The Conservation Specialist works with a 5-state TNC team to develop, manage and advance land protection and other conservation projects for TNC’s Southern High Plains Initiative to protect important natural areas, habitat for rare and endangered plants, animals and natural communities, and agriculturally productive rangelands in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas using a full range of protection tools with private landowners, federal, state, local and tribal government, conservation organizations, and other partners
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Conservation Specialist is responsible for advancing TNC’s Southern High Plains Initiative strategic land protection goals by developing partnership models and initiating and completing land conservation projects and transactions in priority conservation sites across the 5-state Southern High Plains Initiative geography, including parts of southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and the Texas panhandle. The Conservation Specialist works closely with the Southern High Plains Initiative Project Management Team to implement and achieve land protection and conservation priorities by representing TNC in relationships and negotiations with landowners, government agencies, public and private funders, land trust partners, and community-based groups. They assist in securing public and private funds for land protection. They creatively structure individual conservation transactions and/or transaction models. They acquire and maintain local and regional market knowledge of real estate trends and transactions, and land ownership information in priority areas. The Conservation Specialist employs a full range of protection tools to acquire varying degrees of legal interest in land (or to support our partners’ efforts to do the same), including gift, easement, purchase, lease, conservation finance, and cooperative projects, often in a private, working lands context. They may work with the conservation finance community and impact investors to secure private investment or funding for land protection and other conservation work. In collaboration with the 5-state Southern High Plains Initiative Team, they will develop and cultivate partnerships and new partnership models to grow the capacity for conservation in the Southern High Plains geography.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Geographic scope includes parts of southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle.
- Develop, lead and support durable land protection projects to advance the Southern High Plains Initiative strategic land protection goals.
- Coordinate and engage with partners and other stakeholders to advance conservation priorities.
- Manage a portfolio of land protection projects and communicate results to a variety of audiences, including partners, donors and supporters.
- Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- Negotiate real estate transactions, which can bind TNC legally and financially
- Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, leading budget development for new conservation projects/transactions, and meeting fundraising targets.
- Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently and on short notice, sometimes on weekends
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.