Land Protection Manager
Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC) is looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Land Protection Manager to join our ten person team and oversee land acquisition projects in a region of Maine where vast wild spaces currently remain intact. This is a full time exempt 40 hour per week position that reports to the Director of Land Protection.
The Land Protection Manager will pursue voluntary land conservation opportunities with landowners within FBC’s service area, which spans the Union River Watershed east to the Hancock County line, but this role will primarily focus on properties in towns surrounding Frenchman Bay: Trenton, Lamoine, Hancock, Franklin, Sullivan, and Sorrento. Priority projects will be driven in part by the mission of FBC, organizational focus areas and criteria, Maine’s Beginning with Habitat (BwH) program, climate-resilient landscape modeling, and priorities identified in partnership with local communities, partner organizations, and the Downeast Conservation Network (DCN). Priorities will be further refined by funding availability, and vulnerability of select parcels to conversion to land uses incompatible with conservation.
FBC’s Land Protection Manager’s primary responsibilities include:
Fee and Easement Acquisition
- Engage interested landowners across FBC’s service area in discussions and negotiations around conservation outcomes for their land.
- Adhere to standard organizational policies, procedures, and timelines to complete land protection projects and ensure compliance with standards and practices established by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC) which includes organized record keeping.
- Research and draft private foun-dation and public grant program proposals for land protection projects needing funding support. The Land Protection Manager will work with the Director of Land Protection to develop and administer a fundraising plan for land acquisition projects.
- Coordinate with contractors and consultants (surveyors, attorneys, appraisers, etc.) and conservation professionals to manage project timelines, deliverables, quality, and costs during the due diligence and closing processes.
- Prepare maps (using ArcPro), photos, project summaries, budgets, project pipelines, and other resources to communicate projects to the board, committees, and staff.
Conservation Planning
- Draft and update multi-year conservation plans using science-based goals and strategies to advance our understanding of problems and opportunities through a long-term conservation vision for our region.
- Collaborate with the Director of Land Protection and the board of directors’ land protection committee to present potential conservation projects for committee and board review and approval.
- Plan site visits to prospective properties to engage board, staff, donors, funders, and other key partners.
- Participate in training opportunities on land trust best practices. Examples include traveling to annual conferences like the Maine Land Trust Network and Land Trust Alliance Rally.
Community Conservation & Collaboration
- Partner with municipalities and organizations such as Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Northeast Wilderness Trust, and The Nature Conservancy in Maine when appropriate.
- Develop relationships with government officials and other nonprofit or business partners including engaging town officials in conservation planning, technical assistance, and attending public meetings and giving presentations.
- Coordinate within FBC to provide information about conservation successes for press releases, annual appeals, etc. and to integrate strategies for fundraising, communication, and stewardship of conserved lands.
FBC is a 38-year-old accredited nonprofit land trust with a mission to conserve distinctive ecosystems and landscapes for the benefit of all, from the Union River and Frenchman Bay watersheds east to the Hancock county line. FBC has conserved nearly 20,000 acres of land in 12 Hancock County towns and townships through conservation easements and ownership, and maintains 40 miles of trails freely open to the public.
FBC is accredited through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. We abide by strict standards and practices and board-approved policies that govern all aspects of our work, including record keeping, and contact with landowners and donors. These layers of accountability provide helpful structure for the organization and its staff, and also require a high standard of professional ethic by all staff for ongoing compliance.
Requirements:
Relevant college degree, preferably in conservation, environmental land use, natural resources management, or other related field
2 to 3 years experience in conservation, environmental project management, real estate law, community planning, or other relevant fields
An interest in land conservation and the ecology of downeast Maine
Excellent written and oral communication skills and interest in working with landowners
Flexibility and strong capacity to manage time and competing priorities
Ability to follow directions and work independently
Ability to work collaboratively with other staff and volunteer programs
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Familiarity with land conservation methods and transaction procedures
- Familiarity with natural resources management
- Familiarity with ArcGIS or similar mapping system
- Familiarity with Landscape conservation software
- Competency with standard office equipment and technology (Google suite, etc.)
Physical and Travel Requirements
- Living in a rural and seasonal part of Maine
- Traveling across our service area
- Occasionally attending meetings or events outside normal working hours
- Conducting field work across sometimes steep or uneven terrain in cold, wet, and/or buggy conditions
- Using an iPad/smartphone/GPS in the field
- Comfort in working from home or other location outside the office
- Possessing a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Benefits & Compensation
- Annual salary of $56,000 to $60,000 for the right, well-qualified candidate
- Employer sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Retirement plan with 5% employer match
- 15 paid vacation days and 15 paid holidays per year
- Mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rate
- Professional development support
- Flexible and creative work environment with staff working from home some days of the week and outdoor meetings encouraged
Frenchman Bay Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and are due by 5pm EDT on June 25, 2025. Please email a resume and cover letter as a single PDF file to Abigail Hanson at abigail@frenchmanbay.org with the subject Land Protection Manager. Projected start date is mid to late August. References will be sought from candidates who advance to a final interview. We recognize that experience, both paid and unpaid, can come in many forms. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and related skill sets to apply.