Conservation Lands Manager

TITLE: Conservation Lands Manager

LOCATION: Office at McLane Center – 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301; responsibilities statewide at NH Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries. See more at www.nhaudubon.org/lands

HOURS: 35 hours per week, full-time, exempt (salary paid) staff position. Additional hours may be required as necessary.

SCHEDULE: Schedule will vary according to needs including occasional evenings and weekends. In the first year, the Conservation Lands Manager will follow the natural stewardship cycle across NH Audubon’s lands. Spring and early summer focus on visitor‑facing improvements—trail work, kiosks, signage, and parking—while coordinating projects with the seasonal Land Steward and intern. Late summer and fall shift toward preparing for and completing the conservation easement monitoring cycle, organizing digital land files and GIS data, and coordinating contractors for late‑season mowing and other habitat improvement projects when conditions are most advantageous. Winter emphasizes planning, administrative management, and setting up the next field season.

FUNCTION: This position will support the mission of New Hampshire Audubon, to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people, by managing ecosystems and habitats within the legal interests for all of NH Audubon’s statewide system of land and property holdings including fee-owned Wildlife Sanctuaries, conservation easements, and cooperative management agreements. This position leads a small seasonal team and works closely with the Director of Conservation Programs, contractors, a cadre of volunteers, and partner organizations to accomplish stewardship goals.

ESSENTIAL WORK DUTIES:

Supervision & Administration ~40%

• Hire, train, supervise, and motivate seasonal staff and volunteers for trail work, habitat management, land monitoring, and education projects at Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Maintain paper and digital files with a high degree of organization for future reference. Support the development of a comprehensive digital Lands Files database, through the organization of prior documentation, public records searching, and scanning of relevant paper files.
• Manage the CE monitoring GIS database.
• Oversee access to and maintenance of NH Audubon’s work truck.
• Collaborate with supervisor and other staff to propose new grant projects and partnerships to local, state, and federal funders to advance NH Audubon’s strategic priorities.
• Assess potential land acquisitions with supervisor and LSC as needed (active acquisition not currently an organizational priority).

Management of NH Audubon Lands & Easements ~40%

• Lead the annual monitoring of NH Audubon’s 29 conservation easements and 40 fee owned wildlife sanctuaries using staff, volunteers, and/or contractors.
• Work with CE landowners to resolve easement violations and communicate proposed resolutions to the Board.
• Manage contractors and oversee NH Audubon properties with public access infrastructure including the maintenance of hiking trails, the improvement of parking areas, and information resources such as interpretive signs, trailhead kiosks, and visitor guides/brochures.
• Manage and maintain Wildlife Sanctuary boundaries with staff and/or contractors.
• Aid in the resolution of boundary line encroachments.
• Manage and mitigate risks appropriately; train staff and volunteers to make safe decisions.
• Plan and supervise the implementation of management for wildlife habitat, biological diversity, and ecological integrity projects, and ensure that contractors are following BMPs during this management.
• Collaborate with partners on lands where NH Audubon shares an interest with other conservation organizations, or municipal, state, and federal agencies.
• Maintain NH Audubon’s fee-owned lands to a standard that prevents any CE violations as reported by other land trusts.
• Supervise the management of hand and power tools in the Lands Tool Cache prioritizing safety and effectiveness.
• Supervise the maintenance of NH Audubon’s power tools and hand tools in the Lands Tool Cache to prioritize safety and effectiveness.

Collaborative Leadership & Community Engagement ~15%

• Respond to public inquiries, research requests, and public comments on Wildlife Sanctuary Lands in a timely manner.
• Lead internal, external, and partner communications regarding implementation of BMPs and the results of those actions on Wildlife Sanctuaries, trail closures, volunteer trainings/workdays, and any land protection projects.
• Represent NH Audubon at local planning board and conservation commission meetings as needed.
• Provide timely responses and resolutions to land use conflicts on fee-owned properties and conservation easements.
• Serve as staff liaison on the NH Audubon Land Stewardship Committee of the Board (LSC).
• Promote educational and recreational use of NH Audubon properties in collaboration with Communications and Education teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and philanthropy when working with volunteers, partners, and contractors.

Tax Management ~5%

• Manage communications with municipal tax collectors and submit annual state required A-9, A-12, and supporting documents by April 15.
• Enroll fee-owned properties into Current Use as needed.
• Forward tax bills and lands-related invoices to others for processing.

LEADERSHIP: The Conservation Lands Manager reports to and works closely with the Director of Conservation Programs through regular check‑ins and collaborative seasonal planning. This position is supported by a full‑time seasonal Conservation Lands Steward (30 weeks) and summer intern (10 weeks), dozens of place-based volunteers, and contractors. You can see the open Conservation Lands Steward position description on our website, the brief intern PD is at: https://extension.unh.edu/about/community-engaged-internship-programs

WORKING CONDITIONS: NH Audubon’s work culture is characterized by excellent colleagues who share a collaborative spirit, commitment to mission, open communication, and high integrity. Our offices are non-smoking, with both open workspaces and private offices.         Work occurs both in office settings and outdoors in variable weather conditions.    

QUALIFICATIONS:

NH Audubon 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:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management or related field required; master’s degree preferred.

Experience – required: 

• Three to five years’ experience in land management required, preferably in a non-profit setting, preferably with a property base greater than 5,000 acres.
• Demonstrated organizational and budgetary oversight skills.
• Proficiency with map, compass, and GPS expertise with the ability to read deed descriptions and locate ground boundaries.
• Effective managerial and leadership skills.
• Effective and respectful verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated management and supervisory skills with the dedication to work effectively within a diverse community. 

Experience – preferred: 

• Experience with ArcPro, associated ESRI tools, and cartographic skills are highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and experience with wildlife habitat inventory, management, and enhancement techniques and an understanding of forestry practices are desirable.
• Building, ground maintenance, and basic carpentry skills are desirable.

Skills, Traits and Characteristics Necessary for Success: 

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; high attention to detail; financial acumen; excellent problem‑solving abilities; strong organizational habits.
• Ability to prioritize and complete tasks in a dynamic workflow, maintain a positive attitude, provide excellent customer service, and make sound independent decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft SharePoint and Office Suite.
• Project management experience (scoping, stakeholder engagement, implementation, reporting) highly desirable.
• Knowledge of tool safety and trail maintenance techniques desirable.

Physical Demands:

• To perform the essential functions of the position, the applicant must be in a physical condition capable of standing, stretching, bending, walking, lifting, and transporting a maximum of 50 pounds.
• Must have a tolerance to spend time outdoors in variable weather conditions and in the presence of biting insects with the ability to hike over varied terrain for long distances.
• Must be able to climb stairs, be physically and mentally capable of performing multiple tasks, and function in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to operate small watercraft including canoe, kayak, and motorboat.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• CPR and first aid certification required (training can be provided).

COMPENSATION: 

• $50,000 – $53,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience.
• This position is eligible for NH Audubon’s generous benefit package, including paid time off (13 holidays, vacation & sick time), medical and dental plans, a health reimbursement agreement, retirement account with employer match, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a NH Audubon annual membership, access to pro deals, and paid professional development opportunities.
• Use of NH Audubon truck during work-related outings including a take-home policy for 2-3 days per week when it would add efficiency based on a project or location.
• Mileage driven with personal vehicle beyond normal commute reimbursed at current federal rate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

NH Audubon is a welcoming, inclusive organization that is committed to ensuring people of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome and respected.  NH Audubon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation or Vietnam Era/Disabled Veteran status, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, NH Audubon complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where NH Audubon has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. See more at: https://www.nhaudubon.org/lands/