Job Description November 2013
Position:
Supervisor:
Committees:
Employment Type:
Compensation:
Hours:
Stewardship Director
Executive Director
Project Committee
Full-time exempt position with a six month introductory period
Competitive salary based on skills and experience
Generally 8:30am to 5:30 pm M-F with some flexibility
Job Summary
The Stewardship Director is a new leadership position established to manage the field
operations of the Solano Land Trust (SLT) including the Land Stewardship Program and
visitor services programs. The Stewardship Director leads the management of the 11,640
acres SLT owns in fee title in a consistent and professional manner including visitor
programs (such as low impact recreation), staff management and managing working
lands. The Stewardship Director also administers the Land Stewardship Program budget,
including visitor services, and oversees major grants and mitigation projects on SLT
lands, in concert with other SLT staff.
Background
Solano Land Trust (SLT) is a 501(c)3 public-benefit corporation with the mission of
permanently protecting natural areas, working farms and ranchlands and connecting our
community to these lands. SLT’s lands provide habitat for many rare and endangered
species, excellent grazing forage, and host over 15,000 visitors each year. Our land
stewardship activities are focused on maintaining, improving and protecting natural
resources with the objective of balancing agricultural, habitat and cultural resources, and
recreational uses of our lands so that their conservation value is protected and enhanced
for generations to come. This is an exciting time for the land trust. In addition to
managing some of the most unique lands in the Sacramento Central Valley and San
Francisco Bay, this position will be responsible for refining and implementing the new
Rockville Trails Management plan. This includes building collaborative relationships to
implement services and programs to support public access/recreation on this incredible
resource.
Responsibilities
Program Administration
1. Provide overall strategic and operational guidance for SLT’s Land Stewardship
program.
2. Manage and lead the land management and visitor services team. Hire additional
staff as needed and as funding allows, establish staff’s annual objectives and
priorities, review and revise these objectives on an ongoing basis to guide work
progress and conduct performance evaluations.
3. Work with land management team to engage the SLT board in discussions about
balancing agriculture, natural resources, cultural resources, and public access on
each property and document decisions in Summary Management Plans. Work
with staff to create tighter connections between work plans for the properties and
strategic guidance from the board.
4. Manage stewardship of SLT’s fee title properties, by preparing and directing the
implementation of adaptive management plans for the properties, and overseeing
annual adaptive management evaluations and recommendations for annual work
plan preparation as needed. This includes oversight of operations, visitor
programs and maintenance of all properties.
5. Build relationships with and advocate for funding from donors and grantors to
support funding for land management, including building SLT endowment funds.
Oversee and write grants for the land management program and other SLT
programs as needed.
6. Negotiate and administer agreements and contracts such as vendor contracts and
mitigation, habitat enhancement and grant agreements including developing
budgets, managing deliverables, preparing reports and invoices, and
communicating with grantors, project proponents and agencies as needed.
7. Support the SLT Board, Project Committee and other committees as needed
including preparing and delivering presentations, memos and other documents.
8. Oversee SLT’s Land Stewardship electronic and paper filing system, including
working with staff to improve quality and completeness of filing systems.
Land Management Activities
1. Oversee and in some cases implement the following activities on SLT properties
as needed:
a. Biological, rangeland and other management/enhancement projects and
monitoring on SLT properties, including restoration and mitigation sites
and non-native species control.
b. SLT’s grazing program.
c. Development/updating of technical standards and specifications used to
manage, protect and improve the natural resources of range lands and
related grazing lands.
d. Work with the SLT Board and committees to develop processes and
policies to support the visitor services program.
e. Low impact recreational services, including trail and facility development
and maintenance, interpretive resources and programs, and coordination of
volunteer staff and activities.
f. Partnerships with resource management agencies, partner organizations
and other land trusts as needed to achieve land management goals.
g. Establish and enforce use rules, and compliance with local and State
permits and regulations
h. SLT’s events and activities on SLT properties, in collaboration with the
Associate Director.
2. Create a culture of collaboration amongst the many users of SLT’s lands,
including grazing licensees, recreationists, scientific community, educational,
school groups, docents and other SLT volunteers and SLT staff on land
management issues to create positive outcomes.
3. Collaborate with Associate Director and SLT’s program partners to support SLT’s
recreation, education and membership goals.
Other Duties:
1. Participate in the development and update of plans to guide acquisition of fee title
and easement acquisition projects to protect natural areas, scenic views and
recreation opportunities.
2. Work with Conservation Director and staff to evaluate potential acquisition
projects.
3. Work with Executive Director and Associate Director to identify and cultivate
potential donors.
4. Represent SLT at meetings and conferences.
5. Help establish organizational policies and procedures that align with SLT’s
Strategic Plan and support the mission.
Position Requirements
Minimum Education, Skills, Experience
 Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science or similar field
plus 5 years’ experience leading teams and managing wildlife preserves with
public access, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prefer
Master’s Degree in related field with 6-10 years’ experience
 Ability to work with diverse groups and build consensus, while maintaining
patience, humor and confidentiality
 Experience working with a non-profit or governmental organization including
budgeting, contract management, grant writing and communicating with a board
of directors
 A team player with strong diplomacy, interpersonal and problem solving skills
 Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with
landowners, the public, media, professional colleagues and government entities
 Proven experience implementing complex or multiple projects, including
managing staff, contractors, workload and finance
 Experience working with volunteers in land stewardship and visitor services
 Experience managing visitor services, including public access to sensitive sites,
trail and facility development, and protection of resources
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Experience managing sensitive species and understanding of concepts related to
ecosystem restoration and management
Demonstrated positive attitude and dedication to land preservation, working
landscapes, and public access/recreation
Good physical condition – able and willing to physically travel over rough terrain
on foot, and deal with the elements.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and
GPS devices; familiarity with GIS systems
Valid Class C driver’s license
Desired Skills
 Experience and understanding of habitat restoration and agricultural practices
 Experience and knowledge of the habitats and species within Solano County
 Experience interpreting scientific data
 Proficiency with Arc View
 Experience working with agencies and conservation organizations
 Experience with public access design and management, including trail
development and associated facilities
 Experience with interpretation and outdoor education
Benefits
SLT provides a portion of the employee’s health, dental, and vision insurance, matches
up to 2% of employee’s contribution toward their 403.b retirement account, and provides
eleven paid holidays and two weeks of vacation per year.