The Land Conservation Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of habitat
restoration projects that ensure the sustainable management of all ECWA-owned lands and nature
preserves. The Land Conservation Manager supervises the work of the Preserve Stewards Program,
comprised of volunteers and any other staff hired to help with conservation and stewardship activities.
ECWA’s land holdings include almost 500 acres in and around downtown Durham, NC, including five
publicly accessible nature preserves, 4 properties not open to the public, one conservation easement,
and any other lands acquired or put under conservation easement by ECWA. The Land Conservation
Manager will use the full range of conservation tools, including scientific and engineering practices,
advancement of known and new techniques, project management, grant and budget management, and
cooperative partnerships to oversee conservation activities at ECWA.
Position Responsibilities:
● Plan and direct all aspects of preserve conservation activities including feasibility, project scope,
proposals, contracting, design, implementation, management plans, monitoring, maintenance,
stewardship, and oversight of internal and external entity collaboration.
● Ensure program compliance with internal policies and external requirements, including BMPs
and LTA standards.
● Ensure conservation practices & strategies are aligned with ECWA’s internal conservation
priorities for wetland restoration and preserve stewardship. General preserve and infrastructure
maintenance including trails and informational signage (alongside ECWA staff)
● Maintaining inventory and functionality of all ECWA Land Conservation equipment, tools, and
supplies
● Data and reporting responsibilities include: production and submission of baseline
documentation reports for new properties and annual monitoring reports for ECWA preserves,
data management and grants reporting, GIS mapping, and visual data preparation
● Coordination and creation of management plans & relevant conservation & stewardship ECWA
policies
● Communications and coordination with a wide variety of ECWA staff, private individuals, public
entities, community organizations, and contractors in support of ECWA’s programmatic and
organizational goals.
● Occasional leadership of public hikes and workdays in ECWA preserves, alongside ECWA staff &
volunteers
● Content creation for public communications, including social media
● Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects,
contracting, and assisting with budget development
● Writing grants and engaging with funders to develop grant agreements, scopes of work,
deliverables, timelines, and budgets for potential projects.
This position will be under minimal supervision, making independent decisions based on analysis,
experience and context. Most tasks will be completed independently and require a motivated and
task-driven person to complete successfully. May work in variable weather conditions, on difficult and
hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
● Wetland restoration and land conservation skills and experience is preferred, including knowledge of
wetland science and ecology, and restoration & conservation standards & practices.
● Ability to explain conservation and restoration practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
● Demonstrated understanding of key ecological processes influencing urban ecosystems in North
Carolina, including vegetation ecology, wetlands hydrology, and forest management.
● Relevant certifications, courses, or trainings in any of the above fields.
● Experience managing grant budgets and fulfilling contract requirements.
● Ability to develop, direct, and manage multiple conservation projects; flexibility and responsiveness
to unforeseen project demands.
● Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
● Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and visual means, including developing and
sharing technical reports.
● Ability to analyze, interpret, and synthesize a variety of data, including aerial photography, soil
surveys, topographic maps, and GIS & GPS data.
● Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
● Supervisory experience.
● Experience using applications such as GIS, Landscape, Google Workspace