Stewardship Manager

~ Founded in 1987,  the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust's (ASLPT)  mission is to preserve and protect the rural landscape of the Mt. Kearsarge/Ragged/Lake Sunapee region. ~

Position Overview

ASLPT is seeking a highly motivated individual to fill its new full-time Stewardship Manager position. The Stewardship Manager is responsible for overseeing and implementing stewardship activities on over 11,500 acres of conservation easement (CE) properties and five (5) properties owned by ASLPT. The position involves both office and fieldwork, attendance at meetings and some evening and weekend commitments.

The Stewardship Manager will oversee 120+ volunteer easement monitors and will be responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers as our stewardship obligations grow. This position reports to the Executive Director, but works closely with our Land Protection Specialist and Operations Manager.

Responsibilities 

• Annual Stewardship: Achieve annual goals for each CE property consistent with ASLPT policies and property history. Implement annual stewardship tasks for existing CE interests, including: landowner communications; comprehensive annual monitoring and site visits; pre- and post-timber harvest or other specialized site visits as may be required under the terms of a conservation easement; responses to landowner requests for approvals or questions on easement terms; and related tasks. Coordinate landowner relationship management.
• Monitoring Plans: For each newly acquired CE, prepare the appropriate monitoring plan consistent with ASLPT policies, procedures and models. Prepare periodic updates as necessary.
• Forest Management and Timber Harvest Plans: Contribute to ASLPTs internal review of landowner plans for consistency with CE terms.
• GIS and other data analysis: Contribute to GIS database management, analysis and map-making for the ASLPT Conservation and Stewardship program. Help manage and utilize ASLPT data for CE properties to monitor compliance with CE terms.
• Conservation Easement Violations: Identify actual or potential violations and contribute to managing a successful resolution or CE defense. Notify Terrafirma Defense Insurance as soon as a potential violation is suspected.
• Conservation Easement Amendments: Consistent with ASLPT’s CE Amendment Policy, assure coordination with Land Protection Specialist and others for management of amendment process, including support for negotiation of amended terms and obtaining necessary approvals by the parties.

Specific Duties:

• Update and maintain land inventory data, develop a maintenance schedule and implement land improvement projects in a timely manner
• Serve as point person and conduct enforcement activities related to encroachment and other issues on properties
• Oversee and participate in work crew project days
• Oversee signage, including kiosks, facilitate production and installation
• Oversee boundary marking
• Work actively on field projects, either alone or leading volunteers
• Update land management plans on ASLPT fee owned properties as needed and present for approval
• Oversee stewardship volunteers
• Conduct and/or coordinate trainings for all monitors
• Ensure that ASLPT properties (fee simple and CE’s) are being monitored as required by the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices
• Draft stewardship policies as requested
• Assist with ASLPT events and programming (Volunteer Recognition, Walks and Talks)

Key Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in an environmental field
• Experience in a conservation-related field, demonstrated knowledge of and passion for land preservation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, GIS, GPS, and other software
• Map-and-compass, trail-building, and digital photography skills are required
• Experience working in volunteer organization and with volunteers
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to work effectively with others and independently
• Willingness to attend meetings/events on evenings and weekends as necessary
• Comfortable working in outdoor settings, able to walk up to 5 miles through rough terrain and off-trail, and able to carry up to 50 pounds
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Experience using and maintaining hand and power tools
• Trustworthy, positive attitude
• Understands the importance of diverse community engagement and broad public support in successful land conservation; respect for opposing viewpoints

Other tasks / The ASLPT staff is a team, and we all need to assist with certain outreach items, including but not limited to:

• Occasional weekend work
• Staff support for special events such as ASLPT’s annual meeting
• Assistance in generating periodic mailings of newsletters, etc
• Assistance in database management
• Attendance at Board meetings if requested
• Other tasks as assigned

Compensation

• This is a full-time position (40 hours) offering a competitive salary (commensurate with experience) and benefits. 

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to email a pdf with your cover letter, resume and list of three references to Deborah Stanley, Executive Director.
• Deadline - January 1 2020. Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust is an equal opportunity employer.