The Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager will undertake a wide variety of tasks related to, and be the primary person responsible for, the administration, management, and stewardship of all conservation easement agreements and deed restrictions held and enforced by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Position Summary

This position is critical for ensuring the long-term integrity of these permanent legal conservation agreements. Currently there are approximately 220 properties that are subject to conservation easements and deed restrictions, on more than 21,600 acres of land. Meeting this responsibility requires an understanding of land trust policies and procedures and accepted best management standards and practices for easement stewardship, and, as well as cooperation and regular communication with private landowners, municipalities, and partner organizations that own and manage these lands.

The primary duty of the Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager is to ensure that all of the properties subject to a conservation easement or deed restriction are visited and monitored/inspected at least once per year; ensure that thorough and formal monitoring reports are prepared in a timely manner; provide information and assistance to landowners and other stakeholders; assist with resolution of problems and challenges related to these conservation agreements; and oversee several other important conservation easement stewardship functions.

The Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager will be assisted by one or more Conservation Easement Stewards, and will be responsible for the formal supervision, coordination, and support of the Conservation Easement Stewards. The Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager will be supervised and supported by the Director of Stewardship.

Applicants must be able to accommodate a flexible work schedule, including occasional work on evenings and weekends (but still no more than 40 hours/week on average); travel frequently around the 12-county service area; participate in a variety of FLLT events throughout the year; and commit a relatively minor amount of time assisting with other program areas or general administrative functions of the FLLT.

Primary Duties:

• Oversee the monitoring/inspection of all properties protected with conservation agreements.
• Supervision of Conservation Easement Stewards.
• Assist with resolution of issues, challenges, problems, or activities requiring FLLT involvement on properties with conservation agreements.
• Serve as a resource for owners and managers of conserved properties.
• Oversight of department file management process.
• Review prospective new conservation agreements.

Secondary Duties:

• Assist the Director of Stewardship, other staff, and/or attorneys with revisions/updates to the conservation easement templates and other specialized documents.
• Preparation of Current Condition Reports for some conservation properties.
• General organization support, such as assisting with outreach and events, nature preserve stewardship, or accreditation requirements, as needed and as time may allow.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a field related to land conservation, such as natural resources management or environmental science; and/or multiple years of relevant employment or experience in those or related fields.
• Knowledge related to conservation easements, deed restrictions, and the components of conservation easement stewardship; and two or more years of relevant work experience.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; respectful of others; ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people.
• Experience working in land databases such as Locate or Landscape and/or willingness to learn.
• Basic knowledge of GPS tools and/or willingness to learn GIS (ArcGIS Pro)
• Highly organized and thorough, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Good writing skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team to accomplish required tasks and objectives.
• Physically able to hike on large rural properties, sometimes multiple properties in a day, across varied terrain, including up and down steep slopes, sometimes through wet areas and thick brush, and in a variety of seasons and weather conditions.
• Possess and maintain a valid NYS driver’s license and a clean driving record and be comfortable with frequent travel around the region. FLLT-owned vehicles are available for use most of the time, but a personal vehicle may need to be used for work-related travel on occasion, with mileage reimbursement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience related to non-profit land trust administration and operation, management and stewardship of conservation lands, and/or landowner education/outreach.
• Knowledge or experience related to deeds, titles, surveys, real estate transactions, etc.
• Ability to read maps and surveys, navigate by map, and look for property boundary and corner markers such as survey pins, stone walls, fencing, and signs. Comfortable being in deep woods and other back-country rural locations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite; Adobe Professional; Geographic Information Systems (ESRI software); and Avenza.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time position, located at the FLLT main office in Ithaca, NY.

Salary range for this position is $53,000-$67,000, which will be based on qualifications and includes competitive benefits.

To Apply

Please send a Cover Letter and Resume to ChrisOlney@FLLT.org

This position will remain open until filled.

About the Finger Lakes Land Trust

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) is a non-profit conservation organization that has protected more than 35,000 acres of undeveloped lakeshore, gorges, forests, meadows, and farmlands across the Finger Lakes region of New York. The Land Trust owns and manages a network of nature preserves, open to the public, and holds conservation easements on properties in private ownership.

The organization focuses on protecting critical habitat for fish and wildlife, conserving lands that are important for water quality, connecting existing conservation lands, and keeping prime farmland in agriculture. The Land Trust has more than 23 dedicated staff members and more than 200 active volunteers.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.