Conservation Lands Manager

TITLE:  CONSERVATION LANDS MANAGER

LOCATION: Office at McLane Center – 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301; responsibilities statewide at NH Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries. See more at www.nhaudubon.org/lands 

HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, one-hour lunch. Additional hours may be required as necessary.

SCHEDULE: 35 hours per week, full-time exempt (salary paid) staff position. Schedule may vary according to needs and will include some evenings and weekends.

FUNCTION: This position will support the mission of New Hampshire Audubon, to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people, by managing ecosystems and habitats within the legal interests for all of NH Audubon’s statewide system of land and property holdings including fee-owned Wildlife Sanctuaries, conservation easements, and cooperative management agreements. This position supervises seasonal sanctuary staff and year-round volunteers.

ESSENTIAL WORK FUNCTIONS:

Manage all aspects of NH Audubon’s statewide system of land and property holdings.

• Develop and implement an annual monitoring system for NH Audubon’s 29 conservation easements and 40 fee owned wildlife sanctuaries, utilizing staff, volunteers, and/or contractors. 
• Manage and oversee NH Audubon properties with public access accommodations as needed including the creation and maintenance of hiking trails, the improvement of parking areas, and information resources such as interpretive signs, trailhead kiosks, and visitor guides/brochures, to the highest possible standard.
• Manage and maintain Wildlife Sanctuary boundaries with staff and/or contractors.
• Maintain inventory of hand and power tools in the Lands Tool Cache prioritizing safety and effectiveness.
• Manage and mitigate risks appropriately; train others to make safe decisions.
• Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to support wildlife habitats, biological diversity, and maintain ecological integrity at NH Audubon properties.

Collaborative Leadership & Community Engagement

• Lead internal, external, and partner communications regarding implementation of BMPs and the results of those actions on Wildlife Sanctuaries, trail closures, volunteer trainings/workdays, and any land protection projects.
• Represent NH Audubon at local meetings that affect Wildlife Sanctuary property such as planning board and conservation commission meetings as needed. 
• Provide timely responses and resolutions to land use conflicts on fee-owned properties and conservation easements.
• Serve as staff liaison on the NH Audubon Sanctuaries & Land Management Committee of the Board (SLMC); reporting updates to NH Audubon staff and board.
• Promote educational and recreational use of NH Audubon properties with Communications and Education teams.
• Participate in and enhance NH Audubon’s culture of collaboration and philanthropy when working with volunteers, partners, and contractors.

Tax Management

• Manage communications with tax collectors in towns and submit annual state required A-9, A-12, and supporting documents to each town by the 15th of April every year.
• Enroll fee-owned properties into Current Use as needed.

Supervision & Administration

• Hire, direct, manage, train, and motivate seasonal staff and volunteers, for infrastructure improvement, habitat management, land monitoring, and/or education functions at Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Maintain paper and digital files with a high degree of organization for future reference. 
• Manage the access to and maintenance of NH Audubon’s work truck. 
• Assess potential land acquisitions with supervisor and SLMC as needed (active acquisition not currently an organizational priority).
• Collaborate with supervisor and other staff to propose new grant projects to local, state, and federal funders to advance NH Audubon’s strategic priorities.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

LEADERSHIP: Reports to the Director of Conservation Programs

WORKING CONDITIONS: NH Audubon’s work culture is characterized by excellent colleagues who share a collaborative spirit, commitment to mission, open communication, and high integrity. Our offices are non-smoking, with both open workspaces and private offices.                                                         

QUALIFICATIONS:

NH Audubon seeks the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management or related field required; master’s degree preferred.

Experience: 

• Three to five years' experience in land management required, preferably in a non-profit setting, preferably with a property base greater than 5,000 acres.  
• Must have demonstrated organizational and budgetary oversight skills. 
• Must have map, compass, and GPS expertise with the ability to read deed descriptions and locate ground boundaries.  
• Must have effective managerial and leadership skills. 
• Must have effective and respectful verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have demonstrated management and supervisory skills with the dedication to work effectively within a diverse community.    
• Experience with ArcPro, associated ESRI tools, and cartographic skills are highly desirable. 
• Knowledge of and experience with wildlife habitat inventory, management, and enhancement techniques and an understanding of forestry practices are desirable. 
• Building, ground maintenance, and basic carpentry skills are desirable.  

Skills, Traits and Characteristics Necessary for Success: 

• Requires exceptional interpersonal and collaborative skills, attention to detail, financial acumen, superior problem-solving skills, and a high degree of organization.  
• Must have the ability to: prioritize and complete work tasks on time in a complex and dynamic workflow, retain a positive attitude through demanding situations, provide excellent customer service, work and make sound decisions independently, and overall have a professional and courteous manner.  
• Must be proficient in managing files within the Microsoft cloud environment including SharePoint & Office Suite. 
• Demonstrated ability in project management including initial scoping & proposal, key stakeholder involvement & implementation, and progress/final reporting to stakeholders and funders is highly desirable. 
• Knowledge of tool safety, usage, and maintenance as it pertains to multi-use trail surveying, building, and maintenance is highly desirable. 

Physical Demands: 

• To perform the essential functions of the position, the applicant must be in a physical condition capable of standing, stretching, bending, walking, lifting, and transporting a maximum of 50 pounds. 
• Must have a tolerance to spend time outdoors in variable weather conditions and in the presence of biting insects with the ability to hike over varied terrain for long distances.  
• Must be able to climb stairs, be physically and mentally capable of performing multiple tasks, and function in a fast-paced environment.  
• Must be able to operate small watercraft including canoe, kayak, and motorboat. 
• Must have a valid driver’s license. 
• CPR and first aid certification required (training can be provided). 

COMPENSATION: 

• $50,000 - $53,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience. 
• This position is eligible for NH Audubon’s generous benefit package, including paid time off (13 holidays, vacation & sick time), medical and dental plans, a health reimbursement agreement, retirement account with employer match, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a NH Audubon annual membership, access to pro deals, and paid professional development opportunities.
• Mileage beyond normal commute reimbursed at current federal rate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

NH Audubon is a welcoming, inclusive organization that is committed to ensuring people of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome and respected.  NH Audubon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation or Vietnam Era/Disabled Veteran status, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, NH Audubon complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where NH Audubon has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. See more at: https://www.nhaudubon.org/lands/ 

How to Apply:

Please email a resume detailing your education and pertinent employment background and cover letter describing your skills as it relates to the specific job duties and your passion and unique qualifications in the land management field to Jobs@nhaudubon.org with “Conservation Lands Manager” in the subject line no later than 11:59 PM on February 9, 2025. Interviews with top candidates will be scheduled soon after, with a start date dependent on the final candidate’s earliest availability.