Job Description

Position Summary

The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is looking for an experienced Land Stewardship Director to join our dynamic team. This is a full-time, exempt (salaried) position reporting to the Executive Director. This is a new position designed to scale a sustainable stewardship practice within the organization, working alongside a talented and dedicated team.

The Land Stewardship Director manages the conservation easement portfolio for the organization, including all aspects of conservation easement monitoring, enforcement, curing violations, landowner and successor landowner education and relationships, easement amendments, agency relationships, new project stewardship planning, restoration oversight, and department administrative and financial management. This position supports acquisitions by preparing for new land stewardship and monitoring obligations, restoration activities, and maintenance. The Land Stewardship Director supervises the Land Stewardship Manager, vendors, contractors, and interns.

The Land Stewardship Director works with the Executive Director, Land Committee, Board of Trustees, Land Trust legal counsel, and the Land Stewardship Manager to ensure our organization upholds our perpetual conservation obligations and conducts our work in a professional, expert manner. This position will represent the organization throughout the county in a variety of settings, including in the field, in community meetings, with agency and elected officials, and with supporters.

Responsibilities

• Conservation easement portfolio management including all aspects of conservation easement monitoring, enforcement, addressing violations, and amendments
• Ensure the organization is following all applicable stewardship regulatory and legal requirements as well as the Standards & Practices as required by the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission
• Stakeholder education about conservation easement terms and obligations with a focus on listing agents, buyer representatives, successor landowners, county departments
• Landowner relationship management built on trust, mutual respect, and Land Trust expertise
• Manage and develop wildlife and other agency relationships pertaining to special habitat, species, agricultural practices, recreation issues, and mitigation
• Represent the Land Trust as the easement holder at a variety of meetings, including public meetings, hearings, site visits, and with neighbors
• Oversee new project stewardship planning including PAR analysis, approval of baseline documentation
  reports and management plans
• Ensure the smooth transition of new conserved acres from acquisition to perpetual stewardship, including regular analysis of the stewardship needs of the easement portfolio and the adequacy of the stewardship endowment
• Provide guidance on our restoration program to the Land Stewardship Manager including identifying the trajectory for this aspect of our work
• Supervise the Land Stewardship Manager, provide timely feedback and ongoing support, and provide training and professional development opportunities.
• Manage all aspects of the stewardship department including budget development and workplan development, contractor oversight, etc.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Land Committee, Board of Trustees, Land Trust legal counsel, and the Land Stewardship Manager to ensure our organization upholds our conservation obligations and conducts our work in a professional, expert manner
• Stay abreast of local, state, and federal policies relevant to land protection and seek opportunities to lay the foundation for new approaches to permanent conservation
• Serve on the management team for the Land Trust
• Help with and attend Land Trust events as requested

Required Qualifications

• Informed passion and sense of urgency for the mission of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
• 5+ years progressive conservation easement program or project supervision with an emphasis on monitoring, enforcement, landowner and successor landowner relationships, project review, and amendments
• Demonstrated knowledge of real estate, land protection techniques and land conservation principles
• Understanding of conservation finance and tax law benefits
• Extensive project management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage staff, as well as key stakeholder groups
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the county and occasionally to work weekends and some evenings. Our main office is based in downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information for a non-technical audience
• Proficient with presentation software, Microsoft Office, or an ability to quickly learn new software programs
• College degree in relevant field, J.D. degree or commensurate experience
• Commitment to working with the community to advance the Land Trust’s mission
• Willingness to learn and maintain CPR/wilderness first aid certifications

How to Apply

• How to Apply: Please submit a resume, and a compelling cover letter, to Meredith Hendricks at [email protected] with the subject: Land Stewardship Director.
• The position will remain open until filled. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an initial phone interview.
• The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Job Categories: Conservation. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

Apply for this Job