Coordinator, Conservation Biology – Northwestern Ontario
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Position Details: Full Time Permanent
Salary Range: $63,950.00 – $71,909.00
Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Coordinator, Conservation Biology – Northwestern Ontario to join the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain. The ideal candidate will be passionate about land stewardship and public engagement and will have experience in project coordination for land management.
Since 1962, NCC and its supporters helped conserve over 15 million hectares of ecologically significant land across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve conservation success for nature and for people. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.
Overview
As the Coordinator, Conservation Biology – Northwestern Ontario, you will lead the conservation efforts in the Lake Superior and Rainy Lake to Lake of the Woods Natural Areas. By working at NCC, you will join a national leader in land conservation and stewardship, welcome visitors to experience nature, and steward some of the best examples of forest, wetland and shoreline habitats. You will also work closely with the Ontario Region team and colleagues across the country.
Stewardship in Northwestern Ontario involves protecting and enhancing forest and wetland habitats, protecting species at risk, monitoring for and removing invasive species, trail maintenance and mitigating the impacts of human disturbance. You will work with contractors, landowners, local communities (including hunters) and external partners (other NGOs, government agencies, Conservation Authorities). Finally, NCC is committed to Truth & Reconciliation, and through this role, you will support opportunities to work together with Indigenous communities, employing a two-eyed seeing approach to conservation.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Property Stewardship and Conservation Planning
• Manage the field work and reporting required to develop and implement property management plans for NCC-owned properties;
• Coordinate the development, preparation, and implementation of baseline inventories, property management plans, and natural area conservation plans;
• Work closely with local area partners, land stewards, and contractors to coordinate the delivery of stewardship and outreach in priority natural areas;
• Monitor the status of biodiversity targets (including species at risk) and threats and the effectiveness of conservation actions on NCC properties;
• Implement recommended stewardship and management actions on NCC properties, with a focus on habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and visitor management;
• Coordinate the implementation of invasive species monitoring and control, with a particular focus on invasive Phragmites and invasive honeysuckle;
• Monitor and report on conservation easements, including managing ongoing landowner relations;
• Monitor and maintain trails, fences, gates, signage, and other infrastructure and address liability issues on NCC properties such as unwanted motorized vehicle access, illegal hunting, and trespassing;
• Support priority research activities;
• Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the status of conservation targets and threats on NCC properties transferred from NCC to conservation partners;
• Assist in the development of strategic landscape-scale plans to guide securement and stewardship, and to measure conservation success.
2. Property Administration
• Ensure that accurate and current property information and records are available to regional and national managers;
• Work with administrative staff to ensure the enrollment of all NCC eligible properties into applicable tax incentive or reduction programs;
• Ensure that NCC’s Land Resource Management System is populated with accurate and complete data, including required digital layers;
• Ensure all liability issues are dealt with promptly and accurate records are maintained for insurance related matters;
• Ensure that conditions of all agreements (e.g. landholding agreements, off-road vehicle mitigation measures; agricultural lease agreements) are administered in a timely fashion.
3. Community and Partnership Liaison
• Coordinate Conservation Volunteers events, in consultation with the Regional Coordinator, Science and Stewardship;
• Foster and maintain positive relationships with landowners, lessees, volunteers, contractors, and local partners in the sub region through personal contact, program newsletters and other innovative approaches;
• Become a known presence on the ground at NCC properties to help deter unwanted behaviour and promote positive visitor interactions and compliance;
• Represent NCC on specific committees and at meetings or workshops related to land management and conservation as required;
• Represent NCC in appropriate external relations and communications functions relevant to NCC’s science and stewardship activities in the sub region (including public speaking, meetings, and media relations) to build awareness and support for the conservation programs of NCC and its partners;
• Organize and implement visitor opportunities such as guided hikes and organized events that engage people in nature and NCC’s work.
