Land Protection Associate in Visalia, California at Sequoia Riverlands Trust

About Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Sequoia Riverlands Trust is a regional nonprofit land trust focused on the Tulare Basin, which comprises the southern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills of Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties, with additional conservation projects in 5 other California counties. We are accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, and our mission to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland is supported by our ambitious programs in conservation easements (habitat and farmland), land stewardship, restoration, conservation outreach, and education.

We envision a future in which a network of protected natural and working lands thrives in the region we serve, with business, agriculture, and society aligned around sustainable land and water management practices.

OVERVIEW

The Land Protection Associate position supports Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) Land

Protection Department by conducting landowner communication and conservation

easement monitoring, assisting in land transaction projects, regional outreach and

education, and land management activities on land owned or conserved by SRT.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitor and steward a portfolio of protected land interests annually according

to Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and SRT standards; developing landowner

relationships, completing required monitoring reports in a timely manner, and

providing immediate feedback to landowners and land protection staff

• Research, gather data and produce conservation easement Baseline

Documentation Reports

• Support the development of annual easement program goals with the Land

Protection Departments Director, Project Manager and Operations and Data

Manager, including measurable targets and outcomes

• Assist the Land Protection Director, Project Manager and Operations and Data

Manager in identifying and addressing potential easement compliance issues

and other concerns, as well as opportunities for further collaborative

stewardship projects and relationship building

• Implement and maintain appropriate procedures and documentation for

easement monitoring and data storage according to LTA and SRT policies

• Assist in providing data management and mapping support for conservation

plans, funding proposals, project reports, and outreach materials

• Assist with creating and maintaining data tracking systems for land

acquisitions, conservation easements, stewardship obligations, mitigation

requirements, and reporting deadlines

• Assist in the preparation of baseline documentation reports (BDRs) and

management plans for new conservation easements and fee acquisitions

• Attend meetings and maintain communication with regional landowners,

stakeholders, and partnering agencies and organizations regarding current

and future conservation projects

• Collaborate with the Land Protection Director and Land Protection Operations

and Data Manager to ensure that land transaction and stewardship records

and data are maintained and stored according to LTA policies, in virtual and

physical formats

• Carry out other duties as needed to support SRT’s conservation planning,

mitigation and acquisition programs

• Assist with Land Protection Department grant administration and budget

tracking as necessary

• Assist the conservation staff with Fee Title and Mitigation property

management duties as necessary

SUPERVISION

The Land Protection Associate reports to the Director of Land Protection and works

closely with other Land Protection Department and Conservation Department staff.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

College Degree in natural resource management, environmental studies,

conservation or a related field, or demonstrated equivalent professional

experience.

• Project management skills, including:

o Ability to interact with a variety of personalities among SRT staff,

landowners, contractors, volunteers and other partners

o Ability to clearly communicate organizational priorities

• Ability to manage multiple projects with deadlines

• Ability to work with Esri ArcGIS software (e.g. create and edit shapefiles and

feature classes, produce clear and attractive maps, conduct basic spatial

analyses, and organize data effectively)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel)

• Ability to quickly learn SRT’s land conservation software applications for online

record keeping regarding land transactions and stewardship work

• Ability to synthesize and effectively communicate concepts and data, including

excellent writing skills

• Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills

• Familiarity with agriculture and ecology of Tulare County

• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends

• Ability to hike and work under physical strain on sometimes difficult terrain in a

variety of environmental conditions and driving on rough roads

• Driver’s license and willingness to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel

(with mileage reimbursement).

DESIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Experience working with a conservation organization or agency

• Community outreach & engagement experience

• Conflict resolution experience

• California native flora & fauna identification knowledge

• Spanish language proficiency

WORK SETTING AND CONDITIONS

The position is based at SRT’s headquarters in Visalia, California, a city of about 140,000

residents in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The region has a Mediterranean climate,

with cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. SRT’s preserves and conservation

easements are distributed over nine counties, including lands in the foothills of the

southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley and in the Carrizo Plain. The specific work

conditions of this position are as follows:

• Well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned indoor office with moderate noise

• Option for hybrid home-office schedule at Executive Director’s discretion

• Physical Demands

o Ability to lift up to 10 pounds

o Manual dexterity sufficient to reach and handle items, work with fingers

and perceive attributes of objects and materials; ability to stand, walk,

sit, and reach

o Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an

administrative nature, using close vision

o At times, to be outdoors in all weather conditions and in remote

locations

o Ability to visually assess landscape features and to inspect, identify,

observe, and assess safety situations in all work environments

• Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some

additional hours including weekends.

COMPENSATION

This is a non-exempt hourly position with a compensation rate of $21.00-26.00 an hour.

Benefits include an employer matched retirement, health insurance

program, and generous paid time off.

OTHER NOTES

Candidates MUST be able to pass a background check

• Top candidates may be asked to provide samples of their work that

demonstrate their ability to fulfill the requirements of this position

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature performed

by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be

construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so

classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any

time.

• Staff members are expected to consciously and continuously promote the

mission, values, programs, and impact of the organization when presented

with opportunities for participating in membership development and reaching

out to personal connections on behalf of SRT.