Title: Conservation Director

Location: Bremerton, WA

Starting Salary: $55,000 to $60,000 depending upon experience, plus benefits

Hours: Full-time Position

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervises: Conservation Assistant/Manager

Summary

Great Peninsula Conservancy, an accredited land trust, seeks a Conservation Director in its Bremerton, WA office on west Puget Sound. The Conservation Director develops and implements GPC’s land conservation initiatives through collaboration, deal making, grant writing and innovation. Requirements for the position include a minimum of eight years’ experience and a successful track record in public or private land conservation, real estate, natural resources management, or a related field. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject also is required. We are seeking a highly-motivated, organized, experienced, and collaborative deal maker. Individual must be committed to being an inspiring advocate for land conservation. This is a great opportunity for a goal-oriented individual to lead the conservation program of a successful and growing land trust.

Organizational Profile

Great Peninsula Conservancy (www.greatpeninsula.org) is an accredited, nonprofit land trust that works to protect forever the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the Great Peninsula – a region that includes Kitsap, Mason, and west Pierce counties on Puget Sound, Washington. GPC’s conservation program is focused on four initiatives: Shoreline & Estuary, Forest, Stream & Freshwater Wetland, and Community Greenspace. Since 1980, Great Peninsula Conservancy has protected over 7,000 acres through acquisitions, conservation easements, and partnerships. With a supportive membership, GPC works closely with conservation and outdoor recreation groups, state and tribal agencies, and local governments to accomplish its mission. GPC’s office is located in Bremerton, a quiet community with a large Navy base and shipyard, a burgeoning network of land and water trails, a natural heritage tied to forestry and salmon fisheries, and with ready commuter access to Seattle via the state ferry system.

Position Description

The Conservation Director develops and implements GPC’s conservation initiatives through collaboration, deal-making, and innovation. The Conservation Director is responsible for developing project strategies, maintaining landowner contacts, negotiating real estate deals, coordinating land/easement transactions, overseeing project consultants, and writing and managing project grants. The Conservation Director works closely with GPC’s Conservation Committee and maintains positive associations with private landowners, public agencies, conservation organizations, and local governments. S/he supervises a part-time Conservation Assistant, which position is expected to become a full-time Conservation Manager by July 2016.

Major Responsibilities

• Initiate, follow through, and bring to successful conclusion actions to achieve GPC’s Conservation Strategy according to standards and on schedule
• Collaborate with private landowners; federal, state, tribal, and local agencies; conservation organizations and community partners to conserve priority conservation lands
• Lead development and implementation of land protection strategies for priority landscapes
• With legal support, negotiate, draft, and review documents such as conservation easements, option agreements, and purchase and sale agreements
• Obtain and review appraisals, environmental assessments, surveys, title reports and closing documents
• Develop project budgets
• Identify sources of project-specific funding from public agencies, private foundations, and other sources and prepare grant applications
• Administer project grants, including meeting all financial and programmatic reporting requirement
• Keep abreast of land conservation tools, tax incentives, and public and private funding opportunities
• Supervise part-time Conservation Assistant or its replacement full-time Conservation Manager
• Work closely with GPC’s Conservation Committee in developing GPC’s conservation initiatives and project strategies
• Participate in and initiate local/regional conservation partnerships

Qualifications

• Eight years’ experience, knowledge, and successful track record in public and private land conservation techniques, real estate transactions, or natural resources management
• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife/fisheries/conservation biology, forest/plant ecology, natural resources management, landscape architecture or related field
• Sincere commitment to the mission, values, and goals of GPC
• Experience working with landowners, government agencies, community groups, and conservation organizations to achieve objectives
• Experience negotiating agreements
• Experience initiating, managing and completing complex projects
• Knowledge and understanding of the conservation community
• Knowledge of public grant programs and experience in obtaining public grants for conservation
• Familiarity with local flora and fauna
• Physical ability to hike rough terrain
• Car and valid driver’s license

Skills

• Ability to develop relationships with a variety of people
• Ability to address issues constructively
• Collaborative, facilitative style that brings people together
• Self-directed, energetic, entrepreneurial, and creative
• Ability to remain focused and outcome-driven
• Eager to develop new deals
• Demonstrate integrity in business relationships and ethical decision-making
• Articulate communicator, both verbally and in writing
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and ArcGIS

To Apply

Send cover letter (one page) and resume (max. four pages) to:sandra@greatpeninsula.org or Sandra Staples-Bortner, Great Peninsula Conservancy, 423 Pacific Ave., Suite 401, Bremerton, WA 98337. Application Deadline: Nov. 16, 2015.