The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) is seeking a Stewardship Manager/Director for our properties in North Central Washington. CDLT is accredited with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and has a track record of community engagement, land protection, recreation access, and stewardship. CDLT is headquartered in Wenatchee, North Central Washington, and offers nearby access to recreational opportunities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and river sports.

 

 

Position Description:

The Stewardship Manager/Director will report to the Executive Director, will work with CDLT’s Science Advisory Council, and will be a member of the Fields Team staff, which consists of a Trails Project Manager, a Conservation Fellow, a GIS & Data Manager, and one or more Field Technicians. The Stewardship Manager/Director is responsible for guiding the day-to-day management of over 6,000 acres of eastside Cascades Forest, riparian and shrub-steppe, as well as 18 conservation easements that include >10,000 acres of agricultural ranch land. The Stewardship Manager/Director will lead CDLT’s efforts to ensure that properties in our portfolio are managed to maintain their conservation values under the effects of climate change.

 

 

Position Responsibilities: 

The Stewardship Manager is responsible for managing CDLT properties to protect, restore, and maintain their conservation values through:

1.  Site vegetation management
   a.    Coordinate and implement post-fire restoration on CDLT properties.
   b.    Coordinate and implement noxious weed management on CDLT-owned and managed properties.
   c.    Provide oversight for field technician (s) noxious weed management
   d.    Develop annual fall restoration projects on CDLT-owned lands.
   e.    Assist with volunteer work parties on vegetation management projects.
   f.    Provide contractor oversight for the implementation of vegetation management.
   g.    Work with the CDLT data manager to map noxious weeds and management practices.
2.  Forest health improvement
   a.    Develop (sub-contract) forest health management plans for CDLT-owned riparian parcels.
   b.    Implement (identify, secure funds, and provide contractor oversight) forest health improvement projects on CDLT forested lands as identified in site-specific forest health management plans.
   c.    Participate in the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative meetings.
3.  Riparian habitat improvement
   a.    Develop riparian restoration goals and strategy.
   b.    Coordinate with salmon recovery partners for salmon habitat enhancement projects on CDLT-owned lands.
   c.    Respond to neighbors and the public with questions about stream habitat enhancement projects on CDLT lands.
4. Managing third-party use and trespass response
   a.    Ensure that permitted activities are compatible with the conservation and stewardship goals.
   b.    Coordinate with stakeholders to review, authorize, and track third party use on CDLT land.
   c.    Follow CDLT procedures for responding to trespassing on fee-owned lands.
5. Monitoring 
   a.    Annually visit fee-owned and conservation easement properties to monitor and prepare reports for accreditation compliance and any property-specific required reporting.
6. Internal and external communications
   a.    Respond to questions and comments from stakeholders with grace and tact using the appropriate communication style for the situation.
   b.    Use clear, concise messaging and active listening to build positive relationships and prevent misunderstanding.
   c.    Show cultural awareness and sensitivity in all interactions.
   d.    Regularly inform stakeholders such as coworkers, board members, committees, and partners about developments and plans.
7. Acquisition Project selection coordination
   a.    Work with the Lands Program Manager and other team members to evaluate prospective fee and conservation easement projects.
   b.    Coordinate with the Lands team to prepare stewardship plans for fee properties, baseline documentation for conservation easements, and to calculate steward contribution needs 
8. Stewardship Funding
   a.    Seek outside funding sources for specific stewardship projects and/or ongoing stewardship activities (NRCS, RCO, partners)
   b.    Manage stewardship-restricted funds and coordinate grant billing with Accounting Manager
9. Review and update property Stewardship Plans. Research and write stewardship plans for new acquisitions and create baseline reports for new acquisitions.

 

Desired Qualifications:

•    A personal commitment to equity and inclusion.
•    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
•    At least five years of work experience in land management-related work.
•    A combination of education and work experience in Natural Resource Management, Forest or Rangeland Management, Restoration Science, Ecology or Climate Adaptation Science. 
•    Familiarity with the North Central Cascades region.
•    Plant identification skills.
•    Familiarity with fire ecology, riparian habitat restoration, and other natural resource management considerations of Western arid lands and riparian corridors.
•    Knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS programs and Microsoft 365.

 

 

To Apply:

Applications will be reviewed as received, with priority given to applications received by October 25, 2024. Please send a cover letter and résumé as your application. 
Email the complete application to: angela@cdlandtrust.org

 

 

Salary and Benefits:

CDLT offers a competitive salary consistent with LTA practices, with excellent benefits, including group medical and dental insurance, travel reimbursement, training opportunities, 30 days of paid holiday and vacation time, and a Simple IRA with employer match. Salary level depends upon experience and is $75,000 – $90,000 per year for 40 hours per week.

 

 

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust was founded in 1985 and has a membership base of over 2,000 households. Our non-profit organization engages communities in conserving, caring for, and accessing the natural lands and waters that sustain North Central Washington. We have a 15-member Board, 20-member Leadership Circle, 14 paid staff and many volunteers supporting our work. Our service area includes Chelan and Douglas Counties, with strategic activities at the regional and statewide levels. CDLT is an equal-opportunity employer.