Conservation Director

Position Type: Full-time  
Reporting: Executive Director
Location: 100 E. Main Street, Suite 7B, Spartanburg, SC 29306 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Conservation Director is a senior-level, mission-driven, and highly motivated land protection staff member who plays a key role on the SPACE Team. This person is instrumental in ensuring the SPACE’s long-term success by working on land protection projects across the Spartanburg Area. Central to this effort is the building, nurturing, and maintenance of strong relationships with key stakeholders, including but not limited to landowners, nonprofit and government partners, and funders. This staff member will regularly engage with landowners of currently protected land and owners of strategically important unprotected land; serve as the project managers of SPACE’s active conservation projects, pursue and cultivate land protection funding partnerships; and otherwise contribute to SPACE’s region-wide conservation strategy.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Proactively cultivate, develop, negotiate, and actively manage all aspects of land protection projects, leading legal counsel, consultants, and fellow staff in accomplishing discrete project tasks necessary for successful completion.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to identify and prioritize land protection prospects in alignment with the Land Trust’s conservation strategy.
• Regularly engage and educate prospective landowners on land protection opportunities.
• Identify and initiate new, untapped, and/or complex sources of funding for conservation easements and/or fee simple title acquisitions.
• Present and represent SPACE at focus area task forces, public events, conservation initiatives, trainings, and similar convenings; assuming leadership roles within them when strategically beneficial to the Land Trust’s goals.
• Report on and obtain SPACE Board approval for land protection projects.
• Assist SPACE staff on special projects as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Support the organization’s philanthropic efforts by participating in events, communications, and gift solicitations; and identify and cultivate philanthropic opportunities that contribute to the Land Trust’s general operating revenues.
• Support the promotion and communication of land conservation projects by assisting with the creation of press releases, outreach, and development materials.
• Assist the SPACE staff in providing information to landowners about conservation matters related to land management, connecting them to technical and financial resources as appropriate.
• Undertake all work in accordance with SPACE’s policies and the Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices and Accreditation requirements.
• Travel across the Spartanburg Area as needed to effectively accomplish SPACE’s land protection and partnership goals.

• Other Duties as Required: 

  The above statements describe the general nature and level of work an employee assigned to this position performs. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. All staff members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time. 

  QUALIFICATIONS 

  Required: 

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Minimum 3 years of land protection project management or equivalent real estate transaction and business experience
  • Demonstrated success in the development and management of complex land protection projects
  • Ability to work collaboratively and creatively with staff across departments and organizations.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication, and demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships
  • Ability to manage multiple projects or assignments with defined requirements to achieve specific, timely outcomes
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Strong self-direction and initiative; demonstrated commitment to making things happen
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to interpret and understand legal documents, maps, survey plans, natural resource inventories, and other related materials
  • Ability to work with a wide range of personalities and opinions to reach a common goal
  • Ability to learn new software tools quickly
  • Ability to travel and ownership of / access to a reliable vehicle
  • A genuine love of the outdoors and an authentic comfort being outside during all seasons/weather conditions

  Desired: 

  • 8 or more years of land protection project management or equivalent real estate transaction and business experience
  • Degree in a natural resources-related field (wildlife, ecology, forestry, conservation biology, environmental/land use planning, land use law, or related fields) or a degree in finance/business/law with a strong background in land conservation
  • Conservation, not-for-profit organization, and/or public agency experience
  • Demonstrated use of multiple funding sources in conservation projects
  • Experience working with communities underrepresented in land conservation
  • Experience monitoring properties protected by conservation easements
  • Experience using ArcGIS