Land Manager

Cardinal Land Conservancy is looking for an energetic, passionate professional to grow our land stewardship program. This full-time position of Land Manager will report to the Executive Director and support the board’s Land Protection Committee.

The Land Manager will be responsible for monitoring and managing lands that Cardinal has an easement on or owns outright. Leading restoration work with volunteers, managing public access and performing public outreach will also be a part of their job. He/She will work closely with the Executive Director and the Development Manager. Offices are located in Milford, Ohio and College Hill, Ohio.

Cardinal Land Conservancy (CLC) is a non-profit 501(c)3 land trust working throughout seven counties in southwest Ohio. We protect working lands, natural lands and open spaces to improve the lives of people and nature. As a nationally accredited land trust and executive member of the Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts (COLT), we strive to be the best we can be at delivering our mission in the region. We hope to attract and retain someone who believes in our mission and is driven to help us continue to be conservation leaders.

Cardinal was formed 7 years ago by the merger of three local all-volunteer land trusts.  Since that time, Cardinal has grown continually. We now hold conservation easements on almost 8,000 acres and own and manage ten natural areas totaling almost 500 acres.

The position will be filled as soon as the right candidate is identified.  Interested parties should send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Andy Dickerson, Executive Director, at their earliest convenience:  Andy@CardinalLandConservancy.org

LAND MANAGER (Full-time, Hourly)

Primary Location: Approx. 40% in office; 60% in field.

Schedule: Full-time. Average 40 hours per week

Work Hours: As agreed, during daylight hours Mon. – Fri., between 8 – 5

Compensation: $14-$16 per hour depending on experience

Insurance, Retirement or other Employment Benefits: Full Benefits – Health Care, 401K Match

Reports to: Executive Director and Land Committee of Cardinal

Posting Date: May 26, 2022

Job Function: Land Manager

Cardinal Contact Name: Andy Dickerson, Executive Director

Cardinal Contact Information: andy@cardinallandconservancy.org

Job Duties

Cardinal Land Conservancy, Inc. is an Ohio non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3)

tax exempt qualified conservation organization. Cardinal was accredited by the

Land Trust Accreditation Commission in Feb. 2019 and as such follows the Land

Trust Standards & Practices.

Using the LTA Standards & Practices and following Cardinal’s policies and

procedures for land stewardship and management, the Land Manager will oversee

Cardinal’s obligations for preserving its agricultural and conservation easements

(“Easements”) and fee simple properties. Cardinal currently holds 51

ag/conservation easements and 12 fee simple properties (nature preserves).

The Land Manager will have five primary duties:

1. Liaison to Property Owners holding Easements – establish relationship with each owner (typically at time of annual easement monitoring) and be the first point of contact at Cardinal if owner has questions/concerns. Manage the annual monitoring of Easements per policy and procedures, ensure that reports are completed (including ODA, NRCS or other agency reports), reviewed, and when final delivered to Cardinal administration for processing.
2. Manage fee simple properties – manage any grant-funded or volunteer driven restoration projects on Cardinal’s nature preserves to completion and reporting; Manage the annual monitoring of each fee property per policy and procedure, ensure that reports are completed, reviewed, and when final delivered to Cardinal administration for processing.
3.  Manage public access to Cardinal’s fee properties. Organize and host outdoor access and appreciation events (which may be led by others), coordinate public access requests (colleges, scouts, bird watching groups, etc.
4.  Provide advice and guidance to Cardinal for strategic land preservation and management. Provides documentation related to acquisitions. Cardinal seeks to be a leader in the southwest Ohio region in strategic and important land preservation that makes an impact on a large scale. The Land Manager will be asked for advice and guidance on strategic land preservation projects and, after acquisition, on restoration or other management activities to improve habitat, public access (for fee properties), or other issues with management for private lands under easement. Prior to acquisition, baseline or present condition report documentation is needed and the Land Manager will be responsible for creating these reports.
5.  Attend Land Committee meetings, occasional attendance at Board or other Committee meetings of Cardinal. Regular attendance, reporting and providing guidance to the Land Committee will be required. The Land Committee meets once a month. Occasionally, the Land Manager will be asked to attend Board meetings or other Committee meetings.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education or training in natural resources and adequate ability to identify and

describe natural resources on the land

Experience with field studies or field work with plants and/or animals

Ability to use GIS, GPS

Use of compass and maps

Ability to find survey markers

Ability to use mapping and data collection software

Ability to organize and work with groups of volunteers doing field work

Basic first aid (training will be given if not current)

Ability to work independently

Ability to write reports, including data, maps, photos

Understanding of grant programs used by Cardinal (LAEPP, ACEP, Clean Ohio)

This position allowed overtime.

No employee direct reports. Land Manager will be responsible for overseeing the

work of any contractors for land restoration activities and volunteers in the field on

behalf of Cardinal.

Unusual Working Conditions:

Travel required but overnight is unusual. This position requires significant time to be spent in the field in all weather conditions. The person accepting this position must have experience, training or both in safety practices for persons going into the field, including protection from and handling situations involving animals/insects that could be encountered in the field. Cardinal will provide safety equipment for the field per standard practice. Vehicle provided for traveling to preserves

Firearms may not be carried by the Land Manager. Other safety or protection equipment by agreement.

Annual Monitoring may have to occur on a weekend depending upon landowner

schedules and whether the landowner wants to be present for the monitoring. Land

Manager may at times provide own transportation (mileage reimbursed) or in order to operate a Cardinal-provided vehicle, must have a valid OH driver’s license.

For Questions Regarding This Posting Please Contact:

Andy Dickerson (andy@cardinallandconservancy.org) (513) 752-2828

Executive Director

Cardinal Land Conservancy, Inc.

790 Garfield Ave. Milford, Ohio 45150