The Allegheny Front Land Protection Manager conducts landowner outreach to develop land protection projects along the Allegheny Front in PA, MD and WV. The Land Protection Manager works as part of a team to protect a critical climate resilient corridor.  The current focus of this position will be to acquire fee-title and conservation easements on priority parcels. They will work with local, regional and state agencies and organizations across the three-state region to support of the land protection goals of the Central Appalachians Program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Allegheny Front Land Protection Manger develops relationships with landowners, negotiates transactions to acquire land and conservation easements, represents TNC in cooperative projects with government partners and, where appropriate, transfers land interests to partner agencies.  They develop and implement landscape level land protection plans.  They will work with landowners, Conservancy staff, community members, and federal, state, and local agency professionals to promote protection programs. The Land Protection Manager implements a variety of conservation strategies and employs a full range of protection tools to acquire varying degrees of legal interest in land.  The preferred location for this position is Cumberland, MD but other locations in the project area will be considered for the right applicant.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Participate in the Central Appalachians Program to implement landscape conservation and protection plans in cooperation with public and private partner organizations, agencies, and landowners.
• Protect significant natural areas and priority landscapes along the Allegheny Front in WV, MD and PA using the full range of protection tools.
• Conduct outreach and cultivate relationships with priority landowners along Allegheny Front.
• Negotiate complex and innovative solutions with various partners and stakeholders to protect land.
• Respond to land protection inquiries and opportunities as appropriate and represent the Conservancy to landowners, members, citizen groups and local officials.
• Exercise proper financial management – meeting budgets, controlling costs and recovering costs on cooperative transactions.
• Identify and help secure public and private funds to support the program.