Position Opening:
Little Traverse Conservancy
Land Protection Specialist
Location:
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Description:The Land Protection Specialist contacts land owners and negotiates gifts of land and conservation easements. S/he also coordinates purchase projects when approved by the Board of Trustees and works with partners such as local units of government, the state and other nonprofits to achieve mutual goals. The Land Protection Specialist is responsible for achieving the Conservancy's primary strategic goal of acquiring land or interests in land. S/he reports to the Director of Land Protection of the Conservancy and consults with the Executive Director.
Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:
1. Work to identify target properties or areas within the Conservancy’s service region and contact land owners whose land meets our protection criteria. Help to make land owners aware of the Conservancy and its mission, and point out the benefits of land conservation options .
2. Organize steering committees for projects on an area-by-area basis and work with these groups to design protection strategies for inland lakes, road corridors and areas of concern. Help to inform land owners in the project area of the Conservancy's efforts in accordance with a work plan developed for that area in cooperation with the committee.
3. Follow up on inquiries by people interested in making gifts of land or easements.
4. Meet with landowners, visit potential gift or easement property to evaluate its potential for acceptance by the Conservancy. Thoroughly inspect the property to determine its acceptability to the Conservancy and to check for hazards or potential liability problems.
5. Submit written project evaluation summaries to the Executive Director, the Land Protection Committee, and then to the board of Trustees for review and action.
6. Draft easement language for potential easement donations and oversee the review of the draft easement by the potential grantee and his/her/their counsel and tax advisor.
7. Solicit endowment gifts in connection with easements or gifts of land to enable the Conservancy to provide perpetual care for these resources.
8. Pursue gifts of trade land or state-federal exchange land where opportunities exist.
9. Maintain complete files on active projects to document activities, intentions and actions in conformance with project file procedures.
Qualifications:
1. An outgoing and friendly personality with the ability to meet new people easily and quickly earn the confidence of land owners.
2. Working knowledge of the general concepts, legal, financial, and scientific issues involved in land protection. Such fields as law, natural resource management, planning, and natural science will be of greatest interest. Generalists with expertise or experience in a variety of these areas will be preferred, as will people with experience in working for a land trust.
3. A self-starter with the ability to initiate new programs and meet new people in order to achieve the goals of the Conservancy.
4. Ability to work with and through a committee to develop approaches to land conservation in designated areas.
5. A genuine interest in land conservation and a sincere willingness to work with people to help them meet their land management and financial needs, as well as the conservation needs of the Conservancy.
Salary & Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical insurance for employee and family; retirement plan.
Application:
Send letter and resume to:
Little Traverse Conservancy
3264 Powell Road
Harbor Springs MI 49740
No telephone calls, please.
Closing Date:
March 31, 2007
