Job Description
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a qualified professional to coordinate and administer the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP) within Virginia. This is a grant-dependent position within the Forestland Conservation Program, and is currently funded for two years (extendable for additional years, depending on funding availability). The position is preferably based out of DOF office’s headquarters in Charlottesville (Albemarle County), or field offices near Matthews State Forest (Grayson County), Waverly (Sussex County), Amherst (Amherst County), Cumberland State Forest (Cumberland County), Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest (Buckingham County) or Boydton (Mecklenburg County). Other locations outside of these DOF offices can potentially be negotiated. Frequent travel, principally within the state but occasionally out of state, for up to 12 weeks per year (~25%) is required.
The US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program is a federal grant program, the purpose of which is to protect environmentally important forestlands that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, primarily through the acquisition of conservation easements or land purchases (fee-simple). DOF administers the program in Virginia for the federal government. The Forest Legacy Program Coordinator, in conjunction with the Forestland Conservation Program Manager will be responsible for overall administration of the FLP across the state and leading the negotiation, development, and closing of FLP-funded conservation projects.
Primary duties include:
•Perform substantial proactive outreach to land conservation organizations and other partners, including Native American Tribes, to inform them about the grant opportunities available through the FLP and encourage them to develop applications;
•Design and administer a “project readiness fund” aimed at helping organizations to identify potential FLP projects, ensure projects meet FLP “readiness” criteria, and prepare FLP applications;
•Field questions from interested parties about FLP;
•Provide support to organizations to prepare applications for multiple FLP grants throughout the year;
•Coordinate state-level evaluation of applications by a committee and selection of projects for the national-level competition;
•Prepare and submit projects to the national level competition through FLPs online information system (FLIS);
•Administer funded grants, including financial and narrative reporting to FLP;
•Work with Program Support Technicians and Fiscal Department to ensure proper procurement of contractor services that are necessary to complete funded projects (e.g., appraisals, boundary surveys, environmental site assessments, title search, and real estate closings).
•Act as DOF lead for completing some or all funded FLP open-space easement projects by working closely with landowners, real estate professionals, agency coworkers, other state agencies, local planning districts, county governments, and non-profit organizations to complete conservation projects;
•In coordination with DOF’s State Lands Manager, State Forest Superintendent, Forestland Conservation Program Manager and key staff from other state agencies, act as DOF lead for completing targeted fee-simple purchases or donations of land to create or expand State Forests, including obtaining necessary internal and external approvals;
•Participate in regional and national FLP meetings; maintain DOF’s productive relationship with USFS FLP staff;
•Maintain agency records related to FLP and associated projects.
Other duties include:
•In collaboration with other staff from the Forestland Conservation Program, ensure that FLP easements are monitored per VDOF and FLP guidelines;
•Work collaboratively with the Forestland Conservation Program staff to develop programmatic strategies and objectives and prioritize work;
•Occasionally coordinate or support efforts to develop additional grants to complement FLP funding (e.g., Virginia Land Conservation Foundation).
Minimum Qualifications
•Five or more years of demonstrated experience working toward land, environmental or biodiversity conservation;
•Five or more years of demonstrated experience managing conservation related real estate transactions (easement and/or fee simple acquisitions) and completing or procuring/reviewing associated due diligence (appraisal reports, title history reports, title insurance, phase 1 ESA, deeds, surveys, real estate purchase contracts);
•Five or more years of demonstrated experience managing federal, state, or private grant programs, including the application, receipt or dispersal of funds to/from external parties, and financial and narrative reporting;
•Five or more years of demonstrated experience developing conservation projects to meet the requirements of funders and state and federal policies;
•Experience using ArcGIS or similar GIS software for digitizing features, basic spatial analysis (e.g., calculating feature area or length), and map-making;
•Demonstrated success in establishing new or growing existing partnerships with external organizations;
•Demonstrated experience performing conservation-related outreach and education;
•Demonstrated excellence in oral, written, and inter-personal communications, including public speaking;
•Ability to negotiate different types of forested terrain on foot;
•Valid driver’s license;
•Proficiency using a PC and Microsoft Office software; and
•Ability to travel throughout the state with overnight stays required.
Additional Considerations
•Demonstrated familiarity with the Forest Legacy Program or similar federal land conservation grants programs (e.g., Land and Water Conservation Fund)
•Familiarity with threats to forestland in Virginia;
•Three or more years of demonstrated experience working toward land or biodiversity conservation in Virginia;
•Five of more years of developing conservation projects on behalf of a public agency;
•One or more years of experience working with land trusts or Native American Tribes;
•Experience using WebGrants or similar grants management software;