Conservation and Farmland Project Manager

The Conservation and Farmland Project Manager is a full-time position responsible for completing land protection projects across SELT’s service area with a focus on strategic conservation of priority lands identified in the NH Coastal Watershed Conservation Plan (2021) and the Merrimack Conservation Plan.  In addition to supporting the permanent protection of high-value natural resources, including wildlife habitat, lands critical for ecological services, and public drinking water resources, the Manager develops and manages SELT’s comprehensive farmland protection efforts to improve the conservation of, access to, affordability of, and agricultural utilization of farms and farmland in southeastern New Hampshire.

The Manager will work collaboratively with municipalities and other nonprofit and agency partners to develop effective working relationships and conservation projects with private landowners, partner organizations, and government agencies/towns. The Manager responds to land protection inquiries and proactively contacts landowners within priority areas, builds and maintains relationships with community partners, and prepares local, state and federal grants and foundation proposals. The Manager negotiates land acquisition and conservation easement projects using a full range of conservation tools and coordinates the land acquisition process, grant administration, conservation easement drafting (as applicable), due diligence and closing of these projects.

In addition to working on land conservation projects , the Manager will serve as the lead within SELT for farmland projects, the Manager will maintain and update farmland program-specific easement templates (e.g., NRCS Agricultural Land Easement, SELT agricultural easement, and NRCS RCPP), manage and maintain SELT’s Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV)  tool, manage SELT’s Farmland Seeker List (an effort to match farmer’s seeking farmland with new or existing conservation farmland), evaluate new tools to support access and affordability, and cultivate and develop relationships with agricultural non-profits and government partners.  The Manager will also engage in SELT’s ongoing consideration and possible implementation of farming activities at SELT’s Burley Farms.

The Manager must have excellent communication skills, experience in and a passion for land conservation and farmland protection, a demonstrated ability to manage projects over an extended period of time, a commitment to developing practical solutions to conservation challenges, the ability to work effectively with partners and the desire to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with limited supervision. The Manager is a full-time position and will report to the Land Conservation Director.

Land Conservation Responsibilities

• Manages existing and new conservation transactions and farm transfers from start to finish, including coordination with partners, field evaluations, project assessments, landowner negotiations, and drafting of related agreements.
• Develops effective working relationships with private landowners/farmers and negotiates gifts or purchases of land and conservation easements.
• Responds to and conducts preliminary evaluations of potential conservation projects and farm transfers.
• Contacts and cultivates targeted landowners/farmers within priority focus areas through mailings, phone calls, programs, and other means.
• Establishes and manages project budgets.
• Drafts conservation easements to meet requirements of landowner/farmers, funding partner, and easement holder.
• Manages work and contracts for outside services with surveyors, appraisers, lawyers, and governmental officials.
• Writes, manages, and administers grants for selected conservation projects from a variety of local, state, and federal funding programs, and private foundations.

Farmland Responsibilities

• Manages SELT’s farmland conservation work and presents strategies to increase farmland protection, access, food production, and farm viability.
• Develops policies, procedures, and documents related to farmland initiatives such as OPAV, Buy-Protect-Sell, Farmland Seeker List, and more.
• Drafts and updates SELT’s NRCS-ALE template easement and SELT’s farmland model easement
• Maintains agricultural proficiency and knowledge as it relates to farmland programming. Successfully manages farm transfer scenarios between multiple parties ranging from the relatively simple to the complex.
• Participates and engages in SELT’s ongoing consideration and implementation of farm-based education and a working farm at Burley Farms

Outreach and Community Relations Responsibilities

• Work cooperatively with communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to develop strong working relationships and achieve shared goals.
• As may be needed, represents SELT at public meetings, conferences, and workshops.
• Periodically participate in or lead outreach events and field trips related to conservation projects.

General and Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain records consistent with SELT’s internal policies and practices, including LOCATE database to track land management infrastructure, activities, and tasks.
• Track projects and regularly communicate status with Land Conservation Director and staff as appropriate.
• Participate in the review/updating of policies and procedures to ensure consistency with applicable Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and requirements of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Participate in organization-wide events (such as Film Festival, Annual Meeting, & TrailFest) and SELT committees as assigned.
• Complete other tasks as may be assigned to support the organization’s mission.

Education and Experience Preferred

SELT seeks the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience or Master’s degree in natural resources (wildlife, ecology, forestry, conservation biology, environmental/land use planning, land use law or related fields) and a strong background in agriculture including Bachelor’s degree in ag-related field or significant experience engaged in farming activities, techniques, and implementation of farming best management practices. An individual who can show that they can relate to and communicate well with a farmer is strongly desired.
• Minimum of three years’ experience negotiating and managing conservation easements, fee simple land acquisitions, other land conservation techniques, or similar real estate transactions.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and careful attention to detail.
• Flexibility in approach to problems and/or emerging priorities
• Ability to manage multiple projects that require different processes and requirements of collaborating partners.
• Good judgment, independent initiative, sensitivity to situations, and a mature and friendly manner are critical.
• Empathetic and observant listener able to work with a wide range of personalities and opinions to reach a common goal.
• Ability to remain calm during difficult negotiations and to be patient but tenacious.
• Committed to making things happen and demonstrated initiative.
• Ability to interpret and understand legal documents, maps, survey plans, natural resource inventories, and other related materials.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

This position will be completed in both an office environment (The Mathey Center) and the outdoors.  After a period of initial onboarding, this position is eligible for a hybrid remote/office work model.  The work performed in a normal office environment is not subject to extremes of noise, temperature, odor, etc. Operates a computer, printer, scanner and other office equipment. Work requires extended sitting and repetitive motion in the use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse at a height-adjustable desk. Fieldwork is performed outdoors in all weather conditions and may be physically demanding, including walking/hiking several miles over rugged terrain. Regular travel is required with occasional night meetings and weekend assignments.

Candidate must have a valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and a reliable personal vehicle for transportation to and from work, meetings, field visits and events.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with level of directly relevant experience with a starting salary range of $67,000 to $82,000. Competitive benefits package including health insurance plan, long-term and short-term disability insurance, employee match to 403(b)(7) retirement plan, and paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.