The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, a provincial conservation charity protecting Nova Scotia’s most unique and outstanding natural areas, is hiring a Conservation Coordinator.
The Nature Trust is seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic person to help us to advance our land conservation mandate. The Conservation Coordinator will be part of our conservation team, undertaking a variety of conservation work including outreach with owners of priority conservation lands, biological surveys and assessments of land, negotiation and securement of conservation lands, and supporting land stewardship and management. In particular the Coordinator will be involved with conservation of coastal land, old growth forest and endangered species.
The level of leadership, and/or specialization within one or more aspects of the conservation team’s work will depend on the particular strengths and experience of the successful candidate.
Tasks
- Working with the Conservation Manager, oversee securement of priority habitats identified by the Nature Trust for protection through conservation easements, donations, bargain sales and bequests, potentially including the following:
- Meeting landowners and conducting negotiations
- Carrying out site assessments (i.e. determining the conservation priority of a site)
- Carrying out baseline flora and fauna inventory of properties (including researching existing ecological data)
- Undertaking all the activities associated with the permanent protection of land (from overseeing surveys and appraisals, to drafting legal agreements and property reports)
- Overseeing communications, public relations and landowner recognition related to the land conservation program
- Meeting and liaising with other conservation groups and individuals involved with the project or similar projects
- Supporting GIS-based conservation planning and management
- Project and conservation campaign coordination
- Supporting project funding partnerships
To this end, the following skills and attributes are required:
- A genuine interest in land conservation and a sincere willingness to work with people to help them meet their land management and financial needs, and the conservation needs of the nature trust
- Outgoing, confident and friendly personality with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to meet and engage new people easily (including relationships/partnerships for conservation projects with a diversity of landowners and the general public, and working with a project team)
- Strong oral communication skills (predominantly one-to-one outreach with landowners and their families, liaison with other professionals in the land securement process such as lawyers, appraisers and surveyors; and potentially some public speaking/media relations)
- A self-starter with the ability to initiate new projects and to work independently
- Very strong computer skills and comfort learning new software (ideally GIS experience)
- Effective negotiating skills
- Demonstrated ability to learn and quickly develop working knowledge in many diverse areas
- Very strong project management skills (funding proposals, budgeting/cash flow, co-ordination of staff team/volunteers, report writing, project coordination)
- Detail-oriented nature with highly organised, systematic and efficient work habits, excellent time management skills, and ability to thrive in a very busy and fast-paced environment
- Relevant post-secondary education
- Comfort working ‘in the field’ (i.e. navigating with map and compass, travelling rough and remote terrain)
- A background which gives the individual a working knowledge of (or aptitude for) the process of land securement for conservation including the legal, financial, tax, and scientific issues involved in land protection. Such fields as law, real estate, natural resource management, planning, and natural science would be a strong asset
Other ideal qualities and experience include:
- Professional experience in private land conservation (conservation easements, real estate transactions, relevant tax and legal issues)
- Professional background in conservation/ecology
- Practical experience working in conservation biology/ecology, habitat assessment and/or land stewardship planning and management
- Strong GIS skills and experience
- Public relations/media experience (press releases, media events, interviews)
- Public education/public speaking
Remuneration/Term:
Full-time, permanent position. $32-$42,000.
Application Process:
Application deadline: September 25th, 2009.
To apply, please include the following in your application package:
- Resume
- Names of at least 3 professional or educational references. Indicate your relationship with the reference (i.e. previous employer, teacher etc., and how long he/she has known you, and contact information for the references).
- Cover letter
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please send your completed application to:
Dennis Garratt, Conservation Manager
The Nature Trust
PO Box 2202 Halifax, NS B3J 3C4
or fax 429-5263
or email dennis@nsnt.ca
Due to the anticipated number of applicants, only successful candidates will be notified if they qualify for an interview.
Thank you for your interest in working with the Nature Trust! We look forward to reviewing your application.
