The Conservation Director will play an integral role in delivering conservation programs for Thames Talbot Land Trust. The Conservation Director is responsible for strategic conservation planning, land securement negotiations, and evidence-based stewardship and administration of TTLT protected lands. The Conservation Director will supervise and coordinate a small team of permanent and contract staff working on protection and stewardship of lands.
Position Title: Conservation Director
Reports to: Executive Director or Designate
Location: London, Ontario
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday with evening and weekend work as needed
Start Date: July 2024 (negotiable)
Compensation & Benefits: $65,700 - $71,000 range annual salary
This is a full-time, permanent position with employer-paid health and dental benefits package, employer matched contributions to retirement plan, 2 weeks paid vacation with additional 3 paid days off (usually taken between Christmas and New Years Day but flexible), and professional development opportunities. TTLT also typically provides an annual cost of living adjustment plus opportunity for merit increases based on performance evaluations.
Key Responsibilities:
Conservation Planning, Securement & Stewardship (55%)
- Develop landscape-scale plans to guide securement and stewardship for TTLT’s area of interest, develop partnerships to promote land conservation;
- Implement land securement projects, with support of the Land Securement Committee;
- Work with landowners, appropriate professionals, partners and agencies to ensure smooth land conservation transactions;
- Develop and implement fundraising initiatives to support land securement projects;
- Develop annual work plans and budgets for conservation planning and stewardship activities and measure conservation success;
- Ensure the short and long term protection of conservation targets on lands protected by TTLT;
- Coordinate the funding and implementation of priority stewardship activities;
- Manage and coordinate the field work and reporting required to write and implement stewardship/management plans for TTLT protected lands;
- Manage conservation easements, including on-going landowner relations;
- Work with volunteers, partners and the public to abate critical threats and liability issues on lands protected by TTLT;
- Provide timely reports as required to the Board and to partners and donors.
Program and Financial Management (25%)
- Work collaboratively with the Executive Director to deliver priority activities as outlined in the Strategic Plan including measurable targets and deadlines;
- Supervise small team of staff to ensure goals and performance targets are being met; perform staff performance evaluations; and maintain good working conditions for staff;
- Hire and train contract and summer staff for delivery of conservation work;
- Coordinate and manage contractors, suppliers and summer students working on science, stewardship and other initiatives;
- Ensure that all TTLT eligible properties are enrolled in applicable tax-incentive or tax-reduction programs and administer the payment of property taxes for TTLT owned lands;
- Ensure that TTLT land information system is populated with accurate and complete data, including required digital layers, and ensure that records are available to the Board and committees as required;
- Ensure all liability issues are dealt with promptly and accurate records are maintained for insurance related matters;
- Ensure that conditions of all agreements (e.g. landholding agreements, invoicing for farm agreements and 2 maintenance of right-of-ways) are administered in a timely fashion.
Fundraising and Community Liaison (15%)
- Advise the Executive Director or designate of funding priorities, amounts and deadlines for ongoing securement and stewardship needs;
- Assist the Executive Director and volunteers to identify, cultivate, and request funds from both existing donors and new prospects, including individuals, businesses, foundations, government sources, and nongovernment organizations;
- Assist with tours of lands and events for donors, partners or the media;
- Represent TTLT in external relations and communications functions relevant to TTLT’s science and stewardship activities, including public speaking, meetings, and media relations, and build awareness and support for the conservation programs of TTLT and its partners;
- Foster and maintain positive, productive and open relationships with landowners, lessees, project volunteers, community partners and local planning authorities;
- Represent TTLT on the Land Stewardship Committee and at meetings or workshops related to land stewardship and conservation as required.
Other (5%)
- Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
Experience, Abilities & Skills:
Must have:
- Passion for the mission of the Thames Talbot Land Trust, and a love of nature and the outdoors;
- A Bachelor’s Degree in ecology, conservation biology or related discipline, or equivalent, with a minimum of 5 years of directly related experience;
- A good understanding of conservation biology and ecology of Southwestern Ontario, working knowledge of Ontario’s Species at Risk and experience in land stewardship;
- Demonstrated ability to manage staff and/or volunteers;
- Good communication and teamwork skills to develop and maintain positive working relationships with staff, volunteers, people with diverse lived experiences and community partners;
- Strong project management and reporting skills, including excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills, financial budgeting, tracking and reporting, and the ability to manage numerous agreements and deliverables simultaneously while paying attention to detail and timelines;
- Flexibility, reliability, self-motivation, and ability to work both independently and as a leader;
- Experience in designing, implementing, analyzing and reporting on the effectiveness of land stewardship activities;
- Excellent writing skills and experience in developing technical reports, scientific papers, monitoring protocols and presentations and for a variety of audiences;
- Excellent public speaking skills in both formal and informal settings, in order to deliver in-person and online programming and lead volunteer and outreach events;
- Must be prepared to work flexible hours at times (e.g. attendance at evening committee meetings, weekend events);
- Experience in analyzing, manipulating and interpreting data, including statistics, spreadsheet applications, GPS and ESRI/ArcGIS software;
- A valid Ontario driver’s license.
Assets:
- A solid understanding of land conservation issues, real estate, tax and conservation law, and conservation incentive programs;
- Negotiation skills and experience with conservation real estate projects;
- Experience working in a non-profit setting;
- Wilderness or Standard First Aid Training;
- Experience with Ecological Land Classification protocols for southern Ontario;
- Ontario Pesticide Training and Certification.
We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier-free. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including applicants from all cultures and backgrounds, racialized communities, and diverse sexual and gender identities. Qualified applicants with a range of physical or mental abilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. We request that applicants please communicate specific needs to facilitate planning.
How to apply:
- Please email your application to daria.koscinski@ttlt.ca by June 24th. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as they are received.
- Applications will be assessed according to the experiences, skills, and abilities listed above. Your application can be in any format that you feel best demonstrates how you meet these criteria.
- Please include “Conservation Director” in the subject line of your email.
About Us: Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) protects and restores nature within Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and Perth counties and the City of London, in the current and traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples including Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, Lenaapeewak, Attawandaron, and Wendat Peoples. We recognize that these lands have been cared for and remain under the care of Indigenous Peoples from time immemorial. We aim to work in the spirit and practice of reconciliation and we are honoured to take part in sustaining and nurturing nature in this region.
With a focus on healthy habitats for wildlife, our work also contributes to human well-being and helps address climate change. TTLT safeguards land through purchase, donation or by special agreements, and cares for the land and water through conservation and restoration initiatives. Since 2000, TTLT has protected more than 2200 acres of land across 27 sites and counting, including wetlands, forests, meadows, agricultural lands and the homes of more than 60 species at risk. TTLT also hosts events and programs aimed at nurturing people’s connection to nature to inspire wonder, promote well-being, and increase support for these protected areas. We are committed to equity and diversity and aim to ensure that people from all walks of life are welcome, safe, included, and valued in all aspects of our work and programming.
Working with TTLT means flexible working hours, an office located where you can enjoy nature on your breaks and a close-knit team of passionate people to work with.