WAC Easement Program Stewardship Specialist

Professional/Learned Exempt Employee

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies or related field.
• Knowledge of the legal and technical aspects of conservation easements. 
• 3 years related experience in land conservation or natural resource management.
• Knowledge of regional agriculture and forestry.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills.
• High degree of computer literacy.
• End User experience with GIS.
• Interpersonal skills and experience working with diverse demographics.
• Must have a valid NYS driver’s license.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with landowners.
• Work with the Stewardship Coordinator and the Program Manager to develop and implement conservation easement stewardship program initiatives.
• Work closely with landowners to steward their conservation easements and aid in the development and implementation of stewardship activities on their conservation easement encumbered properties.
• Effectively communicate any potential conservation easement issue to the Stewardship Coordinator.       
• Assist in the development of the annual monitoring calendar with the Stewardship Coordinator.
• Maintain or develop, when applicable, Baseline Documentation Reports (BDR), property binders, stewardship files, and stewardship records database for all assigned properties, including mapping.
• Conduct annual monitoring of 40% of the easement portfolio as assigned.
• Process reserved right requests from assigned properties.
• Process and manage violations and notifications from assigned properties.
• Coordinate with DEP, DEC, Agriculture and Forestry Programs and other agencies, as necessary.
• Assist in the development of stewardship policies, guidelines and SOP's with the Program Manager and Stewardship Coordinator.
• Provide input to Acquisition staff regarding development of land plan maps and easements.
• Coordinate with Executive Assistant to ensure proper administration, documentation and filing of all stewardship activities.
• Complete and record all necessary stewardship program reports.
• Other related duties or projects as assigned by the Stewardship Coordinator.