Conservation Director

The Conservation Director serves as the senior executive responsible for planning, directing, and

implementing the Coastal Prairie Conservancy’s land conservation programs.

Working closely with the President and CEO, the Vice President and General Counsel, and other

members of the Executive Leadership Team, the Conservation Director provides leadership for fee

land acquisition, conservation easements.

The Conservation Director is responsible for translating the organization’s strategic conservation

priorities into measurable conservation outcomes by building and leading a highly effective

conservation team, establishing priorities, managing resources, and ensuring that conservation

projects are completed efficiently, professionally, and in accordance with CPC’s mission and

standards.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Conservation Director is responsible for building an organization that consistently delivers

excellent conservation outcomes and translates the Board-approved strategic plan into

measurable conservation objectives. Success is measured not only by acres protected but by the

strength of the conservation team, the effectiveness of project management, the satisfaction of

landowners and partners, and the organization’s ability to achieve increasingly ambitious

conservation goals.

The Conservation Director exercises leadership through planning, communication, delegation,

accountability, and staff development while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and

continuous improvement. The Conservation Director provides leadership for all land

conservation activities undertaken by the organization:

Land Conservation Project Leadership

The Conservation Director provides executive leadership for CPC’s land protection program:

• Oversee the land conservation team and direct all phases of conservation easement and

fee acquisition projects.

• Assign priorities and allocate staff resources.

• Review prospective conservation projects.

• Ensure transactions progress efficiently from initial contact through closing.

• Coordinate with legal counsel regarding documentation and closing.

• Ensure that baseline conditions reports and management plans are prepared for

conservation easement projects.

• Ensure grant requirements and funding commitments are met.

• Keep the President and CEO informed of significant opportunities, risks, and decisions

requiring executive involvement.

• Maintain accredited status with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and ensure

compliance with national standards and practices

Conservation Planning

The Conservation Director is responsible for ensuring that CPC’s conservation work reflects

sound science and strategic planning:

• Develop partnerships and relationships with public agency partners, stakeholder groups,

and other state and regional environmental agencies

• Develop conservation priorities and implementation strategies.

• Coordinate landscape-scale conservation planning.

• Evaluate ecological, financial, and operational aspects of conservation projects.

• Support development of county-based conservation strategies.

Staff Leadership

The Conservation Director builds and leads a high-performing conservation team:

• Encourage new initiatives and develop expertise within the team

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate conservation staff.

• Clearly define priorities, responsibilities, and expectations.

• Delegate authority appropriately while maintaining accountability.

• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and professional development.

• Develop future conservation leaders.

• Foster a positive, solutions-oriented work environment.

Financial and Project Management

The Conservation Director is responsible for managing conservation resources effectively:

• Collaborate with development team to secure corporate and private funding for

conservation and engage in productive relations to maintain funding support

• Develop and implement applications with resource agency partners to secure public

funding for conservation.

• Establish annual work plans and project schedules.

• Monitor project progress and expenditures.

• Coordinate grant implementation and reporting.

External Relationships

The Conservation Director develops strong relationships that support CPC’s conservation

mission:

• Maintain productive relationships with landowners, conservation partners, agencies,

consultants, and technical experts.

• Support the President and CEO and the Vice President and General Counsel in major

landowner relationships and strategic conservation initiatives.

• Represent CPC at technical meetings and professional conferences.

• Develop partnerships that strengthen CPC’s conservation capacity.

Executive Leadership

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Conservation Director shall:

• Participate in organizational planning.

• Coordinate conservation activities with other departments.

• Recommend improvements to conservation programs.

• Assist in developing organizational policies.

• Support implementation of Board-approved priorities.

• Serve as staff liaison to Land Conservation Committee, including support for reports to

CPC’s Board of Directors.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and CEO on conservation matters.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate should possess: A bachelor’s degree in the field of natural resources

management, wildlife biology, environmental sciences, or land use planning, or related

experience. Have five or more years of experience in land conservation, real estate transactions

or land use planning; must possess expertise in structuring land deals and due diligence, must have

excellent communication and negotiation skills; strong critical thinking skills to find innovative

solutions to complex challenges and experienced in partnership development with landowners,

contractors, partners, governmental entities and the community.

Travel required to visit potential conservation properties and to develop and maintain

relationships with agencies, partners, and landowners. Applicant must be willing to work in

physically demanding conditions and to walk unassisted through difficult terrain. Applicant may

be required to work some evenings and weekends, as necessary, in all weather conditions to

perform essential job duties.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include health insurance and participation in

• simple retirement plan.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume in a single file PDF to

[email protected] with the subject line “Stewardship Manager.”

No calls please.

Candidate will be required to pass a background check and provide references upon request.

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) is a 501(c)(3) land trust accredited by the Land Trust

Accreditation Commission. As an equal employment opportunity employer, CPC is committed to

maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment and does not discriminate against any

employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,

age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other

characteristic protected by applicable law.