ABOUT FORTERRA

Forterra’s mission is to secure places—urban, rural, and wild—that are keystones of a sustainable future for all. From wildlands and working farms and forests, to places in the city for affordable housing, parks and the arts, we work simultaneously across all landscapes because they are interconnected. And ultimately people and lands must all thrive together.  To achieve this mission, Forterra works with regional partners and stakeholders to engage in community visioning, planning, policy work, economic development, recreation initiatives, and conservation—all with the aim of making land conservation work for our communities. Forterra also draws on its real estate expertise to help urban communities accommodate new growth while maintaining a high quality of life for all residents.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Land Management oversees all aspects of Forterra’s land portfolio, including fee-owned lands and conservation easements, totaling over 16,000 acres across 13 counties.  The breadth of responsibilities for this position ranges from ecological expertise to managing personnel and finances.  The Director of Land Management is responsible for ensuring that the Forterra lands portfolio is properly stewarded by ensuring that activities such as annual monitoring, stewardship planning, management, and implementation of all maintenance and/or restoration/enhancement projects are undertaken in a professional, responsible, and scientifically sound manner, with the long-term goal of maximizing the ecological and social potential of the lands portfolio.

To effectively manage Forterra’s lands portfolio, the Director of Land Management delegates projects and assignments to the lands team staff, including: the Lands Manager, AmeriCorps, interns and restoration crews/contractors (when working on Forterra lands).  The Director of Land Management works closely with lands team staff, providing training, mentoring, and technical assistance as needed.  This position will be split approximately 60%/40% between office work and field work, though may vary as needs demand.

This position is also responsible for Lands team administration, including annual work planning and budgeting.  The Director of Land Management will work closely with the Vice President of Policy and Programming to identify and pursue funding sources and new opportunities to ensure perpetual high-quality management of Forterra lands and bolster funding.

Success in this position requires extensive cross-team collaboration within Forterra and conscientious external communications. The Director of Land Management regularly works with the Real Estate Transactions team to ensure their new projects adequately address and budget for long-term stewardship needs; works closely with the Finance team on business administration issues; works with the Philanthropy and Communications teams on fundraising, including creating appropriate messaging around complex land management issues; works closely with the Innovations team to explore new business models for stewardship; and collaborates with the Stewardship team to share expertise and resources.  The Director of Land Management also serves as the technical expert regarding ecological restoration and land management issues for external communications.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Job responsibilities and tasks are stated in broad terms and are not intended to be a comprehensive listing.

50%

  • Manage fee-owned lands, including properties purchased for development; write/update management plans; lead complex restoration/management issues, including large-scale restoration efforts, homeless encampments, trespass/vandalism, and recreational use
  • Address conservation easement violations, by working with landowners, violators, and Forterra Corporate Counsel.
  • Assist Lands Manager with annual fee and conservation easement monitoring – particularly with complex landscapes and landowners; recommend stewardship best management practices to ensure compliance with the terms of the easement/goals for each property.

10%

  • On-board new fee lands and conservation easements by working with the Conservation Transactions team to properly identify and budget for stewardship needs, review conservation easement language; assist with the creation of management/stewardship plans, and baseline reports as needed.

20%

  • Supervise, train, manage and mentor staff, including: Lands Manager, AmeriCorps, and other staff/interns/crew/contractors as needed.
  • Promotes a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.
  • Maintain working knowledge of ecological restoration and land management best practices.

20%

  • Manage all aspects of the Lands Team finances and budget in close coordination with VP of Policy & Programming and Finance Team.
  • Implement an emerging lands stewardship and funding strategy, co-managing an affiliated board committee with the VP of Policy & Programming.
  • Work with Philanthropy and Communications Teams on fundraising, marketing, and communications.
  • Manage the LOCATE database of Forterra properties.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director supervises the Land Manager and occasionally directs the work of up to three AmeriCorps Volunteers.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Minimum 5 years of related work experience, including experience with environmental restoration, natural resource management, managing staff, and budgeting.
  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resources, forestry, or related field.
  • Valid, insurable driver’s license/record.

Preferred

  • Experience leading land management activities, especially for a land trust.
  • Experience managing buildings and/or developed properties.
  • Experience leading a team and unit of business, such as a department or portfolio.

COMPETENCIES

Required

  • Leadership skills in the context of land management and restoration.
  • Technical expertise in restoration techniques, best land management practices, and issues associated with land management (homelessness, vandalism, recreational use, ecological forestry, watershed-scale restoration etc.)
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to communicate accurately with co-workers, volunteers, landowners, clients, and vendors.
  • Ability to lead colleagues, host events and groups, including strong public speaking skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to safely and correctly use hand tools associated with restoration work, and ability to instruct and supervise others in the use of those tools.
  • Ability and willingness to work some non-standard hours, including occasional evenings/weekends.

Preferred

  • Extensive knowledge of conservation easements and other land protection mechanisms, policies and laws relating to conservation.
  • Working knowledge of relevant GPS and GIS software/hardware.
  • Grant tracking and management experience.
  • Ability to forge consensus among diverse advocacy groups and facilitate agreement among diverse stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated commitment and integration of anti-racism practices into operations.

Salary Target:  $63,700 to $79,000

BENEFITS

Forterra’s benefits include ten paid holidays per year and paid time off (PTO) leave. You will be eligible to enroll in the employer-sponsored medical, vision dental, and flexible spending account (FSA) plans. You will also be able to enroll in Forterra’s 401(k) program.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Because this position involves access to confidential/sensitive information and physical assets, a criminal history background check will be conducted on the final candidate prior to beginning employment.

TRAVEL, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Forterra is currently requiring all employees to work from home due to COVID-19 precautions. This position will be based in the home office and field for the foreseeable future. This position is subject to indoor environmental conditions typical to a professional office setting. Forterra will provide reasonable accommodation for people who are differently abled. The essential physical requirements of this position include:

  • Ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
  • Ability to sit, stand or otherwise remain in a stationary position at a computer workstation for the majority of the work day.
  • Ability to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, etc.
  • Ability to constantly operate a computer and other office equipment such as calculators, copy machines and printers.
  • Ability to communicate accurately and persuasively with co-workers, clients and members of the public about Forterra’s work.
  • Ability to lead and participate in outdoor project/site tours. This may require navigating uneven terrain in inclement weather.
  • Frequent travel in the Greater Puget Sound and Central Cascade regions, mostly in the form of day trips from Seattle.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity of all kinds. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this opportunity.  It is our policy to ensure that qualified individuals are considered for employment and treated equally without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law. Assistance and/or reasonable accommodations during the application process are available to individuals with disabilities upon request. To request assistance or accommodation, please contact Human Resources at jobs@forterra.org.

Apply here: https://forterra.applytojob.com/apply/frPJz1v7yW/Director-Of-Land-Management?source=LILI#frPJz1v7yW