The Land Preservation Specialist is responsible for helping to achieve the Conservancy’s land conservation goals by working with landowners on conservation easements, land acquisitions and land donations, monitoring conservation easements, and building and maintaining relationships with the owners of eased properties. TLC currently holds 100 conservation easement that together preserve over 2,300 acres of land. This is a full-time position.

The position currently reports to the Executive Director, coordinates with the Restoration Ecologist and Farm Program Manager, and presents projects to the Conservation Committee at their monthly meeting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage stewardship of existing conservation easements to promote long-term preservation

• Build relationships with owners of eased properties to connect them with TLC and programs that can benefit the preservation of the conservation values on their properties.
• Schedule and conduct annual conservation easement monitoring with interested volunteers and board members.
• Work with the new owners of eased properties when properties are sold to help ensure that they understand the requirements of the easement, and that TLC documents the landowner’s plans for the land to ensure that they will support the Conservation Values that form the foundation of the conservation easement. Specifically:
  • Create a Current Conditions report that documents the property in relation to the original Conservation Values, and
  • Develop a new Management Plan (if appropriate) to reflect the new property owner’s goals.

Increase preserved land to advance strategic conservation goals

• Working within defined priority areas, contact landowners about the value of their natural resources and the land conservation options available. Inform landowners about the Conservancy and its mission, the benefits of conservation easements and how the Conservancy can help them protect their land.
• Develop, coordinate, and implement land acquisitions and conservation easement dedications. Coordinate with landowners and TLC’s legal counsel to evaluate and document each project’s potential for acceptance, present findings to the Conservation Committee, and prepare and record legal documents.
• Propose, research, and define other land protection project areas.

Maintain complete and organized records that conform with LTA Standards and Practices

• Ensure all conservation easement and land donation projects conducted comply with all policies and contain complete documentation including baseline reports, management plans, and finalized easement document.
• Maintain complete files on active projects to document activities, intentions and actions.

Support TLC’s conservation programs

• Maintain TLC’s online mapping system for the website; maintain public access maps; maintain collection system for restoration and stewardship activities on TLC sites (easements and fee owned). Prepare maps for various TLC projects, including land stewardship, carbon credits and events. Provide TLC land protection information to Prairie State Conservation Coalition’s statewide database.
• Other duties as assigned (e.g. teaching; educational plant walks/videos; managing interns)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• An outgoing and friendly personality with the ability to meet new people and communicate well.
• Must possess a valid Illinois Driver’s License.
• Ability to organize time and manage multiple projects with a minimum of direct supervision.
• Friendly personality, team player with a positive attitude is very important.
• Basic computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel needed. GIS (ArcView) knowledge a plus.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, to take responsibilities for one’s actions and to support team members to help ensure TLC’s projects succeed.
• Availability to work some weekends and occasional week night meetings. Weekly schedule can be flexible to facilitate work-life balance.

Qualifications

• A background in biology or natural resource management preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of legal, financial, and scientific issues involved in land protection helpful.
• A self-starter with the ability to initiate new programs and negotiate land protection projects in order to meet the goals of the Conservancy.
• A genuine interest in land conservation and a sincere willingness to work with people of all ages and backgrounds to help them meet their land preservation needs, as well as the conservation needs of the Conservancy.
• Ability to manage projects from start to finish without direct supervision.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn GPS and GIS.
• Ability to walk properties.
• Ability to travel out of the county and state occasionally.

Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.