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Position Title: Canadian Rockies Stewardship Coordinator

Location: Invermere, BC

Position details: Full time, salaried

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Stewardship Coordinator to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Canadian Rockies Program Director and under direction of the Program Director, the Canadian Rockies Stewardship Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of stewardship actions as outlined in NCC’s property management and landscape level conservation plans in the Canadian Rockies Program Area, which includes conservation lands in the Elk and Flathead River Valleys, Rocky Mountain Trench, and other locations in Southeastern British Columbia (BC). They will support the development and maintenance of relationships in the communities where NCC works. NCC is a collaborative, dynamic and interdisciplinary team environment. The position will work cooperatively with other NCC staff and departments to accelerate conservation efforts while driving the advancement of multiple projects simultaneously. This position will have a strong emphasis on technical project management tasks (maintaining fencing, managing public access, restoration planning, monitoring forestry and range use plans), and will support the development and maintenance of relationships in the communities where NCC works.

Responsibilities:

Land Stewardship and Conservation Planning:

  • Lead and/or support the ongoing stewardship and monitoring of a portfolio of conservation lands in the Canadian Rockies Program Area.
  • Under the direction of the Land Stewardship Manager, monitor conservation covenants and complete annual conservation area inspections.
  • Develop and manage contracts and contractors delivering work on NCC properties.
  • Oversee implementation of invasive species management plans, restoration prescriptions and range use plans.
  • Manage land use permits, licences and tenures on NCC’s conservation lands including industrial, agricultural and access agreements.
  • Assist the Program Manager and Program Director with landscape level conservation planning.
  • Lead baseline inventories on secured projects through the collection of anthropogenic feature data (fences, gates signs), potential hazards and high-level ecological community information.
  • Support contract development for detailed biological data as needed.
  • Complete land management tasks such as sign installation, site cleanup and fence maintenance.

Partnerships and Community Engagement:

  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with licence and agreement holders, neighbours, community members, governments, Indigenous communities, municipalities, and conservation partners.
  • Coordinate and/or support volunteer, donor and other engagement events as required.
  • Be a professional representative of NCC in public settings such as meetings, workshops, and in communities.

Reporting and Program Support Responsibilities:

  • Ensure conservation actions are consistent with nationally and regionally approved policies and processes, as well as relevant Provincial and/or Federal laws and regulations.
  • Complete annual covenant monitoring and conservation area inspection reports.
  • Enter data and upload documents into NCC’s Land Resource Manager Information System (LIS) and GIS-based Project Information Portal (PIP).
  • Assist the Canadian Rockies Program Area team in annual stewardship work planning, activity tracking and progress reporting.
  • Implement, manage, and report on progress against work plans and budgets.
  • Track and monitor land use agreements (research, access, licences, leases, etc.).
  • With support from the Program Manager and Development staff, assist with preparation of reports, applications, and proposals related to grants and funding agreements.
  • Submit monthly time and billing as well as expense reporting in accordance with nationally and regionally approved policies and processes.

Position Requirements

  • Education: Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in a related discipline (e.g. conservation biology, restoration ecology, natural resource conservation, forestry, geography, environmental science, biology, etc.) or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of BC Interior landscapes, communities, and conservation issues.

We value diverse backgrounds and welcome all candidates to apply who have hands-on experience, relevant certifications, and can demonstrate a commitment to conservation and protected areas management.

Preferred Experience:

  • Relationship-building and facilitating effective communication between parties.
  • Experience working and collaborating with Indigenous peoples and communities.
  • Project management, managing budgets, and supervising contractors.
  • Managing projects related to stewardship and restoration of grasslands, forests and wetlands in the interior of British Columbia.
  • In depth knowledge of conservation partners working in the Rocky Mountain Trench
  • Writing grant applications, funding proposals, and reports.
  • Collecting field information, working with databases, and managing spatial data using various GIS platforms
  • Working in both a physically challenging outdoor environment and in an office-based setting
  • Ability and willingness for on-the-ground work using hand tools to conduct various tasks (e.g., fence repairs, sign installations).
  • Experience with chainsaw for road clearing and fence maintenance is beneficial.
  • Conservation land management including but not limited to recreation and access management, invasive species management and other related best management practices.
  • Expertise in range management and understanding of agricultural practices and operations, forest management, or wetland restoration would be considered an asset.
  • Experience driving rough access roads, working in remote locations, and navigating rural or remote areas
  • Following a Health and Safety program including protocols for working in remote locations and communicating check-ins
  • Comfortable working independently in a home office, and as part of a team with many colleagues in a decentralized work environment

Competencies:

  • Effective communicator and proficient collaborator: ability to succeed when working with others in a fast-paced environment
  • Established solution-oriented approach: willingness to seek creative strategies when barriers encountered
  • Problem solver: ability to overcome challenges, adapt and maintain resilience when facing adversity
  • Capacity to stay focused on meeting project and reporting deadlines while maintaining a positive and energized work environment
  • Understanding of healthy ecosystems and monitoring methods.
  • Ability to be accountable in a remote or semi-remote virtual work environment
  • Ability and willingness to travel for multi-day work trips (even up to 1 or 2 weeks) and some weekend work
  • Valid Class 5 driver’s license

Additional Preferred Assets:

  • Familiarity with the MS Office Suite, ESRI software or other GIS programs, & Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation
  • Relevant professional designation such as R.P.Bio, P.Ag, etc.
  • Wilderness First Aid or other First Aid training
  • Chainsaw Certification
  • Herbicide Applicator’s Licence
  • Up to date understanding of industry trends, best practices, and advancements in conservation land management

The successful candidate for the position of Canadian Rockies Stewardship Coordinator will be based from NCC’s Invermere office with some remote work at their home office within a limited distance from Invermere. The successful candidate will be required to attend in-person meetings, training sessions, and events. In addition, this role involves regular travel and field work (up to one week in duration), with occasional work occurring during evenings and weekends.

Application Deadline

May 31, 2025 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at hr@natureconservancy.ca to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at hr@natureconservancy.ca.