Center for Natural Lands Management POSITION DESCRIPTION Conservation Project Manager Reports to: Restoration Ecologist Location: Olympia, Washington Full-time, exempt: Salaried Salary: $35,000 – $41,250 Full-time Equivalent – DOE Application deadline: Open until filled, but for fullest consideration please apply no later than Feb 20, 2015. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) is a nonprofit 501(3)(c) organization, created in 1990, whose mission is the perpetual stewardship of natural and created conservation lands, sensitive species, and their resident ecosystems. Stewardship activities are currently divided between California and Washington. In the State of Washington, CNLM focuses on conservation of one of the rarest ecosystems in the United States, the prairie and oak woodlands of Cascadia, especially those lands and habitats within the South Puget Sound Region. In that Region, CNLM aims to protect, restore habitats, and support recovery of rare species that are candidates for federal listing. Currently in California, over 80 preserves—encompassing over 30,000 acres throughout the state—are within CNLM’s portfolio, with new preserves added regularly. The preserves vary in size from three to thousands of acres and are managed under direct ownership, conservation easements, or contracts. Central to the CNLM’s mission and fundamental to its success are the principles of rigorous cost estimation for managing conservation areas in perpetuity and application of appropriate scientific information for conservation and restoration. CNLM has a well-established practice of selecting for and investing in excellent staff to fulfill its mission. Currently, CNLM is headquartered in Temecula, CA, although most senior staff reside elsewhere and communication is more often by phone and email than by in-person meetings. Most CNLM-WA staff conduct business from the Olympia office. There is an active restoration research and monitoring program in Washington, aimed at increasing our knowledge of prairie ecology and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our restoration techniques. Research findings are communicated to partners and the public in a variety of ways, and incorporated into management to advance conservation of the habitat and species. Essential Functions: The Conservation Project Manager will work to enhance our understanding of prairie habitat and restoration throughout the South Puget Sound. This position will focus primarily on managing the Prairie Habitat Quality Monitoring project, a long-term project focused on documenting the changing habitat quality across South Sound prairies due to various restoration treatments. The position will use a cooperative approach to conservation, requiring coordination with multiple partners (such as the Department of Defense and WA Department of Fish and Wildlife), and with the CNLM Prairie Restoration Crew and volunteers. The Conservation Project Manager is a full-time exempt position that is supervised by the Restoration Ecologist. Duties of the Project Manager include:  Manage logistics (schedule, supplies, data collection, data management) of a large-scale monitoring project.  Work with the Prairie Restoration Team, agency partners and volunteers to complete the actions delineated in the project plan.  Train and supervise field crew for effective data collection and management throughout field season.  Communicate progress, results, and conservation implications to partners, CNLM staff and the public through written reports, oral presentations, and other communications efforts.  Assist with data collection, data management and reporting for other restoration research projects as needed.  Complete other duties as requested. RESPONSIBILITIES The Conservation Project Manager provides technical and scientific support and leadership for the Prairie Habitat Quality Monitoring project in the South Puget Sound region. With minimum supervision, but within a collaborative approach, the Project Manager will evaluate, select, and apply appropriate methods and techniques both in the field and for data analysis. This includes one or more of the following functions:  Reviews available information and data and determines relevance to conservation priorities  Collects and interprets information or data.  Determines the need for additional information and proposes appropriate methods  Communicates research findings through written project reports, maps, published papers and conference and other presentations.  Delivers conservation tools, biodiversity data, field services and training to CNLM staff and its partners.  Coordinates and conducts fieldwork and logistical support for research, project development and monitoring.  Develops and defines methodologies and criteria for conservation planning and actions. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS  B.S. or B.A. in the natural sciences and 2-3 years of relevant experience  Experience managing projects, including staffing and scheduling.  Strong foundation in conservation science and practice, botany and restoration.  Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret scientific data and prepare reports of findings.  Ability to work within a collaborative context and achieve objectives through team efforts.  Extensive and demonstrable experience with GPS units (Trimble and Garmin), ArcGIS and spatial analysis software.  Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers, statistical packages) and ability to use provided computer technology to enhance the quality of work.  Ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English.  Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and safe driving record. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  M.S. in the natural sciences and 1-2 years of relevant experience  Familiarity with spatial analysis techniques involving large datasets.  Experience managing diverse activities under tight deadlines while operating professionally and producing high quality reports or other documents.  Willingness and ability to participate in restoration operations, including prescribed burning and mechanical/chemical vegetation management. WORKING CONDITIONS  Regularly works indoors in an office setting, as well as outdoors in natural and wildland areas. Frequently visits natural lands and other areas – hikes across uneven ground and conducts work within native habitats.  Regularly sits or stands at a desk or computer workstation.  May work on active military training lands.  Required to operate a CNLM vehicle.  Frequently works alone with minimal supervision.  Frequently works with a team in the field.  Frequently communicates with others through emails, voice conversations, meetings.  Occasionally works in conditions involving pesticides or prescribed fires.  Some evening and weekend responsibilities, including travel.  Uses or supervises the use of pesticides and or other chemical substances.  Uses or supervises the use of powered equipment such as weed trimmers and chain saws  Uses hand tools and operates nursery equipment.  Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds. The working conditions described here are representative in part of those that will be encountered by an employee in this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to successfully function in these working conditions. **************************** The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. CNLM management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. CNLM is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the CNLM and the employee and is subject to change by CNLM as the needs of the CNLM and requirements of the job change.**************************** TO APPLY: Qualified applicants must provide a detailed letter of interest, current resumé or curriculum vitae, two examples of professional writing (such as publications, professional reports, or other materials), and three professional references (names, affiliations, and contact information only). All applications will be acknowledged. Email these materials to: careers-pspm@cnlm.org If email is not possible, the application can be mailed to: Center for Natural Lands Management Attention: Human Resources 27258 Via Industria, Suite B Temecula, CA 92590