Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Rome, Georgia
Salary: $57,700-$66,130
Description:
The Dugdown Conservation Manager develops, manages, and advances strategies to protect, restore and maintain the mountain longleaf pine ecosystem and its associated habitat types within the Dugdown Corridor, which stretches from Paulding and Sheffield Wildlife Management Areas in northwest Georgia westward to the Talladega National Forest in northeast Alabama. Strategies predominantly focus on land protection, the implementation of prescribed fire, and replanting efforts. Flexible work location within 30 miles radius of our Armuchee Office in Rome, Georgia. The position is funded through June 2028.
The Dugdown Conservation Manager is primarily responsible for driving land acquisition, working directly with Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff to cooperatively manage a large network of state land holdings in Georgia, and overseeing longleaf pine ecosystem restoration efforts in the Dugdown Corridor.
Responsibilities:
Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets.
Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
Must have a valid driver's license
Outreach and Technical Assistance
Work with neighboring private and public landowners to encourage sustainable and ecologically compatible stewardship practices in strategically important areas. Provide technical expertise in fire management, land stewardship and forestry for planning purposes. Coordinate training for partners as well as training and recruitment of volunteer burn crew to assist staff with prescribed fires. Work with educational institutions in developing partnerships and building resource management capacity.
Fire and Stewardship
Supervise Dugdown Stewardship Technician, a seasonal fire crew, and a summer work crew. In conjunction with Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff, prepare units for prescribed burns. Serve in a leadership capacity on prescribed fires. Develop and maintain a post-fire monitoring program. Obtain and keep current an FAA certification as a drone pilot. Manage and maintain all TNC equipment, vehicles, structures, and related records and reporting. Responsible for the readiness and transport of all fire equipment. Develop and maintain cooperative management relationships with managers of other natural areas, commercial timber lands and public lands. Assist Georgia Department of Natural Resources with management of wildlife management areas within the Dugdown Corridor, primarily focusing on overstory/midstory/and understory restoration efforts. Manage TNC Dugdown Corridor land holdings for biological diversity, resiliency, and ecosystem services. Supervise contractors and others engaged in activities on Conservancy and Georgia Department of Natural Resources lands. Assist Georgia Department of Natural Resources with research related to wildlife populations on Wildlife Management Areas including, but not limited to: game bird trapping and banding, camera trap surveys, auditory bird surveys, wildlife disease surveys, and managed deer hunts.
Land Acquisition
Assist with managing the land protection vision within the Dugdown Corridor, focusing primarily on land acquisitions and conservation easements. Collaborate with land protection team and partners on landowner outreach, deal negotiations, and ongoing land protection project support such as performing site inspections, providing site information for funding and approval requests, assisting with grant writing, and providing site access and tours to contractors, donors, and partners.
Minimum Qualifications:
BA/BS, law or business degree and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Meet NWCG qualifications for FFT2, including coursework and experience requirements. See the Conservancy's Fire Management Manual for a full explanation of qualification requirements: https://www.tncfiremanual.org/FIrefighter.htm
Experience negotiating complex agreements.
Supervisory experience.
Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
Experience with principles of land acquisition.
Experience in training and curriculum design.
Relationship-building experience in working closely with various partners, i.e., media, government officials, and internal scientists.
Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with ArcGIS and/or ArcPro.
Knowledge of land management conservation practice and conservation science.
Experience in restoring and maintaining the mountain longleaf pine ecosystem or willingness to learn.
Experience with Georgia and Alabama conservation agencies, organizations, and entities.
Knowledge and/or experience with timber management.
10 years-experience in natural resource management or similar field.
