Land Trust of Santa Cruz County: Stewardship Manager
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County seeks qualified applicants for the position of Stewardship Manager. This position is responsible for developing and implementing stewardship projects and programs for the Land Trust's fee-owned property interests, as well as coordination of a robust conservation easement monitoring program. This full-time, exempt position reports to the Director of Conservation. The Land Trust offers excellent benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a competitive salary.
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is a non-profit organization founded in 1978. The mission of the Land Trust, in cooperation with public and private interests, is to protect and manage lands of significant natural resource, agricultural, cultural and open space value. Lands under our stewardship include wetlands, riparian corridors, redwood forest, oak woodlands, rare sandhills habitat, coastal bluffs and terraces, neighborhood parks, and working lands in agricultural and sustainable timber production. The Land Trust Board recently adopted a three-year Strategic Plan that aims to dramatically increase both the acreage under our protection as well as our stewardship capacity. The Stewardship Manager will play a critical role in helping to realize this vision.
Essential responsibilities include:
• Plan, design, and implement stewardship and resource management projects and programs in a variety of ecosystems and on working lands;
• Prepare property baseline reports, monitor and enforce conservation easements, conduct landowner outreach, and perform other easement stewardship practices necessary to meet Land Trust Alliance standards;
• Conduct resource inventories, site assessments, and collect field data necessary to identify and prioritize land management issues and to prepare site restoration plans;
• Maintain and update the Land Trust’s GIS with pertinent environmental and property data;
• Evaluate conservation values of potential land acquisition opportunities and coordinate with Land Trust staff and partners to prepare conservation strategies;
• Recruit, train, and oversee volunteers and interns to assist in easement monitoring and restoration and stewardship projects;
• Secure grant funding to plan and implement resource management and stewardship projects;
• Represent the Land Trust's interests in regional stewardship meetings and projects;
• Perform related duties and projects as required.
This position requires the following knowledge and skills:
• Understanding of natural resource systems and issues including management of rare, threatened, and endangered species; invasive species control and habitat restoration; water quality protection and erosion control
• Demonstrated experience preparing and implementing complex stewardship plans, programs, and/or conservation easement monitoring projects
• Knowledge of environmental and land use regulations and experience securing permits and project approvals from local, state, and federal agencies
• Understanding of state and federal grant programs related to resource management and habitat restoration, and ability to prepare grant applications and administer grant projects
• Working knowledge of Land Trust Alliance’s “Standards and Practices” and policies associated with stewardship of conservation easements
The position requirements include:
• Educational background in biological or physical sciences, environmental studies, geography, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience, with a graduate degree substituting for one year of professional experience
• Outstanding project management skills, ability to develop and administer budgets, and manage multiple projects for time, cost, and quality with minimal supervision
• Ability to independently analyze and resolve complex problems and formulate clear and concise recommendations
• Outstanding communication skills including ability to develop and maintain rapport with landowners and conservation partners, engage stakeholders in the planning process, and to represent the Land Trust in public meetings
• Knowledge of computer applications including MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
• High proficiency with GPS and ArcGIS mapping applications and databases
• Ability to work alone in rugged, mountainous locations
• Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required
To Apply:
Please e-mail resume with salary history and cover letter to: patcpatrick@earthlink.net. Preference will be given to applications received on or before September 14, 2009. To learn more about the Land Trust, visit our website: www.landtrustsantacruz.org
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is an equal opportunity employer.