Grassland Conservation Manager
Birds Canada is seeking a highly motivated Grassland Conservation Manager to deliver the new ‘Grassland Conservation Incentives’ project.
Position Background
Market forces exert tremendous pressure on ranchers to plow and cultivate remaining tracts of native prairie grasslands in Canada. Innovative financial incentives for traditional pasture livelihoods provide an opportunity to prevent extinction of unique prairie birds and other wildlife.
The voluntary carbon market offers an exciting avenue to access financial incentives for grassland conservation. The carbon offset registry ‘Climate Action Reserve’ just released the first Canada Grassland Protocol that includes carbon offsets arising from the carbon-rich grassland habitats of the prairies. It provides ranchers and landowners with an additional revenue stream through working with carbon credit experts to monitor and report on the status of their lands – earning credits that can later be sold in a carbon market to earn revenue for the ranch.
To generate interest in this exciting opportunity among ranchers in Manitoba and beyond, Birds Canada is developing the Grasslands Conservation Incentives Project. The project’s manager will develop a compelling guide to the financial benefits available to qualifying ranches, including the voluntary carbon market, and conservation easements. The guide will be written with and specifically tailored to Canadian ranchers/landowners. In addition, the project manager will generate educational materials for ranchers and the general public to communicate the critical role ranching holds in grassland conservation. Birds are a key indicator of the health of our grassland ecosystem, and a proven public outreach tool, and will form a key component of our public awareness campaign.
Location
The Grassland Conservation Manager will be located in the Manitoba government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Resource Development office in Winnipeg.
Duration
The position has 12 months of guaranteed funding, and will be permanent contingent on further funding.
Duties and responsibilities
- Development of educational material about the carbon market, conservation easements and other financial incentives for ranchers. The material will be developed in consultation with producer associations in Manitoba, the Manitoba government, and other eNGOs with expertise in conservation easements and carbon offset programs.
- Outreach to the farming community through participating in community events, direct outreach
to individual ranchers, blog posts, and other forms of social media. - Preparation of reports for funders and program partners.
- Development and securement of additional funding sources for the grassland program,
including writing funding applications. - Other duties as assigned.
Education
M.Sc. or B.Sc. in biology, agriculture, or agricultural economics
Skills and Experience
Skills
- Ability to research and synthesize technical writing for a public audience
- Strong interpersonal and partnership building skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to communicate well with members of the ranching community
- Valid driver’s licence.
Experience
- Familiarity with the carbon market
- Knowledge of conservation easements and other incentives
- Familiarity with the threats to biodiversity in the prairie ecosystem
- Agricultural background/familiarity with the issues ranchers face in the Manitoba
Additional assets
- Bird identification skills
- Fundraising experience
Preference will be given to candidates who qualify for the Science Horizons Internship Program:
- Currently unemployed or underemployed
- Able to work in a full-time, permanent position within 30 days from application
- Intend to lead an environmental career in STEM or natural resources
- Have not previously participated in a federal youth employment program
- Graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution with a 2 year diploma or 4 year degree
- Not a family member of the employer organization’s senior leaders
- 30 years of age or younger, Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status
- Not currently a paid employee at the employer organization.
Anticipated start date
April 15th, 2020
Salary
$46,000 – $55,000/year
Deadline for applications
March 20, 2020
To apply, please send a brief cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experience, your resume,
and the names and contact information for two references as a single PDF file to Silke Nebel at
snebel@birdscanada.org.
While Birds Canada thanks all applicants, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.
Birds Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are
available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
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