leadership and vision to the organization and volunteers on all aspects of land conservation;
• Providing inspired leadership to a highly skilled land protection staff;
• Direct engagement with key donors and enhancing and expanding the involvement of land protection staff in the organization's fund-raising efforts for land conservation, stewardship and general support;
• Maintaining the organization's commitment to best practices and innovation in land conservation transactions and stewardship; 
• Enhancing MCHT's leadership in the land conservation field through active participation in state, regional and national networks, public speaking, or writing for publication; and 
• Actively participating in the final design and implementation of organization's strategic plan to be completed in 2013.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Oversee all aspects of MCHT's land protection activities;
• Manage the organization's departmental and projects budget for land acquisition including a variety of restricted and unrestricted funding sources;
• Serve on MCHT senior management team, working with the President and other group leaders to set organizational strategies, funding needs and priorities, and to encourage collaboration among staff of all departments [other departments include Land Protection; Stewardship; Development, Communications; Finance; and Administration];
• Represent MCHT in collaborative ventures, in local communities and with government entities
• Lead a staff, currently of 9 staff (FTE), providing effective management to assure attainment of performance goals and professional development;
• Serve as staff and primary contact to the Lands Committee of MCHT's Board of Directors, which oversees the implementation of the organization's land protection strategies;
• Work directly with MCHT General Counsel to assure legal sufficiency of all projects;
• Engage directly on a limited number of land conservation projects and grant applications; and
• Maintain professional affiliations and enhance professional growth by keeping abreast of the latest trends in land conservation and continually improve upon these for the benefit of MCHT.

Qualifications:

• Proven performance in land conservation with at least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience and achievement;
• Significant experience and success in conservation transactions, including community-based projects involving multiple stakeholders;
• Demonstrated experience with complex financing structures for conservation projects;
• Demonstrated understanding of land conservation stewardship issues;
• Proven success managing a staff of professionals;
• Clear capacity for strong organizational leadership participation;
• Demonstrated experience and success with fund-raising from individuals, foundations and public sources;
• The personal integrity, character and drive to conduct an effective program in keeping with the mission and culture of MCHT;
• Excellent writing, speaking, leadership and organizational skills;
• Basic technology skills; deeper knowledge of conservation-related applications desirable;
• Passion for and knowledge of the MCHT mission and vision and land conservation in general;
• The warmth, humor and leadership qualities that will promote energy and enthusiasm within MCHT, and with its volunteers and constituents;
• Demonstrated ability to work easily and effectively with a wide range of people, including major donors, corporate executives, foundation leaders, volunteers, news media, leaders of private conservation organizations, local community members and fellow staff members;
• Comfort and effectiveness working in a group as well as independently; and
• Willingness to work differing hours and to travel as [and when] necessary, occasionally on weekends and evenings.

 Additional Information:

• The land protection team consists of 9 FTE staff members, including the Director of Land Protection. The staff is responsible for identification, negotiation, and execution of the real estate transactions (projects) leading to land conservation including both fee acquisition and the acquisition of partial real estate interests, most notably conservation easements.

  LP Staff carry out these projects on behalf or in partnership with local, state and federal agencies, local land trusts and on behalf of MCHT directly. MCHT has built strong relationships with all these partners including the Maine Land Trust Network, which includes the overwhelming majority of Maine land trusts.

  Staff is also involved in public and private fund-raising for most projects including acquisition and transaction costs along with stewardship funds. Fund-raising support is also provided by MCHT's Development staff. Project financing arrangements are often complex and MCHT seeks to innovate in financing structures to advance its mission.

• The Director of Land Protection will be part of the senior management team and one of six functional group leaders within the organization that include Land Protection, Stewardship (land), Communications (incl. Advocacy and assistance to Maine land trust community), Development, Administration and Finance.

  As part of this team, the Land Protection Director plays an essential role in the formation and implementation of the organization's strategies informed by the state's land conservation needs and the broader national trends in land conservation.

• Historically, MCHT's land protection efforts have benefitted from a loyal base of supporters dedicated to preserving lands along Maine's coast. A significant element of MCHT's success is the set of relationships built with landowners and communities over many years. The land protection staff maintains a presence in communities all along the coast including those areas in which local land trusts are active. Indeed, land protection staff have significant responsibilities working with local land trusts to provide technical and material support across a wide range of land conservation activities. These responsibilities will become more, rather than less, important in the coming years.

  In addition to building close MCHT relationships with local land trusts, the new Director will also need the ability to work directly with communities through engagement with many different kinds of stakeholders.

• MCHT has a strong board and land protection committee that are actively engaged in overseeing the organization's strategic direction. There is direct interaction and strong, positive relationships between the Board and staff. There are particularly close relationships between the Committee Chairs and the senior manager who staffs each committee.

For more information on MCHT, visit our website.

Compensation: This position comes with a competitive salary and benefits package that includes health insurance, pension and vacation.

To Apply:

If qualified, please email or mail a cover letter and resume to:

Search Committee, MCHT
1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 201
Topsham, ME 04086

Maine Coast Heritage Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, handicaps, sexual orientation, or for any other reason unrelated to a candidate's ability to perform the responsibilities associated with the position.