Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (CLRLT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the forests, farms, waters, and rural heritage of the Cacapon and Lost Rivers watershed of West Virginia. 

Spanning Hampshire, Hardy, and Morgan counties, our heavily forested watershed is one of the most ecologically diverse in the eastern United States and is highly rated for climate resiliency. Land Conservation Director, Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust

Cacapon & Lost Rivers Land Trust

In its 34 years, CLRLT has partnered with landowners to protect 14,555 acres with conservation easements. 

CLRLT is proud to be accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, and we put a high value on our relationships with landowners, donors, and organizational partners. Key to our success is a reputation for integrity, creativity, and active listening.

CLRLT is a small organization delivering outsized results. Our staff and active Board of Directors are dedicated to high quality work in a casual, respectful atmosphere. 

Role of the Land Conservation Director

The Land Conservation Director (LCD) is responsible for conservation easement acquisition and stewardship. 

The LCD reports to and works closely with the Executive Director (ED). The LCD must be a self-starter who can determine what needs to be done and do it with minimal oversight. The LCD must also be able to work in a team and engage authentically with a wide variety of people from diverse communities. 

The LCD position is a full-time, salaried position. Work is performed in the Trust’s Capon Bridge, WV office; in the field throughout the watershed; and, if desired, remotely. Day-trip travel is required several times per month, and evening or weekend work is required approximately every 2 months but occasionally multiple times in a single month. 

Primary Responsibilities

Land Conservation (50%)

The Land Conservation Director is expected to manage the bulk of the land trust’s conservation easement transactions. 

In accordance with CLRLT policies, Land Trust Standards and Practices, and current best practices, the LCD will carry out all steps of conservation easement acquisition:

• establish and maintain contact with potential easement donors. 
• negotiate transactions that meet CLRLT’s and landowners’ goals.
• order and review title investigations, surveys, appraisals, etc.
• draft and revise conservation easement deed language, consulting with Executive Director and legal counsel as needed.
• manage conservation easement acquisition records and communications.
• prepare progress reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors
• arrange for easement closings and completion of baseline reports. 

Conservation Easement Monitoring and Stewardship (30-40%)

The Land Conservation Director will oversee the Trust’s conservation easement stewardship program, including the annual monitoring of 55 conservation easements (~ 14,555 acres).

• Manage monitoring of all Trust-held conservation easements, including scheduling visits with landowners, reviewing easement deeds and prior reports to prepare for each visit, inspecting properties to ensure compliance with conservation easement terms, completing monitoring reports (with maps, track logs, and photographs wherever possible), and updating records for each easement and landowner. 
• Maintain records for conservation easements, landowner contacts, monitoring, and stewardship of easements (violations, inquiries, amendments, etc.) 
• Report landowner inquiries and potential violations to the Executive Director. 
• Work with the Executive Director to respond to landowner inquiries and manage violations, amendments, etc. 
• Identify opportunities for improved management of eased properties and assist landowners in learning about programs (state, federal, etc.) to enhance land management.

Landowner/Public Outreach (5-10%) 

As needed, the Land Conservation Director may assist with- or directly manage- outreach to new landowners. 

• Prepare/disseminate informational materials about conservation easements.
• Plan and prepare for landowner outreach events.
• Represent the Trust at community events (Ex: “tabling” or delivering presentations)
• Respond to inquiries and requests regarding potential conservation easements. 
• Coordinate with partners (Ex: Trout Unlimited, NRCS, etc.)

Grant Writing (10%)

• Find, apply for, and manage foundation and government grants relating to land protection.

Qualifications

• At least three years’ experience with conservation easement acquisition and stewardship. 
• A four-year degree or equivalent training in a related field, such as natural resources management, law, or real estate.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating land protection transactions.
• Demonstrated success in managing conservation easement violations or similar challenges.
• Ability to identify common goals and lead groups toward achievement of common goals.
• Excellent formal and informal communication skills, including the ability to tailor communications to a variety of audiences while retaining one’s own authentic style.
• Excellent language skills, including the ability to efficiently read and write legal language in conservation easement deeds and the ability to write grant applications. 
• Proficiency with standard computer applications (Windows, Microsoft Office suite, etc.). 
• Basic proficiency in ESRI ArcMap software is desirable.
• Familiarity with the Cacapon and Lost Rivers Watershed region is desirable.

Salary 

Salary range is $55,000-$60,000 per year, depending on experience. This position is full-time (40 hours per week) and salaried. 

Benefits

Benefits include 25 paid personal leave days, 10+ paid holidays, flexible work schedule, work-from-home options, 3% match on a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan, and a health insurance reimbursement plan. 

Application & Hiring Process

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume or CV to jobs@cacapon.org by November 1, 2024.

A list of three references will be requested from applicants selected for interviews. Submitted material will be kept confidential to the Executive Director and hiring committee. 

Telephone or video call interviews are planned for November-December 2024, and finalists will be invited for a second interview (in person or via video call) with members of the hiring committee. Start date is negotiable but desired in mid-January 2025. 

To learn more about CLRLT, visit cacapon.org. 

The Cacapon & Lost Rivers Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment, recruitment, compensation, termination, promotion, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, or sexual orientation.