Land Manager
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
JOB DESCRIPTION
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: $16-$20 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: March 22, 2023
Job Function: Land Manager
Cardinal Contact Name: Shannon Disbennett, Office Manager
Cardinal Contact Information: shannon@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 55 ag/conservation easements and 12 fee simple properties (nature preserves).
The Land Manager will have five primary duties:
- 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. Becoming a drone pilot is mandatory for this position.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, experience using drones
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.
May have part-time 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:
Shannon Disbennett (shannon@cardinallandconservancy.org)
(513) 752-2828
Office Manager
Cardinal Land Conservancy, Inc.
790 Garfield Ave. Milford, Ohio 45150
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