Sandhills Stewardship Manager

USA The Nature Conservancy; Southern Pines (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina is seeking a Sandhills Stewardship Manager (Conservation Practitioner VI) to lead restoration and management of preserves in the Sandhills, oversee prescribed fire programs, and coordinate conservation planning with partners.

You will supervise staff and contractors, manage budgets, and advance ecological restoration while engaging with local communities and stakeholders to support resilient landscapes.

Qualifications

• This role leads restoration and management of preserves for biodiversity and ecosystem function.
• Experience coordinating large-scale landscape conservation and fire management programs.
• Ability to manage budgets, supervise staff and engage partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead restoration and management of TNC preserves in the Sandhills.
• Oversee prescribed fire program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Coordinate collaboration with partners and cross-site learning.
• Supervise staff, contractors, and volunteers; manage budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Conservation planning

Staff supervision

Cross-site collaboration

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in ecology or related field

MS preferred

Tools

GIS

ArcGIS

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Sandhills Stewardship Manager develops, manages and advances conservation programs, plans and methods for large-scale geographic areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Sandhills Stewardship Manager (Conservation Practitioner VI) provides technical leadership and support to a business unit or Division by planning, directing and implementing preserve management programs and stewardship. They address critical threats to natural systems and individual species, fosters cross-site learning among an international conservation community, and supplies conservation planning teams (formerly called \"eco regional\" planning teams) with site or landscape level information relevant to the planning process. They develop and implement conservation strategies, employ a full range of protection tools to acquire varying degrees of legal interest in land and implements a variety of strategies to secure public and private support for TNC conservation priorities. They coordinate community support and maintain preserve areas frequented by the visiting public.

This position has three major focal areas:

1. Leading the restoration, management and stewardship of longleaf pine ecosystems in the Sandhills to help meet the organization's goal of creating resilient and connected landscape.


2. Leading the Sandhills fire management program, including planning, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating all aspects of the program to enable the safe and long-term management of natural communities in the region.


3. Managing direct reports and fostering partner relationships. Interacting with staff, colleagues, and partners in a way that fosters information sharing and learning, collaboration that leads to positive and strategic conservation actions, and leveraging of resources to increase the impact and influence of the Sandhills stewardship and fire management programs within the region.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

The Sandhills Stewardship Manager is responsible for the restoration and management of TNC's network of nature preserves located in the Sandhills of North Carolina. They lead the development and implementation of ecological restoration and land management plans for TNC preserves, TNC's prescribed fire program in the Sandhills, and oversee conservation easement monitoring. They work closely with partners in planning for collaborative fire management and stewardship efforts and wildfire responses. The Sandhills Stewardship Manager works closely with the Southern Coastal Plain Program Director and the NC Fire Manager. The position supervises the Sandhills Conservation Coordinator, a limited term full‑time Sandhills Land Steward, and two limited term full‑time Fire Crew Managers, and seasonal fire crew members. The position also oversees contractors, volunteers, and interns. They are managed by the Southern Coastal Plain Program Director. This is a full‑time, exempt position with benefits.

STEWARDSHIP AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

• Lead the restoration and management of TNC preserves in the Sandhills and surrounding areas for biological diversity, ecosystem function, and resiliency. Develop and implement restoration and management plans on preserves, including prioritized restoration actions, consideration of federally protected and rare species, ecological monitoring, adaptive management approaches, and managed public access.


• Oversee all aspects of fire management on TNC preserves in the Sandhills in coordination with the NC Fire Manager and Southern Coastal Plain Program Director. Comply with TNC Fire manual SOP's, prepare and update burn plans and maintain wildfire response plans, including the readiness of all fire equipment and vehicles.


• Responsible for keeping abreast of new stewardship and burn techniques and equipment to enhance knowledge and capacity. Maintain and advance professional fire qualifications.


• Assist in maintaining a Sandhills restoration and management database and geospatial data.


• Financial responsibilities include working within and managing budgets, accurate expense coding and approval, negotiating and contracting with vendors, and assisting with budget development and fundraising targets.


• Ensure program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.


• Oversee hunting leases, manage timber sales, tree and grass planting, invasive species control, and coordinate other stewardship activities, as required.

COMMUNICATIONS, OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Develop and maintain cooperative and action-oriented relationships with federal, state, and local conservation partners, local municipalities, commercial timber producers, and private landowners to encourage sustainable and ecologically compatible stewardship practices in strategically important areas.

Build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where TNC works. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities in partnership with state and federal agencies, eit