Land Conservation, Stewardship, Preservation

Position Title: Land Protection Coordinator
Organization: Habitat Acquisition Trust
Location: On-site. @HAT office in Victoria BC

Position Type: 37.5 hours per week, full-time permanent
Program Area: Protected Lands

Compensation: $26.00 to $35.00 per hour commensurate with experience, plus:

• annual increases based on performance as determined by Executive Director
• annual Cost of Living adjustment as determined by Executive Director
• a comprehensive and competitive benefits package with partner/spouse and family options (Chamber of Commerce coverage)
• 3.5 weeks paid holidays annually to start
• 10 paid sick/personal days annually
• monthly cell phone stipend
• access to Modo Carshare
• paid professional development
• a flexible schedule and casual work environment, and
• fun colleagues!

Application Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM

To apply, email careers@hat.bc.ca with your resume, cover letter, and 3 references.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

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About the Organization:

Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) is local land trust working with our community to conserve and steward habitats across the region. HAT operates in the traditional and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, W̱SÁNEĆ, SC’IȺNEW, and T'Sou-ke Nations, and we recognize that our work is intrinsically linked to Indigenous stewardship of these territories, both past and ongoing. Our mission is to conserve natural spaces on southern Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands through legal protection of private land, land back to First Nations, restoration, education, and stewardship programs. HAT focuses on building partnerships to accomplish our mission. We work closely and collaboratively with community organizations, government, individual landowners, and Indigenous communities to achieve effective conservation outcomes.

Please see HAT’s current Strategic Plan here: https://hat.bc.ca/strategicplan

Reporting Relationship:

This position reports to the Executive Director. The position works closely and in cooperation with contractors including Senior Land Advisor, other staff members, and the Lands Committee in accordance with all HAT policies.

Working Environment:

HAT will provide a safe and respectful work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and provide the employee with equipment, materials, and supplies to carry out their duties.

HAT is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. If you require additional supports for submitting our application, please call or email us at contact below.

HAT’s personnel policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and professional development. HAT makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, team fit, and organizational needs at the time.

HAT staff are also in the process of aligning our programs and processes with the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Ten Principles for Reconciliation through staff trainings, regular team conversations, and unlearning opportunities. This is an integral part of being on the team at HAT, as we all move along our own unlearning pathway towards decolonizing conservation.

Position Summary

This is primarily an office-based position with approximately 10% of work hours in the field. The Land Protection Coordinator’s primary responsibilities are:

• 35% Desktop management for HAT’s land protection projects, including vetting and developing new projects, managing project timelines, budgets and contracted services, liaising with partners, and supporting project fundraising efforts;
• 35% Coordination of annual monitoring of conservation covenants and coordinating covenant enforcement as necessary;
• 10% Supporting decolonization of HAT’s Land Protection Program, including relationship development, support in planning and implementing strategic directions that uphold and honour Indigenous rights and relationships to the land;
• 5% Coordinating habitat stewardship and restoration actions on HAT’s protected lands;
• 15% Administration and training

Position Deliverables

• Liaises with general public to field inquiries about land protection opportunities in HAT’s working area;
• Works closely with the Senior Land Advisor and Executive Director to coordinate Protected Lands projects including drafting briefing materials and correspondence, preparing draft agreements such as conservation covenants, liaising with legal counsel, appraisers and other consultants, liaising with HAT’s Lands Committee, managing project timelines, collaborating with partner agencies and assisting with project fundraising efforts;
• Ensures that all necessary coordination of ongoing Protected Lands legal requirements is undertaken regularly, including covenant landowner communications, covenant monitoring, and administration of issues pertaining to HAT’s interests in land;
• Participates in strategic planning for HAT’s Land Protection Program;
• Contributes critical thinking, planning and iterative development to decolonization efforts for HAT’s Land Protection Program;
• Contributes to partnerships with Indigenous Nations, communities and organizations;
• Participates in project related events and activities, using all opportunities to promote awareness and support of HAT and its land protection projects with the general public, stewardship groups, schools, businesses and all levels of government agencies;
• Works occasionally with Habitat Stewardship staff to provide information to HAT's Habitat Stewards about land protection mechanisms including conservation covenants;
• Works occasionally with Stewardship staff to identify and implement species or ecosystems monitoring, restoration, and maintenance of natural ecosystems on protected lands.
• Represents HAT on committees as directed by the Executive Director;
• Ensures that project files are well organized, comprehensive, regularly updated and organized to facilitate the provision of regular progress reports to the Board and Land Committee;
• Participates in project related events and activities, using all opportunities to promote awareness and support of HAT and its projects;
• Other duties as assigned.

