Director of Conservation

The SLA's headquarters is located directly on Squam Lake's Piper Cove, which makes for nice workday breaks to watch eagles fishing, stroll along the shoreline, or pick blueberries. The SLA's staff is a close-knit 9-person team that enjoys both working and having fun together. The SLA also hosts a group of emerging conservation professionals through the Lakes Region Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program. When the staff is asked their favorite thing about working at the SLA the answers are overwhelmingly working with the creative and enthusiastic LRCC members and the support they receive from their fellow staff members. Full-time staff members also receive generous health, dental, retirement and paid time off benefits.

Job Overview

The Squam Lakes Association (SLA) (www.squamlakes.org) seeks a Director of Conservation for full-time, benefited employment. The Director of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for maintaining the Squam Lakes Association’s robust conservation efforts in the Squam Lakes Watershed. The DOC will work with the Executive Director to implement the comprehensive watershed plan launched in 2020 and supervise conservation program-specific efforts of the SLA Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC). The Director of Conservation accomplishes these conservation initiatives in collaboration with SLA staff, Lakes Region Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members, community volunteers, partner organizations, and contractors to fulfill the SLA’s conservation mission to conserve the Squam Lakes and watershed. The DOC is directly supervised by the Executive Director.

Specific Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of the Director of Conservation is the implementation of the Squam Lakes Watershed Plan. Many of the responsibilities listed below are related to the implementation of the Watershed Plan.

• Bolster SLA’s traditional conservation work of invasive species management, water quality monitoring, and public outreach,
• Identify and develop programs to address emerging and tenacious challenges like shoreline development, modern threats to water quality, restoration projects, climate change, and recreational over-use.
• Implement large-scale projects related to shoreline restoration and stormwater/runoff management.
• Work with the Executive Director to find and address modern threats to water quality.
• Mentor and supervise the efforts of the Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC)* AmeriCorps members as they apply to conservation programs and activities, developing and overseeing substantive projects and conservation field work.
• Broadly responsible for overseeing SLA’s long-standing and highly successful milfoil eradication program organized by the Facilities and Access Manager and carried out by community volunteers and the LRCC.
• Oversight of terrestrial invasive species removal and prevention organized by the Facilities and Access Manager and carried out by community volunteers and the LRCC.
• Compile and interpret water quality data while working with other organizations and businesses to gather and publicize information that gives a complete and accurate look at the overall health of the lakes and watershed.
• Oversee the Outreach and Communication Coordinator’s management of water quality monitoring undertaken by volunteers and the LRCC.
• Represent SLA’s conservation efforts to partner organizations and the public through creating an annual report card, organizing public meetings to address concerns, presenting at conferences, and maintaining communications about conservation programs.
• Coordinate with partner groups to ensure the SLA has a conservation voice in activities that directly affect the mission and activities of the SLA on the Squam Lakes.
• Work with the Outreach and Communications Coordinator to identify volunteer needs across all conservation activities and ensure volunteers are trained and prepared. Primary conservation volunteer areas include water quality monitors, weed watchers, and Loon Chick Ambassadors.
• Write and manage all conservation-based grants and cost share agreements of the SLA including making sure all deliverables are successfully completed, all budgets are tracked and followed, and all deadlines are met.

To Apply

Applications should include a letter of interest, a complete resume, two writing samples (preferably one of the two should be geared towards communicating science to non-scientists), and contact information for three references who can speak to your professional skills. Please send your application information in the form of a PDF to the attention of EB James by emailing [email protected] with “Director of Conservation” as the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Position is open until filled.

The SLA is an equal opportunity employer. The SLA will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: sex, race, color, religion, national heritage, physical or mental handicaps, or sexual preferences.

Special Benefits

Minimum Requirements

The Ideal Candidate:

Has a passion for conservation and the outdoors, and the drive and organization to ensure the continued success and growth of the SLA’s conservation programs and the implementation of the watershed plan. They must be a collaborative, creative thinker with excellent communication skills and with the enthusiasm and energy to deliver the highest level of environmental protection to the Squam watershed. They must be able to manage multiple simultaneously occurring projects and be able to work with a broad range of contractors, stakeholders, and staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• An understanding of watershed concepts and New Hampshire ecology
• A knowledge of environmental protection legislation
• Broad computer skills, especially spreadsheet and database tools
• Ability to apply statistics in data analysis
• Experience with invasive species control (terrestrial and aquatic)
• Ability to work with a broad constituency and professional group of diverse people
• Ability to delegate tasks to LRCC and volunteers
• Ability to educate and explain scientific concepts in a clear, relevant way to non-scientists
• Competency with writing communications for a variety of audiences and purposes, i.e. grants, press releases, scientific papers, educational materials, etc.

Must Possess or be Committed to Learning:

• SCUBA and aquatic weed diver removal certification
• Knowledge of use, operation, and maintenance of scientific collection equipment and SCUBA equipment
• Powerboat driving experience, possession of a New Hampshire Commercial Boat License

Education/Experience

• A Masters Degree in a related field (Biology, Fisheries, Forestry, Conservation Biology or similar) or equivalent professional experience
• A history of progressively more complex duties in supervisory, mentoring, and applied conservation management experience, especially within a land trust, conservation or governmental land use, or similar organizational environments.