Land Protection Specialist Position Description  

This is a part-time, hourly position with an hourly rate range of $20 to $23 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.  Average work week will consist of 20 hours with flexible scheduling. 

The Land Protection Specialist (LPS) is responsible for the stewardship of the conservation easements held by Manada Conservancy. The LPS receives direction and operational oversight from the Land Protection Director (LPD).  The LPD and LPS are guided by the organization’s Strategic Plan and Strategic Conservation Plan and by recommendations from the Land Protection Committee.  

Responsibilities: 

• The LPS, in consultation with the LPD, executes the primary land protection commitment of Manada Conservancy, through the monitoring of protected properties and review/investigation of conservation easement violations or other property infringements.  
• Perform site visits and property evaluations. This will sometimes require the LPS to hike in undeveloped terrain. 
• Collect property information and create baseline documentation to satisfy legal and Land Trust Accreditation Commission requirements and facilitate future property stewardship. 
• Use GPS, GIS, and technical data to analyze and document conservation values and create conservation maps. 
• Ensure program compliance with internal policies and external requirements, including Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices. 
• The LPS investigates potential violation issues, amendment requests, legal issues and special needs for any of our preserved properties and works with the LPD to resolve the issue. 
• The LPS maintains all land protection files according to the internal record-keeping policy and Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices. 
• The LPS staffs Land Protection Committee meetings with the Land Protection Director (LPD). The LPS updates the Committee on the status of annual property monitoring and legal or other easement issues with the protected properties.  
• In collaboration with the LPD, the LPS may assist in presenting potential violations to the Board of Directors at Board meetings when necessary. The LPS, in coordination with the LPD, then leads the process through the required approval steps to resolve the violation. 
• The LPS may serve as an additional staff person to complete land protection projects undertaken by the organization.  This may involve attending key meetings and remaining aware of and involved in the progress and completion of conservation easement and fee acquisition projects in adherence to our internal Project Checklist and procedures, assisting with research and grant applications, and coordinating outside contractors.  
• The LPS fosters and participates in partnerships which further the Manada Conservancy land protection mission and which help to achieve larger landscape and public benefit goals shared by Manada Conservancy, such as improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and promoting an unbroken migration corridor in the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape, among others.  
• The LPS works collaboratively with landowners, fellow staff, Board and committee members, and organizational partners. 
• In coordination with the Executive Director, Land Protection Director, and Land Protection Committee, the LPS assists in preparation of the annual budget Land Protection Budget 

Physical Activities: 

This position often requires hiking in undeveloped terrain, carrying a light load. Occasionally, these hikes could be a few miles in length and include an elevation change of several hundred feet. 

Qualifications (strongly preferred by not required): 

• Education and training in natural resources, land use planning, or real estate, two years of experience related to land protection, or equivalent 
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) 
• Knowledge of conservation easements  
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro is strongly preferred 
• Knowledge of conservation easements  
• Ability to resolve complex enforcement issues diplomatically 
• Ability to comprehend and interpret legal documents 
• Experience with Landscape Conservation software is a plus 
• Must possess and maintain a current valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation 
• Organized with attention to detail and able to handle multiple tasks 

Supervision:  

• The LPS reports to, and is under the supervision of, the LPD.