4. Staff and Project Management
• Work with the Program Director and others to coordinate and manage contractors, suppliers and volunteers working on science, stewardship and other initiatives in the sub-region;
• Manage and lead a variety of stewardship projects (often several at once) to deliver sound property management and meet annual stewardship deliverables;
• Provide supervision of seasonal Conservation Technicians and work together to efficiently and safely complete sub-regional stewardship tasks.
5. Development and Fundraising
• Assist the Program Director in advising Development staff of funding priorities, budgets, and deadlines for ongoing stewardship needs;
• Assist regional staff and local fundraising volunteers to identify, cultivate, and request funds from both existing donors and new prospects, including individuals, businesses, foundations, government sources, and non-government organizations;
• Guide or assist with property tours and events for donors, partners, or the media.
6. Reporting & Business Planning
• Develop annual work plans and budgets for stewardship and science activities;
• Provide timely reports as required to regional and national staff and Boards.
7. Other
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director or Ontario’s Senior Director of Conservation.
Skills and Aptitudes
This posting is targeted to individuals possessing the following skills and abilities:
• A degree or diploma in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science or related discipline with 3-5 years of directly related experience or equivalent;
• Strong project management and reporting skills, including excellent problem solving, planning, and organization skills, financial budgeting, tracking and reporting, and the ability to manage numerous agreements and deliverable simultaneously while paying attention to detail and timelines;
• Demonstrated experience conducting independent fieldwork, comfortable working in wilderness settings, and knowledge of field safety practices;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience and comfort engaging with members of the public or volunteers
• Demonstrated interesting and ability to carry out physical labour and work outdoors in all types of weather and environmental conditions;
• Previous experience with invasive species identification and control;
• Comfortable working with and around pesticides at part of regular job duties, and is willing to obtain (or already has) an Ontario pesticide exterminator license;
• Proficient with MS Office Suite;
• Entrepreneurial, with a strong ability to prepare and manage timelines, goals and expectations wisely;
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff and/or volunteers, including at large volunteer events;
• Comfort working in a team setting and capable of easily communicating with a wide range of people from the public and private sectors;
• Good botanical and wildlife inventory skills, experience using identification keys, working knowledge of Ontario’s Species at Risk, and an understanding of vegetation community classification;
• Possesses a G-driver’s license and ability to rent a vehicle in Ontario;
• Must have reliable transportation to rural areas and be comfortable driving on both highways and country roads;
• Must be prepared to travel, work flexible hours at times, and work in remote areas.
The following additional skills and abilities would be assets for this position:
• Previous experience working with species at risk and maintaining confidential species at risk information;
• Familiarity with COSEWIC and COSSARO designated species and recovery plans;
• Experience in trail management, visitor engagement, and/or mitigating impacts of visitors on natural lands;
• Experience with Indigenous engagement, two-eyed seeing conservation approaches, and partnerships with First Nations;
• Navigational skills including understanding of GPS devices or applications, compass, and air photo interpretation;
• Standard First Aid – Level C CPR certification;
• Experience using power tools and other mechanized stewardship equipment (e.g. backpack sprayers, mowers, brush saws);
• Aptitude for maintaining and repairing equipment and infrastructure;
• Experience implementing property or natural area management plans;
• Experience in delivering land/resource management programs in a rural community;
• Previous experience working with landowners to implement land use / land management changes.
Terms of Employment
• This is a full-time, permanent position;
• The position is ideally based out of Thunder Bay and will involve travel to and from field sites throughout the sub-region. Some weekend and evening work will be required.
To Apply
NCC is an equal opportunity employer. If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your cover letter, resume and salary expectations through our Career Centre.
Application Deadline: August 21, 2022, 11:59 PM ET.
NCC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We value and incorporate diverse traditions, heritage, knowledge and experiences in our mission and in our workplaces. We celebrate the full participation of people from all walks of life as we work towards common goals. We strive for a conservation movement in which equity, diversity and inclusion are the norm. This is our continuous commitment: to promote healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet for everyone.
Bookmark Job
You must sign in to bookmark this listing.
Apply For job
To apply for this job please visit 1.adp.com.