The Finger Lakes Land Trust, a regional non-profit land conservation organization, is seeking a full-time Conservation Easement Steward to work out of its Ithaca, New York office. 

Position Summary

The Conservation Easement Steward position provides critical support for the management and stewardship of all conservation easements and deed restrictions held and enforced by the FLLT, helping to ensure their long-term integrity in cooperation with private landowners, municipalities, and partner organizations. To date, there are approximately 220 properties subject to conservation easements and deed restrictions on more than 21,700 acres of land.

The Conservation Easement Steward will work very closely with the Senior Conservation Easement Steward, Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager, and the Director of Stewardship to ensure that all of these properties are visited and monitored/inspected at least once per year; ensure that thorough and formal monitoring reports are prepared in a timely manner; and assist with several other important conservation easement stewardship functions.

The Conservation Easement Steward must be able to accommodate a flexible work schedule, including occasional work on evenings and weekends (but still no more than 40 hours/week total); travel frequently around the region; 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

• Conduct Monitoring/Inspection Visits of Properties Protected with Conservation Agreements: A primary duty of this position is to visit properties subject to conservation easements and deed restrictions year-round to document changes and maintain good communication and working relationships with landowners. Visits also include maintaining existing boundary signs and survey flagging. In addition to property visits, the process includes writing detailed reports (including objective descriptions of observations, maps, photographs, and information obtained from landowners); managing documents; and reporting substantive issues to the conservation easement stewardship team.
• Serve as a Resource for Conservation Easement Landowners: The Conservation Easement Steward will help serve as a resource of information and support for landowners and representatives of properties subject to conservation agreements. This may pertain to conservation easement administration, land and natural resources management, resources or programs available through government agencies, regional environmental issues, etc. The Conservation Easement Steward may also be asked to assist with the preparation of Afoot in the Field, a newsletter designed for conservation easement landowners, published twice per year.
• File Management: The Conservation Easement Steward will assist with monitoring report forms, land ownership records, and other documents and databases as property owners or other aspects of conservation properties change. Additionally, this position will help prepare new monitoring report forms and other documents as new agreements are accepted by FLLT.

Secondary Duties

• Assist with the preparation of Current Condition Reports for conservation properties in need of detailed descriptions and documentation of the current features and conservation values found on the properties.
• General organizational support, such as assisting with outreach and events, nature preserve stewardship, or accreditation requirements, as needed.

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 volunteer experience in those or related fields.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, specifically Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Proficiency or some experience with Geographic Information Systems (ESRI software).
• One or more years of relevant work or volunteer experience.
• Basic understanding of conservation easements and deed restrictions.
• Highly organized and thorough, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; respect for others; ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team to accomplish required tasks and objectives.
• Physically able to hike several miles on large rural properties, oftentimes 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.
• Proficient in reading a map, navigating by map (and compass if necessary), orienting oneself, and looking for property boundary and corner markers such as survey pins, stone walls, fencing, and signs. Comfortable being in deep woods and other backcountry rural locations.
• Possess and maintain a valid NYS driver’s license and a clean driving record, and be comfortable with frequent travel around the region. An FLLT-owned vehicle will be available most of the time, but a personal vehicle will be needed for occasional work-related travel, with mileage reimbursement.
• Willingness to represent the FLLT at events; interact with a wide variety of people; and promote the mission and work of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience related specifically to conservation easements and conservation easement stewardship.
• 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, deed restrictions, titles, surveys, real estate transactions, etc.
• Experience with or knowledge of location apps like Avenza, AllTrails, ReGrid, FO Maps, or onX.
• Good writing skills, particularly educational materials written for a public audience.

How to Apply

Competitive salary and benefits package ranging from $43,250 to $45,000 commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position located in the FLLT main office in Ithaca, NY.

TO APPLY

Please email your cover letter and resume to Molly Corley at mollycorley@fllt.org with Conservation Easement Steward in the subject line.

Additional Information

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) is a non-profit conservation organization that protects more than 35,000+ acres of undeveloped lakeshore, gorges, forests, meadows, and farmlands. The Land Trust owns and manages a network of nature preserves that are open to the public and holds conservation easements on properties that remain 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 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.