Easement Stewardship Coordinator

We are an accredited, 50-year-old, land trust serving a three-county area near Ann Arbor, MI.  We are managed by a dynamic Executive Director with a dedicated board of directors and staff of fun, diverse, but professional conservationists!

Job Overview

Description: The Easement Stewardship Coordinator provides oversight and leadership to all facets of Legacy Land Conservancy’s conservation easement stewardship program: conservation easement landowner communication, education and engagement; facilitation of annual conservation easement monitoring objectives including coordination of Legacy’s volunteer photo-monitoring team; and management of conservation easement violations. This position must also provide appropriate supervision to any work-study students, interns, and staff who assist with conservation easement stewardship tasks.  The position requires cooperative engagement with other land department staff, grant/development and communications staff, and external partners.

Reports To:   Executive Director {Is part of a 3.5 person Land Team that works cooperatively

Hours: Full-time Regular, 40 hours per week. Flexible schedule required as weekend and evening events are occasionally required. Legacy embraces a remote work culture but a full work-station in our business office is provided. The position requires time in the field and at the office and is somewhat seasonal as it relates to field versus office duties.

Special Benefits

We are a nonprofit land trust.  Our mission is critical to the work we do:

Legacy’s Mission: to secure for current and future generations a land base for nature, agriculture, fresh water and recreation in Washtenaw, Lenawee and Jackson Counties and beyond.

VISION SHORT TERM – FIVE YEARS:

By the end of 2022, Legacy will have helped to conserve over 10,000 acres of land, leading to a long-term goal of 25,000 acres. This land will protect the quality of our waters, sustain a working agricultural community, and provide recreational opportunities for the people who live, work and play in our communities. Those people will feel connected to the landscape around them, and feel pride in, and ownership of, the benefits it brings. When included with the work of our conservation partners, this land will help provide the residents of Southern Michigan with a vibrant community that accesses the many social, economic and environmental benefits of a healthy, diverse landscape.

Minimum Requirements

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Oversee annual monitoring of 90+ conservation easement properties monitored by Legacy Land Conservancy including necessary documentation and reporting.
• Manage documentation and record-keeping for monitoring and other easement stewardship activities consistent with Land Trust Alliance standards.
• Recruit, train, inspire, and celebrate Legacy’s volunteer photo-monitoring team.
• Assist photo-monitoring team with using Landscape software, tablets, and other technology to monitor.
• Maintain easement stewardship technology and be able to translate it’s use to others.
• Create Baseline Documentation Reports for conservation easement projects.
• In coordination with the Executive Director and Legacy Staff, manage contract for fee-for-service Baseline Document Report creation with partners.
• Manage and record communications with conservation easement landowners including new landowner education, permissions, easement interpretation, and general questions.
• In coordination with the Executive Director and appropriate legal counsel, manage violations occurring on Legacy’s conservation easement properties.
• Review of draft conservation easements to ensure enforceability.
• Facilitate conservation easement amendments in concert with Land Acquisition Manager and with appropriate legal counsel.
• Provide bi-monthly report to Land Protection – Stewardship Committee on monitoring progress and relevant news and developments and attend those meetings for reporting purposes.
• Occasional public speaking related to educational events, partner presentations and public relations events.
• Participate regularly as part of Legacy’s “Land Team” to help plan and implement Legacy’s organization-wide land protection program.

Required Qualifications:

• Two to five years related experience in ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, legal review of easements, or a related field.
• Familiarity with land trust operations, issues, and best practices preferred.
• Must be able to work efficiently outdoors in varying conditions and terrains
• Knowledge or prior experience with ArcGIS, GPS, Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite