Land Management, Conservation & Stewardship

Position: Land Management Coordinator
Organization: Nova Scotia Nature Trust
Location: Candidates should live in (or be willing to live) in NS; some in-office time required on a weekly basis in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Are you a conservation-minded individual with a love for Nova Scotia’s wild spaces and a desire to hibernate during the winter while mapping and writing conservation-related documents? The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is seeking a new Land Management Coordinator to join its stewardship team for the next year (with the possibility of an extension). The Nature Trust’s successes in doubling our land require an added pair of hands to write baseline documents about new conservation lands and stewardship plans for how to care for them.

They also require an organized individual who is able to work with contractors and volunteers alike to address the ever-changing and unusual list of stewardship challenges on our land. During the field season, this extra pair of hands would also assist with baseline field visits on new properties across the province, which would include bushwhacking and possibly travel by boat. This is a role for an energetic individual who loves technical writing and problem-solving.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Director of Conservation, the Land Management Coordinator assists the stewardship team with writing baseline and stewardship reports on conservation lands, which discuss conservation values, human uses and stewardship concerns on conservation lands. This position also coordinates resources to address stewardship concerns. This is a one-year contract, with the possibility of an extension.

Stewardship Responsibilities:

• Write Baseline Documentation Reports for Nature Trust properties, including a written technical component, and mapping via ArcGIS
• Assign Forest Ecosystem Classification vegetation types to survey plots on properties.
• Provide support to complete regional and property-specific Stewardship Plans.
• Conduct baseline site visits and other fieldwork to aid the stewardship program as needed
• Manage stewardship projects on Nature Trust land. This includes addressing stewardship concerns on an as-needed basis, as well as longer-term projects such as finding and managing contractors for stewardship tasks (e.g. building removal), partner communications and fostering positive relationships with neighbours.
• Perform stewardship activities such as boundary maintenance, signage installation, and invasive species removal.

Communications Responsibilities

• Offer ecological background to the fundraising and communications teams as needed
• Draft social media posts and occasionally contribute to Landlines, the Nature Trust newsletter.

Administrative/Technical Responsibilities:

• Provide mapping and GIS resources to support stewardship and the conservation team.
• Document activities on Nature Trust land using Landscape, the stewardship database.

Financial Responsibilities:

• Carry out required activities within delegated authority and in compliance with Nature Trust financial policies and procedures.

Other responsibilities as required

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• The successful candidate will possess post-secondary training in conservation, ecology, biology or related fields.
• Experience working in conservation or a related area, or a combination of education and experience.

Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities:

• GIS capabilities, including the ability to use ArcGIS Pro to create and modify maps, extract data and inform decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), and willingness to learn and use the stewardship database, Landscape.
• Ability to write technical reports quickly and well (several per week during the winter).
• Knowledge of Nova Scotia’s terrestrial species and Species at Risk (SAR), and associated threats.
• Ability to identify common NS terrestrial species (plants, birds, mammals and herptiles) in the field.
• Ability to navigate varied terrain on foot, over long distances, using GPS or compass.
• Ability to be flexible and work in an unstructured environment.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining team relationships.
• Valid driver’s license.

Competencies:

• Supporter Focus
• Knowledge and Innovation
• Action Oriented
• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Values Differences
• Instills Trust

Relationships/Contacts

Reports to: Director of Conservation

Internal/External Contacts:

• Volunteers, especially Property Guardians
• Landowners
• Community members who may seek information about or directions to Nature Trust properties or who wish to use the properties for projects or events
• Other non-profits, i.e.: Clean Annapolis River Project, St. Mary’s River Association, Nature Trust New Brunswick, Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Internally: Stewardship team, Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator, Conservation Biologist, Office Coordinator

Working Conditions

This position is primarily office-based in winter, but in field season (May-October) will require approximately five days of fieldwork per month, including travel to sites across Nova Scotia and overnight stays. Office work can be conducted at our Dartmouth office or through a hybrid arrangement, requiring at least two days per week in the office. This position is a one-year contract, with the possibility of an extension.

Salary range: $50 000-$55 000

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to providing a positive, collaborative working environment, and support a healthy work-life balance through a hybrid work model and flexible work hours.

Application Process

To apply, please send an email to: employment@nsnt.ca , ensuring to include each of the following in your application:

• Current resume.
• A cover letter clearly articulating your relevant knowledge and experience, why you are interested in the position, what you bring to this position, and why

Please mention you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

Deadline to apply: October 4, 2024