Director of Conservation & Stewardship

About the Eno River Association

Eno River Association is an accredited land trust and watershed nonprofit founded in 1966 with a mission to protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River basin in northern Durham and Orange counties. It has protected 8,000 acres of natural and working lands and has helped create seven local, state, and regional nature parks, including Eno River State Park, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, West Point on the Eno City Park, Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, Little River Regional Park, Panther Branch Natural Area, and Confluence Natural Area. ERA continues to acquire land and secure easements, as well as provide stewardship, education programs, and events like the annual Festival for the Eno to inspire others to prioritize our local, natural resources. Learn more at www.enoriver.org.

This is a re-posted position. Prior applicants do not need to reapply.

Join a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River basin. Lead impactful land protection and stewardship initiatives while advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in conservation.

The Director of jobshiringnearme.org and Stewardship works closely with the Executive Director, land and stewardship staff, and the ERA’s conservation partners to develop and implement strategies for acquisition of conservation lands and easements and oversees and executes the land protection and stewardship programs of the Association. Responsibilities include managing a growing portfolio of conservation easement and Association-owned fee lands while also assisting with the management of conservation partner protected lands. 

Responsibilities

Land Protection (60%)

• Negotiate real estate transactions, which bind the Association legally and financially.
• Plan and implement land protection projects with several variables – set realistic deadlines, manage a timeline, and ensure accountability.
• Coordinate with landowners, funders, partners, and contractors associated with due diligence process for land projects. This includes getting appraisals, environmental assessments, title work, and surveys.
• Work with legal counsel to draft documents such as purchase and sale agreements, option agreements, and conservation easements.
• Work with the land and stewardship team to draft baseline documentation reports for each project.
• Maintain a complete and current database, files and reports on all Association land protection projects and holdings, in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices.
• Develop and manage the land and stewardship and project budgets.
• Identify and pursue funding sources for the land protection and stewardship program, including acquisition funds, and provide grant administration for grants received.
• Support public and private fundraising by participating in charitable solicitations.
• Initiate and sustain outreach with individual landowners and other strategic partners to identify and develop new land conservation projects.
• Respond to inquiries from landowners interested in conservation options and work with landowners on conservation strategies for their properties.
• Evaluate new projects based on strategic land conservation goals and project selection criteria.
• Prior experience in land acquisition and protection is required in order to be considered for this opportunity.

Stewardship (20%)

• Ensure the monitoring of all Association fee lands, assessing each property for liabilities, changes, encroachments, and need for stewardship work.
• Ensure the monitoring of all Association-held conservation easements, coordinating with landowners on site visits and assessing compliance with the terms of the easement.
• Ensure encroachments and/or easement violations are identified and documented, and work with the Executive Director and legal counsel as needed to remediate problems.
• Ensure all Association preserves have up-to-date management plans and work with stewardship staff on implementation.
• Solicit bids and oversee contracted work on certain Association properties, as needed.
• Working with the Board, Land & Stewardship Committee and other staff to identify and implement strategic land management programs and pursue appropriate funding sources, and providing grant administration for grants received.
• Collaborate with other staff members as appropriate to engage corporate partners in stewardship team building and funding opportunities

Staff Supervision (10%)

• Work with the Executive Director and other team members to assess, interview, and hire land and stewardship staff.
• Assign and oversee stewardship work to be performed by land and stewardship staff.
• Encourage and evaluate land and stewardship staff, providing regular feedback on performance.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to document and provide an annual formal performance review for land and stewardship staff.

Other (10%)

• Provide a bi-monthly written report of land protection and stewardship activities to the Association’s Board of Directors.
• Create maps for acquisition, stewardship, and outreach projects.
• Assist the Association in maintaining its accredited status with Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Provide staff support to the Association’s Land & Stewardship Committee by developing agendas and leading monthly meetings.
• Collaborate with other Association staff to plan and implement Eno events including the Festival for the Eno.
• Collaborate with other Association staff and strategic partners to advocate for the protection of the Eno River and the communities that depend on it.
• Represent the Association at Association and community events, as needed.
• Participate in appropriate media relations opportunities, press releases, production of newsletter, social media and other communications.
• Partner with other Association staff to accomplish goals and mission of the Association.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Commitment to viewing all work through an anti-racist and equity lens
• Ability to authentically listen and speak to landowners, public, media, and partners
• Experience in natural resource management, conservation, real estate, or other related experiences
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Experience in managing multiple, complex projects.
• Experience writing grant proposals or technical documents.
• Experience developing and managing partnerships
• Experience using GIS, Microsoft suite, Landscape, ArcGIS Pro or similar programs
• The ability to be a team player with a sense of humor, a strong commitment to community-driven environmental protection, and the ability to work well independently
• A working knowledge of North Carolina native species and ecology, management of common invasive weeds, and common issues associated with land management

This position is subject to activities beyond the typical indoor professional office setting. The essential physical requirements of this position include lifting, reaching, grasping, kneeling, climbing, bending, pushing, pulling, and shifting; lifting 50 lbs. and ability to frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects; ability to safely and correctly use hand tools associated with restoration work and ability to instruct and supervise others in the use of same tools; ability to walk over a variety of terrain in variable weather conditions; and operate a vehicle.

The position is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, exempt from overtime. Most work will take place during regular working hours, but some evening and weekend work will be necessary. Please note: all employees are asked to support the programs that the Eno River Association hosts on July 4th and New Year’s Day, so flexible holiday dates are offered instead.