Sheridan, WY

Position Title: Conservation Program Manager

Organization: Sheridan Community Land Trust

Location: Sheridan, WY

Duties:

Stewardship of SCLT’s Conservation Easements – 20%

• Manages SCLT’s stewardship of its conservation easements. Addresses landowner requests
  and questions related to conservation easement provisions, implements conservation
  easement defense standards and practices, and addresses potential easement violations.
• Deepens the relationship with current conservation easement landowners to help promote
  conservation easements and to improve the conservation value of their property through land
  stewardship projects.
• Coordinates on-site annual monitoring visits to SCLT’s portfolio of protected farms and
  ranches throughout Sheridan County.
• Works with the Executive Director to develop, maintain, and update internal policies related to
  SCLT’s easement management practices.
• Develops and refines communication plans for conservation easement landowner outreach.
• Serves as point of contact for SCLT conservation easement landowners and other related
  stakeholders including partnering organizations, community members, and conservation
  landowners.
• Maintains records of SCLT’s conservation easements in alignment with LTA Standards and
  Practices and Terrafirma standards.
• Advances and maintains skills, education, and knowledge of best practices related to
  conservation easement stewardship and land management.
• Maintains SCLT’s database of conservation property interests and utilizes electronic and hard
  copy record keeping.
• Builds peer relationships with agricultural land stewardship counterparts at other land
  protection organizations.
• Works with the Executive Director to set objectives for land stewardship as part of SCLT’s
  annual budgeting process, work plan, and 5 year strategic plan.

New Land Protection through Conservation Easements – 45%

• Carry out all phases of conservation easement protection projects.
• Cultivates landowners for future conservation easements in priority areas.
• Coordinates with Conservation Easement Working Group and Executive Director on project
  evaluation.
• With the Executive Director develops, research, writes, implements, tracks and reports for
  public and partner funding of conservation easements.
• With the Executive Director drafts, reviews, negotiates, and incorporates external legal review
  into conservation easements.
• With Conservation Easement Working Group prepares all baseline documentation reports.
• Closes conservation easement transactions.
• Updates staff, board and Conservation Easement Working Group on developing conservation
  easement activities.
• With the Executive Director develops, coordinates, writes, and revises land protection
  priorities, plans, project evaluation tools, and policies as needed. Works with the Executive Director to set objectives for land protection as part of SCLT’s annual budgeting process, work plan, and 5 year strategic plan.

Creating new conservation opportunity through land stewardship – 20%

• Forms partnerships and gains support for conservation including outreach to and involvement with SCLT supporters, neighbors, public, government agencies, regional Tribes, landowners, landowner groups, and the agriculture community.
• Along with regional and local partners identifies conservation opportunities that are not conservation easements.
• Expands SCLT’s role in leading these conservation opportunities in the areas of wildlife habitat, land management, soil health, drought resilience, and conservation education.

Helping the SCLT Team – 15%

• Supervises seasonal or temporary staff / volunteers working on conservation projects.
• Participates in organizational development, board training, community outreach and fundraising activities.
• Prepares newsletter articles, landowner information packets and conservation related website updates, and gives presentations in a variety of settings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with farming and ranching practices, natural resource and land management, and/or farm and ranch business management.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent practices for land files and electronic record keeping.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to navigate using maps and/or GPS, walk in rough, rural and wide-open terrain, and be willing to work outdoors in all weather.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Ability to interact with external professionals who are involved with land management including: surveyors, lawyers, planners, appraisers, landowners, and elected officials.

Desired Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience monitoring agricultural conservation easements and working knowledge of Land Trust Standards and Practices.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with agricultural easement stewardship including annual monitoring, assignments, use approvals, easement defense, and managing violations.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience with developing conservation easements and easement baselines.
• Experience negotiating legal terms amongst several parties.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience developing public funding sources.
• Experience in managing volunteers or seasonal employees.

How to Apply: Email a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to director@sheridanclt.org. Please use subject line: “Conservation Program Manager – Apply”. Applications are only accepted electronically. No calls please. The position is open until filled. SCLT is an equal opportunity employer.