Chief Conservation Officer Job Description

Position Type: Full-time

Reporting: President & CEO

Location: Charleston, SC

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Conservation Officer position is critical to the successful execution of Lowcountry Land Trust's conservation goals. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Conservation Officer works closely with the President & CEO and other senior team members on the strategic direction of the organization. The Chief Conservation Officer is responsible for the management and oversight of the land protection program, including conservation easement transactions; fee simple transactions; mitigation projects; multi-sector partnerships; and public policy, as well as providing high-level guidance to the stewardship team. The Chief Conservation Officer also works closely with the Chief Advancement Officer to coordinate the work of the conservation team with policy, communications, outreach, and fundraising.

The Chief Conservation Officer is a skilled negotiator and a strong communicator, has the ability to work with diverse stakeholders, and can effectively manage a dynamic, high-performing team by setting objectives and measuring performance. The Chief Conservation Officer is committed to Lowcountry Land Trust’s mission and is self-motivated; collaborative; an energetic leader; emotionally intelligent; has a demonstrated capacity to build strong, diverse relationships; can work independently; and can communicate complex information in concise and effective ways.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Conservation Department Responsibilities

• Define and direct Lowcountry Land Trust's conservation initiatives
• In partnership with the President & CEO and Board of Trustees, develop comprehensive conservation strategies that strengthen the Land Trust’s conservation efforts and mission, and work with staff to deliver on these strategic goals 
• Lead process for investigation, analysis, identification, and development of conservation focus areas and projects
• Oversee the development of land protection projects, including:
• Prepare and implement acquisition and protection strategies, negotiate donations and purchases of conservation easements, draft conservation easements, and oversee the management of all projects to completion
• Provide strategic outreach to private landowners, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other resource managers and stakeholders, with an emphasis on priority conservation areas identified in Lowcountry Land Trust's conservation plan
• Ensure adherence to the highest standards of conservation ethics, thorough due diligence investigation and documentation
• Oversee the stewardship program to ensure compliance with internal policies, goals, and external obligations
• Represent Lowcountry Land Trust in a wide range of conservation partnerships and public presentations
• Ensure appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place in the acquisition of conservation easements or fee land, using appropriate legal and other outside professional advice

Organizational Management Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of Lowcountry Land Trust's Senior Leadership Team to help grow and guide the organization, including developing organizational policies and ensuring organizational compliance 
• Supervise land protection and stewardship staff by working collaboratively to set objectives, measure performance, and encourage professional development
• Inspire and train land protection and stewardship staff
• Create budgets related to overall organizational goals and programs
• Ensure compliance with national standards and practices for all aspects of the organization

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Undergraduate degree 
• Experience with conservation planning
• Experience managing staff and measuring performance, with demonstrated success as a team leader through direct supervision or project leadership
• Demonstrated success in the development and management of large, complex land protection projects
• Expertise in systematically and thoroughly managing a dynamic portfolio of projects within defined quality assurance policies and procedures
• A strong track record of collaboration and partnership with varying stakeholders and conservation partners in the development of successful conservation projects, and a demonstrated capacity to build strong, diverse relationships
• Experience conducting due diligence, negotiations, and structuring of sophisticated financial, conservation, and other transaction terms
• Expertise in obtaining funds from public and private sources for land and conservation easement acquisitions
• Success in cultivating and leveraging partnership opportunities for maximum conservation value
• Demonstrated success in the development and implementation of outreach strategies to cultivate and develop a pipeline of land protection projects
• Must have a strong public presence — articulate, optimistic, and energetic — with the ability to motivate and inspire people at all levels
• Experience working effectively with landowners, board members, major donors, and other conservation organizations
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Experience that demonstrates: problem-solving, resourcefulness, creativity, strategic planning execution/implementation, and an ability to anticipate needs

Preferred:

• Graduate degree in law or business
• Conservation, not-for-profit organization, or public agency experience
• Expertise in developing and administering budgets

Personal Characteristics:

• Integrity – Is widely trusted and seen as a direct, truthful individual; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent her/himself for personal gain
• Approachability – Is easy to approach and talk to; spends extra effort to put people at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with interpersonal anxieties of others; builds rapport well; is a good listener
• Interpersonal Skills – Relates well to all kinds of people, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; listens; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; truly values people; can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably
• Negotiation Skills – Can negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external groups; can settle differences with relative ease; can win concessions without damaging relationships; can be both direct and forceful, as well as diplomatic; gains the trust quickly of other parties to the negotiations; has a good sense of timing
• Planning Skills – Accurately scopes out the length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into process steps; develops schedules and task/people assignments; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results
• Perseverance – Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; seldom gives up before finishing, especially in the face of resistance
• Problem-Solving – Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; conducts honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and does not stop at the first answers
• Action Oriented – Enjoys working hard; is full of energy for the things they see as challenging
• Results Oriented and Accountable – Can be counted on to achieve goals consistently
• Communication – Can write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect; has strong written and oral communication skills to convey complex information in concise and effective ways
• Discretion – Can deal with sensitive issues and information in a professional and, as required, confidential manner
• Team-oriented – works effectively with others; actively contributes to the achievement of group and organizational goals; accepts shared responsibility and ownership of projects.
• The ability to work independently

Lowcountry Land Trust is committed to the principles of diversity and equal employment opportunity, and to comply with all federal, state, and local laws that are applicable to equal employment. It is our policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals, as well as administer any and all personnel actions, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation or identity, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital status, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran, service in the federal or state military, union affiliation, pregnancy or breastfeeding, medical or genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular blood trait, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make test results available to the Company, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, in accordance with applicable laws.  The Land Trust also complies with the South Carolina Pregnancy Accommodation Act.

Benefits Summary

Insurance

• Health Insurance
• • CoPay Plan with FSA (Flexible Spending Account) option
    • Employee premium covered 90% by employer
  • HDHP (High Deductible) Plans with HSA (Health Savings Account) option
    • All medical costs are paid out of pocket until the deductible is met
    • Employee premium covered 100% by employer
    • Employer HSA contribution available with the HDHP base plan
• Dental Insurance – Employee premium covered 100% by employer 
• Group Life Insurance with AD&D ($25,000) – Employee premium covered 100% by employer 
• Disability - Employee premium covered 100% by employer 
• Optional benefits available – Paid by Employee:
  • Health FSA & Dependent Care FSA
  • HSA
  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Coverage
  • Vision Care
  • Voluntary Life Insurance

Financial & Retirement

• 403(b)
• Eligibility: Age 21 and works at least 83 1/3 hours per month
• Immediate eligibility
• Up to 6% match after 6 months of employment

Family & Parenting

• Family & Medical Leave
• Hybrid Work Environment (in-office/from home)
• Flexible Hours

Paid Time Off

• Self-managed PTO
• 11 Paid Holidays 
• Flexible Summer Schedule

Perks 

• Partial Mobile Phone Reimbursement