Forestland Conservation Specialist Job at Virginia Dept of Forestry
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is seeking a Forestland Conservation Specialist to promote forestland conservation and manage related projects throughout Virginia. The primary geographic focus of work is in the southern and western portions of the state. This position fills a vacancy in our Forestland Conservation Program and works as part of a team with other project managers. Projects are primarily open-space easements focusing on working agriculture and forestland but also include outreach to the public and partner groups on a broad range of tools to conserve and sustainably manage forestland in urban and rural environments. Frequent travel is required to project locations in the western and southern portion of the state and to agency headquarters in Charlottesville, with occasional assignments that may extend statewide.
Although part-time teleworking options are available, this position will be based out of a
VDOF
office in one of the following towns: Amherst, Dinwiddie, Crimora, or Charlottesville.
Primary duties include: leading the negotiation, development, and closing of open-space working land easements, including reviewing real estate due diligence products (e.g., title documentation; surveys; appraisals, etc.); identifying and fostering strategic opportunities to conserve forestland; serving as an agency expert on open-space easements and other forestland conservation tools; and working closely with citizen-landowners, real estate professionals, agency coworkers, other state agencies, grant-making organizations, local planning districts, county governments, and non-profit organizations to complete forest land conservation projects.
Other duties include: providing occasional real-estate support services to VDOF’s State Forest Program for acquisition; working collaboratively with the Forestland Conservation team to develop programmatic strategies and objectives and prioritize work; performing outreach and education to internal and external audiences about forestland conservation tools, including participating in the agency’s Generation NEXT Program with Virginia Cooperative Extension; supporting other VDOF field staff by helping monitor and steward existing VDOF easements; occasionally coordinate or support efforts to develop grants and manage associated funds and reporting.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate studies in Natural Resources Management field, or Natural Resources Policy, or Land-Use Planning, or equivalent field experience of four or more years required; Two or more years of experience managing conservation real-estate projects or stewarding tracts with perpetual conservation restrictions; Experience working with county government staff, planning districts, and non-profit groups on land use issues; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel from various state and federal agencies, local planners, cooperators, and the public; Ability to effectively establish and grow diverse partnerships; Demonstrated excellent presentation skills; Excellent and effective oral, written, and inter-personal communication skills; ability to negotiate different types of forested terrain on foot; Valid driver’s license; Proficiency using a PC, Microsoft Office software, and the Google Suite; and Ability to travel throughout the state with overnight stays required.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources Management field, or Natural Resources Policy, or Land-Use Planning. Five or more years of experience managing conservation real-estate projects or stewarding tracts with perpetual conservation restrictions; Training or experience in forestry or forest management, experience with forestland conservation tools, including local planning, taxes, easements, mapping and geographic information systems; Virginia-specific knowledge of local planning regulations, taxes, land use issues, and conservation grant funding programs, experience performing conservation-related outreach and education.
Special Requirements
Ability to function and contribute to team oriented atmosphere and outcomes, willingness to learn and to teach and attention to detail.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Only applications submitted online by the closing date will be considered. Applicants claiming preference under a veteran’s status must upload their DD214, NGB23 and/or VA Disability Letter using the “other document” under optional documents.
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process.
To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS).
Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability.
If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800- 552-5019.
Applicants claiming preference under a veteran’s status must upload their DD214 (Coyp-4), NGB23 and/or VA Disability Letter.
Upload certificates/letter using the “other document” under optional documents.
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process.
To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS).
Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability.
If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800- 552-5019.
Applicants claiming preference under a veteran’s status must upload their DD214 (Coyp-4), NGB23 and/or VA Disability Letter.
Upload certificates/letter using the “other document” under optional documents.
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