Kentucky Director of Protection
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What We Can Achieve Together:
The Director of Protection coordinates and implements a comprehensive program to protect priority lands and waters using the full range of protection tools, including gifts, easements, purchases, conservation brokerage and cooperative projects with federal, state, and local governments, conservation organizations and other partners as appropriate. This position is responsible for implementing and achieving the Conservancy’s internal conservation priorities by overseeing and representing the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with government agencies and other partners. They lead efforts to secure public and private funds for land protection, research land ownership information for priority tracts, conduct due diligence necessary for real estate transactions, and prepare documents for internal approvals. They respond to protection inquiries, screen potential protection projects, and work with other conservation staff on strategic planning for new project identification. They will work across Kentucky, with a heavy focus on the eastern part of the state, and they will work with other TNC business units as needed and assigned. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
We’re Looking for You
The Director of Protection is responsible for leading land protection work for Kentucky and cooperating with larger teams within the Appalachians Program and Southern U.S. Division to advance our land protection goals. This position will oversee all stages of protection (origination, preparation of project abstracts, internal approvals, financing, issue resolution, closing). The Director of Protection will work closely with the Kentucky Director of Conservation to ensure strategic alignment of priority projects and will represent the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with non‑profit partners, government agencies and other key partners. This role will work closely and coordinate with a wide variety of Nature Conservancy staff, private individuals, public entities and corporations in support of land conservation goals.
This role is responsible for identifying and developing funding opportunities for land protection, including soliciting and monitoring government grant funding for land acquisition, market‑based funding evaluations, private fundraising, and other creative approaches. The Director of Protection is an expert in protection techniques and resources and advises staff at partner agencies and organizations on the application of these tools for conservation advancement.
This position will maintain records related to land transactions, supervise staff as needed, and will periodically assist with speaking engagements, leading donor field trips, and other duties as assigned.
Establishing a protection culture of creativity, problem‑solving and collaboration is a critical function of this role. Large land deals in this landscape require the ability to trouble shoot complex issues, including mineral interests, heir and surface ownership issues, active and abandoned coal permits, questions of legal and reputational risk and communicating the risks related to these complex issues to others within TNC and externally where appropriate.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree in natural resources management, conservation, business, law or another related field of study and 3 years of related work experience in conservation, real estate, fundraising or other related experience.
- Real estate experience (including title work, appraisals, surveys, documentation, and closing).
- Experience in managing multiple projects and timelines.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
- Politically savvy and experienced in partnership development (partners, community, government).
- Critical thinking and active approach to find innovative solutions to complex challenges.
- Experience working with computers, including database management.
- Experience identifying and securing funding for land protection.
- Supervisory experience.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working on cross‑functional teams.
- 5 or more years of related work experience in conservation, real estate, law or other related experience.
- Knowledge of current trends and strategies in conservation and land protection.
- Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
