Conservation Project Manager

~ The Ozark Regional Land Trust (ORLT) is a non-profit conservation land trust operating throughout the Ozark region, which includes portions of Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, and Oklahoma. ORLT’s mission is to empower people to protect the natural resources of the Ozarks forever. ~

This is accomplished through various methods, including conservation easements and nature preserves. As the first land trust in the Ozarks, founded in 1984, ORLT has protected more than 28,000 acres, including extensive hardwood forests, river frontage, caves, springs, working farmland, and urban green space.

Position Overview

ORLT is looking for a Conservation Project Manager who is passionate and experienced with land conservation, primarily negotiating, funding, and closing conservation real estate transactions. In addition, this position will oversee and be part of the Stewardship Program.

This is a full time position overseeing two programs within ORLT.

Location: Throughout the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. Preferably, this position will be located in the Columbia MO main office. A home office in mid-MO or other locations in the Ozarks will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Primary responsibilities will be focused on the acquisition and conservation of properties (mostly through conservation easements) according to Land Trust Standards and Practices (S&Ps).
• Duties include staying abreast of current S&Ps pertaining to stewardship and land conservation, developing a land protection strategy to identify conservation priorities, developing partnerships and funding sources, engaging in initial discussions with landowners seeking to conserve their land, negotiating and closing real estate transactions, and fully documenting each project phase according to S&Ps.
• Documentation includes drafting project memos for each new acquisition, conservation easements, baseline reports, grant proposals and reports, policies, procedures, templates, informational letters to landowners, and lease agreements.
• The remaining responsibilities will be to ensure the Stewardship Program is conducted according to S&Ps.
• This includes supervising the permanent full time Stewardship Specialist, whose primary responsibilities include monitoring more than 80 conservation easements and managing several fee simple nature preserves.
• The Conservation Project Manager will also draft letters and documentation for potential non-compliance issues of conservation easements.
• The Conservation Project Manager reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Land Conservation Board Committee and stewardship staff.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least 3 years of relevant work experience, preferably working in a land trust environment.
• Demonstrated excellence in negotiating and closing complex conservation real estate deals.
• Demonstrated experience in achieving results through successful collaborations with multiple and diverse partners.
• A working knowledge of resource issues (related to water, forestry, agriculture, land use, flora and fauna, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation, etc.), nonprofit tax law, real estate law and practice, and how to read financial schedules and reports.
• Demonstrated excellence in securing funding from public agencies, foundations, and other philanthropic sources.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in developing and implementing conservation strategies.
• Knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Ozark landscape and culture.
• ArcGIS mapping experience.

Other attributes we are looking for include: 

• The ability to organize one’s work effectively, especially juggling and prioritizing multiple projects in various levels of completion.
• The ability to prepare and work within budgets.
• Excellent writing skills (letters to landowners, grant applications, reports to funders, etc.).
• Proficiency with computer software, including Microsoft Office and ArcGIS.
• Ability to solve IT issues without in-house support.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends and occasional evenings.
• Ability and skills to hike long distances in rural remote properties with rough terrain using GPS and maps, often alone.
• Flexibility to travel throughout the Ozarks, approx 2-3 times a month with some overnights required.

Compensation

• ORLT offers competitive salaries and benefits.
• The salary for this position will be based on the selected candidate’s experience and the salary structure of the organization.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to e-mail the following documents:

• A letter introducing yourself, and
• A copy of your resume. 

Hiring Process: Opened until filled.