Conservation Assistant

About Saratoga PLAN
Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) is an accredited land trust dedicated to preserving the rural character, natural habitats, and scenic beauty of the Saratoga County region so that these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. The lands that Saratoga PLAN conserves are ancestral homelands of the Mohican, Mohawk and Abenaki people.

PLAN has a highly motivated, small team. This is an entry level position with room to grow over time. We’re looking for someone who is flexible and willing to assist others when needed. This is a full-time salaried position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week, with some weekend and evening work. Additional benefits include 14 paid holidays, vacation time, 12 sick days, minimum of 80% coverage of health and dental insurance premiums, and up to 3% match to employees’ SIMPLE IRA.

Primary Job Duties
Reporting to the Conservation Project Manager and Stewardship Manager, the Conservation Assistant will work closely with all PLAN staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, interns, and community partners to manage land and trail projects through all phases – planning, resource data gathering, conservation, land acquisition process, documentation, and ongoing land stewardship. This position will be approximately 20% field based and 80% office based.

Land Protection Responsibilities:

• Consult with landowners, municipalities and other organizations regarding conservation options and succession planning for farms, forests, natural areas, trails, and open spaces through public presentations and confidential consultations.
• Evaluate property priorities based on conservation values and determine possible funding sources.
• Complete due diligence for real estate transactions including: mapping and analysis; site planning; financial project budgeting; easement and contract drafting including contractual services by surveyors, appraisers, attorneys, title companies, and environmental inspectors; review of the above contracted materials as part of the real estate transaction process.
• Prepare grant applications and donation solicitations for conservation and stewardship projects, track awarded funds, and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Play a supporting role in donor relations and community engagement programs, including providing content for external communications, and leading educational tours.

Stewardship Responsibilities:

• Support stewardship staff with monitoring property boundaries.
• Build relationships with conservation easement landowners and preserve neighbors to foster sound land stewardship practice.
• Follow all due diligence in reporting and tracking easement violations, encroachments or interpretation requests.
• Collect GPS data and empirical data from properties and landowners to develop property records and field reports.
• Coordinate and lead public workdays and volunteer groups in trail maintenance, invasive species workdays, and restoration projects.

Community Planning Responsibilities:

• Serve in a supporting role, for community groups, such as the Conservation Committee, Conservation Colleagues, Countywide Trails Committee, Graphite Range
  Community Forest Advisory Committee, municipalities creating farmland protection plans, and other collaborators working together to advance open space protection, recreation, and farmland conservation.
• Act as a PLAN representative for public tabling events and educational programming.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:

• Environmental coursework or degree in some or all of relevant fields including but not limited to: Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Regional Planning, or Environmental and Land Planning.
• Experience and/or educational background with ERSI field and office-based platforms (ArcPro, ArcOnline, Field Maps, etc.) – some experience required, however there will be opportunities for those able to learn from self-directed teaching.
• Relevant non-profit, conservation, or volunteer experience, including managing internal and external collaborative projects, programs, and teams.
• Strong organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and record-keeping.
• Excellent skills with Microsoft Office 365 Online suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
• Strong skills in project planning and execution.
• Strong reading and writing skills, with the ability to comprehend and interpret legal documents.
• Technologically proficient with the ability to troubleshoot through software errors and self-direct in finding technological solutions.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to develop and maintain diplomatic relationships at all levels including with landowners, communities, government agencies and the not-for-profit sector.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical activities such as hiking in steep terrain and working on outdoor stewardship projects as well as long hours at a computer.
• Ability to work well in a small team environment while also having the ability to self-direct and motivate to achieve the above listed job duties.

Other Desirable Experience:

• Trail design and maintenance.
• Volunteer coordination.
• Grant writing and management.
• Background in real estate transactions or environmental/community planning.