The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) is the umbrella organization for Connecticut’s land conservation community including the state’s ~130 land trusts. CLCC focuses on building land trust capacity and sustainability, leading a unified voice for public policies that support land conservation, and engaging diverse communities to foster a deep understanding of the benefits and need for land conservation and stewardship.

Reports to: Deputy Director
Location: Middletown, CT with flexibility for some remote work. Frequent in-state travel, and occasional evening/weekend hours will be required.
Status: Part-time (20 hours/week) exempt, competitive salary range of $25,000 to $30,000 plus benefits.

Position Overview: CLCC seeks a detail-oriented, organized, and enthusiastic professional to join the organization’s dynamic and energetic team as CLCC’s first Climate Smart Stewardship Coordinator (“Coordinator”). This position presents a unique opportunity to assist land trusts with integrating climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation into their land stewardship programs, and to further elevate the role of land trusts and natural/working lands as part of the climate solution.

Principal Responsibilities

Climate Smart Planning and Implementation Grants (15%)
The Coordinator will play a leading role in managing CLCC’s Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant Program, which seeks to award at least $500,000 over 4 years to land trusts for planning and implementing climate smart practices. The framework for this grant program will be established by the time the Coordinator starts, and the Coordinator will contribute to its rollout and continued success.

• Review project submissions, their adherence to implementation and reporting requirements, and overall climate impact.
• Organize meetings of the grant review team to evaluate submissions and award funding.
• Identify opportunities to improve grant program impact, effectiveness, responsiveness, and efficiency.

Climate-Smart Training Programs & Resources (20%)
To support the above-described grant program, the Coordinator will develop an ongoing series of training programs and resources to familiarize land trusts with climate smart agriculture and forestry practices. These programs are intended to increase interest in climate smart practices, and build a pipeline of eligible projects for planning and implementation grants.

• Plan and implement 2-4 state-wide educational programs per year, including webinars, site visits, conference workshops, and/or roundtable discussions.
• Identify opportunities to engage land trusts in conversations about climate smart practices through CLCC’s ongoing regional programming.
• Develop an outreach and messaging toolkit that land trusts can use to communicate the rationale for and importance of implementing climate smart practices.

Direct Technical Assistance (40%)
The Coordinator will work closely with project partners to offer direct support to land trusts as they consider, plan for, and implement climate smart practices on their property(s). The Coordinator will also identify opportunities for collaborative projects.

• Engage with individual land trusts to provide insight about integrating climate smart practices into land stewardship programs and projects.
• Coordinate and attend site visits to land trust properties with CT DEEP Service Foresters (project partners) to evaluate suitability of property(s) for climate smart practices.
• Assist land trusts in understanding details of specific climate smart practices, including their implementation requirements and complementary practices.
• Maintain contact with land trusts throughout the course of their climate smart project(s) to support successful implementation of practices.
• Maintain a list of qualified service providers and land management professionals
• Identify and foster opportunities for regionally collaborative, large-scale implementation of climate smart practices.

Program-Related Communications and Outreach (15%)
The Coordinator is responsible for developing communication and outreach materials that promote and showcase the climate smart programs, including content for CLCC’s monthly e-newsletters, website, blog, print materials, social media, and press releases.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
The Coordinator will be part of a close-knit staff that prides itself on working as a team and supporting each other and CLCC in furthering individual and collective success. Other duties may be assigned, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Practices, especially climate smart practices.
• Familiarity with the forest ecosystems, silvicultural treatments, and invasive species management practices common to the Northeast.
• Writing, securing, and managing grants, with fulfillment of funding requirements, including budget tracking and reporting.
• Public speaking and leading public education programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or at least 5 years of experience in related fields (natural resources, forestry, land conservation, land stewardship, etc.)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously and set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with CLCC staff, project partners, land trusts, and outside stakeholders to build strong partnerships and achieve common goals.
• Experience working effectively both unsupervised and as part of a team.
• Computer proficiency and high degree of familiarity and comfort with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and social media platforms.
• A passion for land conservation and climate change action with a clear understanding of those issues and their relationships to natural resource management.
• Enthusiasm for CLCC, our programs, and mission.

The Connecticut Land Conservation Council is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We strive for a collegial and diverse environment of people who generate innovative ideas and work hard to implement them. Read about our board, staff, mission, and values on our website at www.ctconservation.org