Director for Climate, Access, and Stewardship

Director for Climate, Access, and Stewardship

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) seeks a Director for Climate, Access, and Stewardship to lead a growing land conservation portfolio in North Central Washington. The CDLT is accredited with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and has a track record of community engagement, land protection, and stewardship. We continue to build lasting relationships with our diverse and culturally rich community. We have an enthusiastic and committed board and an over 2,000 household membership who support CDLT with time, money, and connections. We have over $27 million in assets including a $4 million operating endowment, a $4 million stewardship fund, and a $1.2 million land conservation opportunity fund, which testify to our strong community support and our commitment to financial stability.

CDLT is Headquartered in Wenatchee, North Central Washington which offers affordable housing and unlimited recreational opportunities. We are within an hour from two world-class ski areas, easy access to multiple mountain climbing sites, thousands of acres of snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, endless camping and hiking opportunities, white water rafting, and twenty-plus miles of hiking right from downtown Wenatchee! We are known for our orchards and our warm, friendly, generous spirit. This is a place that welcomes newcomers.

Position Description

The Director for Climate, Access and Stewardship is a member of the Senior Management Team and leads the five-member Fields Team. The Director is responsible for guiding the management of over 6,000 acres of eastside Cascades forest and shrub steppe, 40 miles of recreational trails, and 18 conservation easements, including 10,000 acres of agricultural ranch land. The Director will lead CDLT’s efforts to ensure properties in our portfolio are managed to maintain their conservation and recreation values in the face of effects of climate change.

Position Responsibilities

The Director is responsible for:

• Interpreting, planning, and overseeing land management practices as implemented by the Fields Team, and external partners and contractors, and according to LTA Standards and Practices. Advising the land acquisition team on the feasibility of potential projects in the context of public access, costs of stewardship, and establishing or maintaining climate change resiliency. Serving as staff lead for communications with external partners and the community at large related to property management activities and challenges. Planning for and implementing strategic capacity growth and creating and managing an annual program budget including sourcing grant and other revenue sources. Providing adaptive management of and excellent support for the 5 member Field Programs team with a focus on clear communication, shared objectives, and respect for individuals.

Under the leadership of the Director, the Field Programs staff is responsible for:

• Managing properties in the CDLT portfolio to protect, restore, and maintain their conservation values and ensure that permitted activities are compatible with the conservation and stewardship goals and climate change adaptation.
• Monitoring CDLT fee-owned lands and Conservation Easements and conducting baseline and ongoing assessments following LTA guidelines.

• Facilitating implementation of complex restoration and access projects, including grant writing and reporting, budgeting, review of concept designs and engineering plans, contract administration, mapping, and development of long-term monitoring protocols. Utilizing GIS data layers and analysis tools to prioritize both protection opportunities and restoration work on current properties to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and resiliency in the face of climate change. Coordinating and collaborating with external partners on the level of project implementation. Providing excellent professional communication about our work in interactions with our Board of Trustees, members, partners, and the community.

Qualifications:

• A personal commitment to equity and inclusion Minimum of a master’s degree in restoration ecology, landscape ecology, fire ecology, natural resource management, western arid lands ecology, and/or climate change science. At least five years of leadership experience in staff support and program or department management. Experience in applying restoration ecology principles and climate change adaptation strategies to the management and adaptation of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems of the arid western US. Familiarity with the North Central Cascade Range Forest and shrub steppe region. Expertise with fire ecology, landscape ecology, climate change science, and natural resource management considerations of Western arid lands and riparian corridors. Knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS programs and Microsoft 365.

To Apply:

Applications will be reviewed as received, with priority given to applications received by June 1, 2023. Please send a cover letter and résumé.

Email complete application to: eunice@cdlandtrust.org

Salary and Benefits:

We offer a competitive salary that is consistent with LTA practices, with excellent benefits, including group medical and dental insurance, travel reimbursement, training opportunities, 30 days of paid holiday and vacation time, and a simple IRA with employer match. Salary level depends upon experience and is $70,000-90,000 per year for 40 hours per week.

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust was founded in 1985 and has a current membership base of over 2,000 households. We are a non-profit organization that engages communities in conserving, caring for, and accessing the natural lands and waters that sustain North Central Washington. We have a 15-member Board, 20-member Leadership Circle, 14 paid staff and many members and volunteers supporting our work. Our service area includes Chelan and Douglas Counties, with strategic activities at the regional and statewide level. CDLT is an equal opportunity employer.