Land Protection Lead

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire seeks an accomplished conservation professional to serve as its Land Protection Lead. The Land Protection Lead will lead three key areas of our work: (1) identifying and implementing a portfolio of high-impact land protection projects that advance our conservation priorities; (2) developing and leading strategic partnerships with other entities (e.g., community-based organizations, land trusts, municipalities, and agencies) to advance shared land protection goals; and (3) serving as a land conservation subject-matter expert as we develop and implement a suite of conservation strategies that maximize the contribution of the New Hampshire Business Unit to the regional and global conservation priorities of The Nature Conservancy. The Land Protection Lead is a key member of our Conservation Team and is supervised by Director of Conservation.

We’re Looking for You:

The Land Protection Lead will deploy land protection and associated tactics to help The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire materially contribute toward our organization’s conservation goals (https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/). They will work closely with the Director of Conservation and other team members to identify, develop, and complete a suite of high-impact land protection and associated land conservation projects, including tasks such as landowner outreach, negotiation and project management, grant writing, securing community support, due diligence, and project completion. An increasing amount of our land protection work focuses on supporting entities like land trusts and local conservation partnerships toward achieving shared goals. The Land Protection Lead will lead these efforts, including serving as TNC’s representative in collaborations and networks, sharing TNC’s regional science, identifying and leading strategic opportunities for building partner capacity, and tracking impacts. They will also serve as a strategist and thought leader in our Business Unit to help increase the pace and scale with which we are protecting priority lands identified through TNC’s regional science, and to identify opportunities for using land protection as a tactic for advancing other strategic priorities such as carbon sequestration, freshwater conservation, and reducing the risk of flooding. A large focus of the Land Protection Lead’s time will be directed toward conservation goals in New Hampshire’s portion of the Appalachians, a global priority landscape for The Nature Conservancy. See: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/appalachians/

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Conduct landowner outreach, identify land protection opportunities, and develop the information needed to screen opportunities based on our strategic priorities.
• In collaboration with relevant TNC staff, identify and evaluate the merits of a range of potential vehicles for long-term protection including fee simple, conservation easement, and other less-than-fee options.
• Negotiate land protection project terms, contracts and, where appropriate, develop conservation easement terms with landowners and partners.
• Develop project budgets, identify public funding opportunities, develop, and submit grant applications, and work with TNC philanthropy staff to identify private fundraising needs.
• Follow TNC protocols to solicit, negotiate and contract with vendors for appraisals, surveys, environmental hazard assessments, and other due diligence associated with land protection projects.
• Manage land protection projects to completion including TNC’s internal project review and database entry procedures.
• Maintain and strengthen our land conservation partnerships to increase the pace and scale with which we are helping others protect priority landscapes.
• Work with our Conservation Coordinator and Spatial Scientist to track the impacts of our partnership efforts.
• Through participation in working groups, both within the NH Business Unit and across regional TNC entities, serve as a subject-matter expert in helping to identify the role of land protection as a tactic in meeting our target conservation outcomes, including our commitment to equitable conservation.
• Identify and help lead opportunities to pilot innovative land conservation strategies and finance mechanisms such as utilizing carbon markets and other ecosystem service payments.
• Support the Director of Conservation in deploying our available resources to have maximum conservation impact including tracking our portfolio of land protection opportunities, identifying key deliverables/milestones, developing timelines to allow management of multiple projects simultaneously, and effectively communicating with NH Business Unit staff.
• May supervise TNC staff, contractors, seasonal employees, volunteers, and interns.
• Serve on external TNC working groups and committees consistent with expertise.
• Independently communicate our work with internal and external audiences, including staff, Trustees, donors, members, partners, and public officials.
• Travel throughout NH, sometimes evening and weekend hours.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in natural resources management, conservation, business, law or another related field of study and 3-5 years of experience in conservation, real estate, or other related field.
• Experience negotiating real estate agreements and demonstrated ability to bring negotiations and projects to closure.
• Experience managing multiple projects and timelines.
• Experience communicating with the public including landowners and community groups both in writing and verbally.
• Experience working with computers using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
• Valid driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experiencing managing 1 or more direct reports
• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Experience drafting and interpreting conservation easement language.
• Ability to use ESRI GIS software to visualize spatial data.
• Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land protection, and natural resource preservation.
• Politically savvy and experienced in partnership development (partners, community, government).

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!