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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, Southern Interior 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 NCC and its supporters have protected 15 million hectares of ecologically significant land across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-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.

Position Summary

The Stewardship Coordinator, Southern Interior 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 BC Interior Program Area, which includes conservation lands in the Okanagan, Thompson, West Chilcotin and other interior locations. They will support the development and maintenance of relationships in the communities where NCC works. The Stewardship Coordinator will work under the direction of the Interior Program Manager. They will work with the BC Region team in a collaborative, dynamic and interdisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

Land Stewardship and Conservation Planning

  • Lead the ongoing stewardship and monitoring of a portfolio of conservation lands in the Southern Interior (e.g. Okanagan, Thompson). Support stewardship of conservation lands in other parts of the BC Interior Program Area.
  • Monitor conservation covenants and complete annual conservation area inspections.
  • Oversee implementation of invasive species management plans, restoration prescriptions and range use plans.
  • Manage land use permits, licences, and tenures on NCC’s fee simple lands including grazing, haying, research and access authorizations.
  • Support species and other ecological inventories or surveys.
  • Develop and manage contracts and manage contractors delivering work on NCC properties.
  • Provide guidance to or oversee the work of conservation interns and volunteers.
  • Provide input into landscape level conservation plans and progress reports.
  • Conduct field work, data entry and analysis to develop Baseline Inventory reports and Property Management Plans.
  • Complete land management tasks such as sign installation, site cleanup, access management and fence maintenance.


Partnership and Community Engagement

  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with Indigenous communities, landowners, agreement holders, neighbours, community members, governments, municipalities, and conservation partners.
  • Coordinate and/or support various Conservation Volunteer, donor and other engagement events.
  • Be a professional representative of NCC in public settings.


Reporting and Program Support Responsibilities

  • Assist with ensuring conservation actions are consistent with nationally and regionally approved policies and processes, as well as relevant Provincial and/or Federal laws and regulations.
  • Enter data and upload documents into NCC’s Land Resource Manager Information System (LIS) and GIS-based Property Information Portal (PIP).
  • Assist the Interior Program Area team in annual stewardship work planning, activity tracking and progress reporting.
  • Implement, manage, and report on progress against work plans and budgets.
  • Issue and track land use agreements (research, access, licences, leases, etc.).
  • Prepare reports, applications, and proposals related to grants, funding agreements and reports to donors.
  • Submit monthly time and billing as well as expense reporting in accordance with nationally and regionally approved policies and processes.

Other

  • Other duties as assigned by the Interior Program Director


Position Requirements

Education

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in a related discipline (e.g. applied conservation biology, restoration ecology, natural resource conservation, forestry, geography, environmental science, etc.) or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Demonstrated working knowledge of BC Interior landscapes, communities, and conservation issues. Candidates that do not meet the position requirements but have relevant education and experience may be considered at a different classification and salary range.

Experience

  • Relationship-building and facilitating effective communication between parties
  • Working and collaborating with Indigenous peoples and communities
  • Project coordination, managing budgets and supervising contractors
  • Managing projects related to stewardship and restoration of grasslands, forests, and wetlands
  • Writing grant applications, funding proposals, and reports
  • Collecting field information, working with databases, and collecting and using spatial data through various GIS platforms
  • Working in both a physically challenging outdoor environment and in an office-based setting
  • Ability and willingness to complete on-the-groundwork using hand tools to do quick fence repairs, sign installations, site clean up etc.
  • Operating off road vehicles, 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


Most importantly, we expect all staff to think big, get stuff done, and find joy in their work. Here are the other skills and competencies that are important or essential in this position:

  • Consistently demonstrate the following behaviors: collaborative, energizing, willing to acknowledge challenges and speak out, resilient, focused, creative solution oriented, respectful of others’ feelings and time, accountable, adaptable, and having a broad perspective of where conservation work fits into society at a community, provincial, national, and global scale
  • Effective communicator; proficient collaborator 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
  • Expertise in range management, grassland health assessments and understanding of agricultural practices and operations
  • Conservation land management including but not limited to access management, invasive species management, ecosystem restoration and other related best management practices
  • Understanding of healthy ecosystems and monitoring methods
  • Demonstrated 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
  • Proficient user of Microsoft Office
  • Valid Class 5 driver’s license

Additional Preferred Assets

  • Relevant professional designation such as R.P. Bio, P. Ag etc.
  • Wilderness First Aid Training
  • Chainsaw Certification
  • Herbicide Applicator’s License
How to Apply


NCC is an equal opportunity employer. If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your cover letter, resume and salary expectations through our Career Centre by December 14, 2020 at 11:59 PM EST.

NCC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We value and incorporate diverse traditions, heritage, knowledge and experiences in our mission and in our workplaces. We celebrate the full participation of people from all walks of life as we work towards common goals. We strive for a conservation movement in which equity, diversity and inclusion are the norm. This is our continuous commitment: to promote healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet for everyone.