General HAT Team Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a robust working knowledge of the focal issues of HAT;
• Coordinate, supervise, and train project interns and/or volunteers;
• Represent HAT at workshops, public events, meetings, committees, or conferences;
• Participate in staff meetings and project planning meetings as required;
• Provide programming updates and content to our monthly Fern Newsletter and other email marketing campaigns, website content, annual reports, and others as requested;
• Adhere to HAT’s Policies and Procedures and ensure daily work align with Strategic Plan, fostering safe space with the HAT team, volunteers, and other community members;
• Conduct all work in a professional manner and in accordance with HAT’s organizational mission, vision, ethics, and strategic plan;
• Conduct field work safely and efficiently, demonstrating responsible, safe work practices and leadership in the field.

Communication

Internal: Executive Director and Senior Land Advisor for Protected Lands leadership, direction and consultation; with Lands Committee for input and information exchange, with HAT staff and volunteers to achieve goals.

External: with partners, funders, media, government, Indigenous Nations, communities and organizations, members of the general public, business and other organizations.

Position Competencies:

• Passion for the Environment: Demonstrates a strong alignment of one’s own values with those of the organization, puts the organization’s mission first and defends its principles;
• Collaborative Relationship Building: able to develop, maintain and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance and support;
• Strategic Orientation: Able to link long range goals to daily work, take the long-term view and develop plans to meet over-arching goals;
• Effective Communication: the ability to express ideas, facts and information in a clear, timely and organized manner to create positive supportive partnerships;
• Professionalism: is honest and forthright, takes responsibility for own actions, conveys a command of relevant facts and information, acts in a manner that conveys trustworthiness, reliability and dependability;
• Thoroughness: takes steps to ensure work is of high quality, that information is complete and accurate, follows up with others to fulfill commitments, monitors work quality, uses systems to organize and keep track of information or work progress;
• Service: demonstrates a strong commitment to meeting the needs of donors, partners, or community members, striving to ensure their full satisfaction.

Qualification Criteria

• Passion for the environment and solid knowledge of the local biocultural ecology of HAT’s working area, and working knowledge of local conservation;
• Post-secondary accreditation in an applicable field of study, or relevant experience in a related field including conservation covenants, contract drafting, project management, real estate transactions and/or negotiations;
• Strategic, independent, rational thinker and creative problem-solver who seeks out evidence when forming opinions and making decisions;
• Ability to cultivate, maintain, and sustain long-term partnerships built on mutual respect and trust by finding common ground;
• Ability to work collaboratively to plan and execute projects (set and achieve realistic goals, manage multiple concurrent projects through prioritization and scheduling, and adapt to changing circumstances);
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal skills, ability to interact with individuals at all levels inside the organization and in the broader community in an approachable and professional manner;
• Well-developed computer skills and ability to effectively use MS Office technology and software (e.g. MS Word, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, etc.);
• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, with knowledge and respect for the process of reconciliation and decolonization of the Indigenous territories across the region;
• Willing and able to work occasional irregular hours including some evenings and weekends;
• Willing and able to undertake professional development and training as appropriate;
• Legally entitled to work in Canada; and
• Driver’s license valid for use in BC and willing to travel locally by vehicle as needed;
• GIS skills an asset.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM

To apply, email careers@hat.bc.ca with your resume, cover letter, and 3 references.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.