Job Posting: Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant with the Island Nature Trust // Deadline December 30th

December 10, 2019

Position: Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant
Organization: Island Nature Trust
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Term: f/t contract Jan 2020 – Mar 31, 2020, with the possibility of extension
About the Position
Reporting to the Executive Director and Stewardship Coordinator, the Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant will provide support in tracking the acquisition process and compiling key documents for land acquisition and land stewardship. This support will help the Trust to make the most of the opportunity to secure new properties through the Nature Fund program whilst also improving and streamlining its stewardship work. This position will work closely with other Island Nature Trust staff and volunteers.
By the end of March 2020, the Island Nature Trust will meet its goal of acquiring an additional 1,000 acres (since April 1, 2019). The land acquisition process is multistep and requires detailed documentation at each stage. The Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant will work with the Executive Director throughout the land acquisition process, which will include tracking acquisition processes, compiling legal documents, collating biological data, cataloguing photos, developing management plans, and providing support for the Land Acquisition Committee. The Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant will also assist the Stewardship Coordinator with compiling baseline documentation reports and stewardship plans for Island Nature Trust’s existing forty-seven natural areas. Baseline documentation reports bring together all our knowledge of a property, while stewardship plans set out how we will conserve those features we need to protect. The Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant will collate a diverse range of environmental data/information, prepare maps, and edit the draft documents.
The Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant is part of a small, dedicated team that delivers programs for the ongoing stewardship and management of the Trust’s natural area network, and will occasionally provide technical administrative support to other areas of the Trust’s conservation and outreach work.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Executive Director and the Stewardship Coordinator, the Land Acquisition and Stewardship Assistant provide technical and administrative support in tracking land acquisition processes and compiling documents necessary for the acquisition and management of Island Nature Trust natural areas.
A. Land Acquisition Support
  1. Process tracking for securement, including but not limited to appraisal, legal and title transfer components, biological inventory work on new lands, baseline documentation report development, photo cataloguing, assisting with management plan development
  2. Assistance with other documentation where needed. For example, with Ecological Gift assessments and American donations of land.
  3. Providing updates to the Land Management Committee
B. Stewardship Support
  1. Ensure property stewardship records are well maintained and accessible
  2. Assist in planning for 2020 stewardship field program
  3. Assist with development of training materials for conservation volunteers
C. Other
  1. Provide occasional support for the Trust’s outreach and communications efforts
  2. Provide other administrative support as required from time to time in the Trust’s office
Requirements
Education
  1. Essential: One-year post-secondary program
  2. Desirable: Certificate, diploma, or degree in business administration or conservation/science field of study
Experience
  1. Essential: A minimum of one year’s related experience. Equivalencies may be considered
  2. Desirable: Prior experience working with data collected from environmental fieldwork and documenting and presenting findings
  3. Desirable: Experience working with volunteers
Skills
  1. Essential: Organized and methodical approach to working – manages time effectively and work to deadlines
  2. Essential: Ability to work independently, seek assistance and input as required, and to work in interdisciplinary teams
  3. Essential: An eye for detail
  4. Essential: Well-developed written communication skills, including report writing and editing skills, and an ability to organize and present information clearly
  5. Essential: Ability to process and organize a wide range of environmental data including numeric and geographic
  6. Essential: Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office programs particularly Word and Excel and use of the internet, email, social media, and databases
  7. Essential: Geographic data skills: able to produce GIS maps (ideally using ESRI ArcGIS software) and organize field GPS and other spatial data
  8. Essential: Communicates effectively with colleagues, volunteers, and externally in-person, via email, and on the telephone
Knowledge
  1. Desirable: Knowledge of PEI’s natural landscapes, habitats, natural communities and species
  2. Desirable: An understanding of land trusts, private land conservation, and land trust standards and practices related to land securement and stewardship
  3. Desirable: Familiarity with property transactions – ownership & title, claims, and registration
Personal Attributes
  1. Essential: Confident and friendly personality
  2. Desirable: Passion and dedication for environmental conservation
Term of employment
  1. This position is offered as a full-time contract (40 hours a week) beginning in January 2020 until March 31st, 2020 with the possibility of extension
  2. The position is based in Charlottetown, PE but might from time to time require working with other staff at events elsewhere in the province
  3. The pay rate for this position is $16.50/hour
How to Apply
The closing date to apply is Monday, December 30, 2019, by 5 pm
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and name and contact details for 3 references to:
Barb McDonald, Executive Assistant
Island Nature Trust
P.O. Box 265 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K4
By hand to Ravenwood House, 15 Crown Drive, Charlottetown, PE
While we will only be contacting those candidates selected for an interview, we do greatly appreciate your interest in the work of Island Nature Trust.