Title: Conservation Easement Steward
Reports to: Samantha Alcozer, Conservation Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina
Location: Based out of Mount Pleasant, SC (near Charleston, SC)
Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt
Living Allowance: $300/week – paid out biweekly
AmeriCorps Award: $1,638.89 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of 450-hour term
Health Benefits: Not Health Benefit Eligible
Other Benefits: Housing in Awendaw, SC available
Start/End date: February 22, 2021 – May 21, 2021
Number of positions available: 2
Southeast Conservation Corps:
SECC empowering young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.
The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. The SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.
Position Description:
The Land Protection team at The Nature Conservancy South Carolina handles acquisitions of lands for our various conservation strategies and the acquisition and management of conservation easements. Our 160+ property portfolio of conservation easements protects over 180,000 acres from development, throughout South Carolina. We work with landowners to help improve their property, while ensuring the compliance with the easement. TNC South Carolina holds leadership positions in the South Carolina Land Trust Network which works with and helps 20+ land trusts in the state and government entities to boost conservation efforts and provide wholistic conservation data for all to use.
To better steward the lands we protect we recognize the need for increased data on our easements. With 180,000 acres protected by our state chapter over the past 40 years and technological advances in the last 10, we are ready to collect the data we need to help protect these lands. The interns would measure and log various land improvements in our geodatabase to help us better steward the easements. With this information recorded, we will be able to see and track changes to each property over time.
Position Responsibilities:
• Monitor and collect geospatial data on conservation easements
• Identify and measure impervious surface, agriculture fields, food plots, isolated wetlands, and other improvements on conservation easements
• Take photos of each property and enter data in the Collector app
• Work with supervisor to complete annual conservation easement monitoring report
• Accompany or meet and greet Philanthropy staff during easement monitoring visits
• Provide firsthand accounts of work to Marketing team to be used for outreach
• Research resources on land management for our marketing materials
Provided Training:
• Bi-weekly civic engagement/professional development sessions
AmeriCorps Qualifications:
To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.
Compensation:
Interns are paid a living stipend of $300 per week (dispersed bi-weekly) before taxes, via direct deposit. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an $1,638.89 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.
Participation and Expedition Behavior:
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.
Environmental Ethics:
Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.
Outdoor Skills (where appropriate):
Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
Substance Free:
In accordance with a drug-free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
Additional Notes:
All applicants are required to perform a criminal history check, offers of employment are contingent upon results.
This program is available to all eligible applicants, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion.
If you have questions about the position, please contact:
Samantha Alcozer
Conservation Coordinator
843-937-8807
samantha.alcozer@tnc.org
If you have questions about the application process, please contact:
Darby Reed
Enrollment Coordinator
304-860-0320
dreed@conservationlegacy.org