Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is looking to hire a Landowner Assistance Coordinator to provide assistance to landowners around these waters by helping them determine the most efficient and practical best management practice(s) to install on their land and connecting them to technical and financial resources to do so. This position is part-time (20-30 hours per week) for a 2-year term, which may be extended pending additional funds. The Coordinator will be overseen by a committee composed of representatives from Envision the Choptank partner organizations, and will be directly supervised by the ESLC.
Position Responsibilities:
• Provide one-on-one assistance to private landowners (residential and agricultural) to help them:• Identify the appropriate BMPs for their land,
• Understand and secure resources from existing BMP cost-share programs, special cost-sharing available through Envision the Choptank, and technical support and service providers,
• Implement pollution control projects, and
• Develop a plan for BMP maintenance.
• Work closely with the Talbot Soil Conservation District, University of Maryland Extension, and University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension.
• These organizations will assist in providing technical assistance to agricultural and residential landowners and may provide the Coordinator with initial connections to landowners.
Within two years, it is anticipated that the Coordinator will reach the following implementation targets:
• 100 Urban Nutrient Management Plans, 50 Rain Barrels, 20 Rain Gardens, and 15 Native Planting practices initiated; and 148 acres enrolled in agricultural BMP programs. Achievement of these targets allows credit to be received for pollution control in local rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
• Work with Envision the Choptank partners to organize and carry out a series of four landowner workshops.
• Assist partner organizations in developing and administering a Residential BMP Fund, which may include:
• Developing application and outreach materials,
• Soliciting, receiving, and ranking applications, and
• Managing a constituent database of landowners interested in and/or implementing best management practice projects and maintenance plans.
• Provide staffing and coordination support for partners engaged in the work described above.
Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, agriculture, natural resources management or related field and 2 years related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.• Experience coordinating multiple projects.
• Experience handling standard business communications.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
Required Knowledge and Skills
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work cooperatively with partners, including conservation managers, farmers, and residents.
• Ability to complete tasks independently within assigned time frames.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, with assignments sometimes coming from a number of sources.
• Ability to coordinate project information from a number of sources to populate databases, create reports and produce manual files.
• Ability to be detail oriented, while able to plan for the long-term.
• Knowledge of common BMPs for water quality.
• Familiarity with Eastern Shore and greater Maryland cost-share programs that support and incentivize best management practice implementation.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and access to a vehicle for travel.
• Applicants must have flexible working hours (may include evenings and weekends).
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working with private landowners and with diverse audiences of all socio-economic levels.• Experience with installation, maintenance, or monitoring associated with BMPs in rural landscapes.
• Experience coordinating the work of multiple organizations.
• Experience with grant writing and coordination.
• Experience using and managing database and/or constituent database software.
• Maryland Eastern Shore resident.
• Experience working with Eastern Shore communities.
Salary
$20/hour for an estimated 20-30 hours per week. Pending funding available to extend employment, the anticipated termination date is January 1, 2019. Benefits are not included. The position will be reimbursed for travel expenses. Desk space at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in the Eastern Shore Conservation Center is included.
Applications
To apply for this part-time position, please send a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references to info@eslc.org. Applications are due by November 30, 2016.
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. Our Vision in 2050 is an Eastern Shore where: towns are vibrant and well defined; farms, forests, and fisheries are thriving; and scenic, historic, natural, and riverine landscapes are maintained.
ESLC is part of Envision the Choptank, a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on developing collaborative solutions to support a swimmable, fishable Choptank and healthy native oysters. As part of the initiative, several partner organizations received a grant to reduce the levels of nutrients and sediment entering the Choptank River by increasing the implementation of agricultural and residential best management practices (BMPs). Funds from the grant are being used to support this position, as well as carry out multiple landowner workshops and develop a fund to provide monies to residential landowners for BMPs. The majority of this work will be focused around three tributaries of the Choptank: Harris Creek, Broad Creek, and the Tred Avon River.
The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer.
