The Land and Water Protection Manager, Northern Arizona is responsible for implementing and achieving the Conservancy’s conservation priorities by initiating and completing property transfers and acquisitions in priority areas across Northern and Central Arizona; supporting conservation asset management and stewardship; building support and capacity for conservation partners; and developing and managing programmatic funding sources and opportunities. The Northern Arizona Protection Manager represents the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with landowners, government agencies, public and private funders, land trust partners and community-based organizations. This position assists in securing public and private funds for land protection and in creatively structuring individual transactions. The Protection Manager acquires and maintains local ecological and market knowledge of real estate transactions; conducts ongoing research of land ownership information for tracts identified as potential acquisition projects; explores potential projects by contacting owners, nonprofit organizations and public agency officials; and prepares project packages for internal approval.
Duties are anticipated in the percentages below, and may fluctuate based on the business needs:
A. Protection project management in priority areas across Northern Arizona (approx. 65%)
- Assumes primary responsibility for initiating, documenting, and closing real estate transactions, primarily conservation easements, with the oversight of legal and finance staff. Manages transaction documents (e.g., letters, contracts, conservation easements, deeds) from initial draft using Conservancy templates, through negotiations with landowners, funders with close collaboration with Conservancy attorneys and other internal staff/programs.
- Maintains ongoing communication and relationships with internal and external partners, ranging from landowners, federal and state agencies, non-profit conservation partners, public and private funders, finance and legal teams, tribal nations, and consultants.
- Collaborates with Director of Land and Water Protection, Chapter leadership and conservation staff to periodically evaluate and revise land and water protection priorities in alignment with Chapter and Global conservation goals.
- Collaborates with TNC Arizona’s Water Program and Stewardship Program and Preserve/community-based Program Managers to develop public-private partnerships for TNC property management or transfers that will leverage landscape-scale conservation.
- Follows guidance of Conservancy legal team on legal aspects of property and water rights transfers, agricultural and residential leases, and management agreements.
- Develops funding proposals and collaborates with Conservancy staff and external partners to secure funding. Assumes primary responsibility for managing project fund sources (budgeting, contracting, reporting).
- Maintains ongoing communication and maintains relationships with all internal and external partners, ranging from landowners, federal and state agencies, non-profit conservation partners, public and private funders, finance and legal teams, and consultants.
- Responds to land protection inquiries and opportunities.
B. Land Transfers and Annual Monitoring (approx. 20%)
- Provides project management for transactions to transfer TNC lands and participates in prioritization process for property divestitures.
- Supports annual cycle of Conservation Easement and Fee Land (Conservancy-owned property) monitoring and reporting and biennial Trade Lands monitoring and reporting.
- Tracks threats to Conservancy lands - coordinates and supports Chapter response as appropriate.
C. Support for other Conservation Programs and AZ Chapter functions (approx. 15%)
- Supports in local collaborative conservation efforts such as the Verde Front, Greater Chino Valley Collaborative, Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition working groups, etc.
- Participate in Arizona Chapter and Protection Learning Network meetings and planning efforts.
- Occasional travel within Arizona and in the U.S. (both with possible over-night / weekend stays).
- Timely and accurate completion of administrative functions such as performance reviews, expense reports, and timecards.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Primary geographic focus is Verde Valley and Upper Verde River, with additional work throughout Northern and Central Arizona.
- Position will execute all duties within the Conservancy’s Policies, Standard Operating Procedures, business practices, processes and guidelines and Business Unit (BU) practices.
- Work is diverse and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
- Negotiate real estate transactions, primarily conservation easements, that bind the Conservancy legally and financially, in collaboration with Conservancy attorneys, who ensure compliance and risk management.
- Develop and track funding proposals to implement real estate transactions in priority areas.
- Develop long-term relationships with landowners and other stakeholders in conservation priority areas.
- Plan and direct work on protection projects.
- Maintain records related to land transactions.
- Recruit and supervise staff and interns as needed or as funding is available, responsible for performance management, training, and development.
- Travel in Arizona for meetings and property visits, sometimes on short notice, sometimes on weekends/overnight. Occasional travel throughout U.S. for training, conferences, etc.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Occasionally requires working long hours, weekends, and holidays.
- Lift, push, pull, move 25 pounds.
- Valid Driver’s License.
- Other duties as required.