Job Description

Organization: Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust

Location: Damariscotta, Maine (with properties throughout Lincoln County)

Salary: $67,000 – $ 85,000 depending upon experience and qualifications

Benefits: 35-hour work week, 12 paid holidays; 3 weeks starting vacation; sick leave and other PTO; health insurance, dental and vision, including partial coverage for dependents; life and disability insurance; retirement match; professional development opportunities

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is a nationally accredited land trust and conservation organization, caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through a wide range of education programs.  Coastal Rivers is committed to addressing climate change and promoting climate resiliency.

Coastal Rivers holds more than 5,000 acres of land in conservation and maintains a growing network of over 50 miles of trails.

Position Summary

Coastal Rivers seeks a senior level land conservation professional to join our small but mighty conservation team, helping us to reach our goal of tripling conserved lands by the end of the decade. Extensive experience in building landowner relationships and grant writing expertise are essential, with federal grant writing experience a bonus.

Essential Job Functions

As a key part of the land conservation team, the Senior Conservation Project Manager will take part in managing all aspects of the land acquisition process. For example, the project manager will:

• Identify additional priority lands for acquisition
• Develop strategies to approach landowners of key conservation lands, and foster relationships with landowners
• Respond to “unsolicited” acquisition inquiries and opportunities, and evaluate land to determine whether it rises to the level of conservation priority
• Negotiate land purchases and donations, and write (or contract for and review) Conservation Easements
• Write and manage grant proposals – federal, state, foundation, and private
• Assist with other associated fundraising
• Along with the Executive Director and the Director of Land Conservation, develop new and creative approaches to reach our conservation goals
• Write (or contract for and review) Baseline Documentation
• Manage and direct attorneys, appraisers, surveyors, environmental consultants and other professionals associated with land transactions
• Perform “due diligence” on all land transactions
• Follow through with recordkeeping after closing on acquisitions
• Work closely with volunteers, including the Lands Committee and Board of Trustees
• Create materials for Board meetings, and present conservation plans and opportunities to Board
• Maintain Coastal Rivers’ compliance with Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Accreditation “Standards and Practices” on all land transactions
• Work with Stewardship Director/Staff and/or consultants on Management Plans
• Support stewardship and other staff as needed

Qualifications and Skills

• Six or more years of land conservation experience, involving all aspects of negotiating and completing fee and easement land transactions
• Grant writing experience, with success obtaining large grants. Includes finding, writing, and tracking grant proposals, and monitoring commitments to ensure completion of deliverables and submission of grant reports
• Ability to solo navigate and traverse lands, off-trail, and also to safely lead committee members on hikes to inspect lands under consideration
• Proficient in ArcGIS
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral
• Must be a team-player, working with the entire Coastal Rivers staff and volunteers. We all pitch in to make it a fun and collaborative office environment!

Interim housing may be available if needed. Please inquire for details.

Coastal Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, size, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. Additionally, Coastal Rivers strives to foster an inclusive workplace. People from diverse backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in conservation leadership, are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Conservation. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: conservation, land, and protection. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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