Conservation Biologist

Job Overview

Tall Timbers is widely regarded for its scientific research and information in the areas of fire ecology, game bird management, and vertebrate ecology. As an organization, our mission is to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation, and education. Additionally, for almost 60 years, Tall Timbers has worked to better understand the role of fire in southern ecosystems and is a staunch prescribed fire advocate.

The Land Conservancy, a division within Tall Timbers, was established in 1990. Its ongoing goal is to ensure the conservation of natural and cultural resources, along with rural land use traditions, in the Red Hills region and in other strategic areas that promote Tall Timbers’ mission. To date, Tall Timbers has conserved over 145,000 acres with 121 landowners using donated conservation easements, making it one of the largest regional land trusts in the Southeast. By working with landowners, Tall Timbers has saved some of the South’s best remaining longleaf pine savannas, miles of river frontage along the Flint, Ochlockonee, and Aucilla Rivers, miles of scenic canopy roads, and dozens of historic sites. These conservation easements protect critical upland wildlife habitat and wetland ecosystems, which affect the region’s quality of life by providing clean air and water to the residents of south Georgia and north Florida. These conservation easements also perpetuate the traditional rural land uses of sustainable forestry, farming, and recreational hunting. The success of this private land conservation effort is due to the visionary leadership and stewardship ethic of the landowners, strong public support, and the dedication of our staff.

Tall Timbers is a committed land trust that has adopted the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices. It is also an accredited land trust by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage new conservation easement projects, including development of baseline documentation reports, conservation management plans, and legal conservation easements.
• Support project development of State and Federally funded land conservation programs, such as Florida Forever and Forest Legacy.
• Provide analysis and expertise for other types of land conservation project needs.
• Maintain GIS data, perform GIS analyses, create maps, and provide guidance on data collection applications as needed by the Land Conservancy and Tall Timbers.
• Assist with annual monitoring and stewardship of conservation easements and other conservation properties following Tall Timbers’ policies and procedures.
• Provide extension services and technical assistance for conservation easement landowners and land managers.  Work with Tall Timbers staff to provide extension services to the greater Tall Timbers membership.
• Work closely with the Records Manager to ensure all stewardship and land conservation records are collected and properly stored following recordkeeping policies and procedures.
• Pursue grants and other funding sources to support conservation and exemplary land stewardship on conservation easement properties.
• Contribute to Tall Timbers community outreach, including its website and other public relations and educational materials.
• Assist in the day-to-day management of the Land Conservancy, including performing necessary administrative tasks and public information requests.
• Assist in the overall work of the Land Conservancy and Tall Timbers as appropriate and as requested by the Conservation Coordinator and Director.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in forestry, wildlife, or natural resources with at least 5 years of professional experience.  A Master’s Degree is preferred but not required.  A graduate degree can be substituted for up to 2 years of professional experience.
• An understanding of conservation easements and a willingness to expand personal knowledge of the topic.
• Good writing skills with the ability to effectively develop baseline documentation reports, conservation management plans, landowner correspondence, stewardship documents, technical papers, popular articles, social media posts, and other writings as assigned.
• Proficiency in GIS, ArcGIS, and other related applications is required.
• An understanding of Southeastern ecosystems, flora, and fauna.  Working knowledge of common land management practices, including prescribed fire and forestry techniques utilized in the Southeast.
• Preference for a prescribed burner with certification in Georgia or Florida.
• The ability to work independently with excellent time management skills and able to manage multiple ongoing activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to listen to, effectively present information to, and communicate with landowners, land managers, foresters, Board and Committee members, and other staff.
• Preference for the ability to use ATVs and 4-wheel drive trucks, and to handle off-road conditions. Must have a philosophical agreement with consumptive and sustainable uses of wildlife and forest resources. An active outdoors person and/or hunter is preferred.
• Good physical condition, including the ability to work in varying outdoor conditions as required to carry out duties.  Must not be deterred by heat, ticks, bugs, or snakes.
• A passion and desire to be a resident of the Greater Red Hills Region.
• APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD