Grassland Stewardship Manager

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Grassland Stewardship Manager to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

**Position Summary**

The Grassland Stewardship Manager (GSM) will develop and deliver program needs in the grasslands region of Alberta. This will include planning, relationship and partnership development, and managing, coordinating and facilitating province-wide or landscape-level Stewardship Programming, including pursuit of funding opportunities. The GSM will report directly to the Director of Conservation - Conservation Planning and Programs and collaborate closely with both the conservation and development teams in Alberta. In addition, this role may require inter-regional collaboration, working with our national Conservation Policy and Planning and Nature and Climate Accelerator teams. Externally, the GSM will work with landowners, partner organizations, Governments and Indigenous Nations and organizations to deliver their program.

**Key responsibilities**
- Lead development and delivery of landscape-level strategies designed to achieve NCC’s goals in the Grasslands.
- Develop and maintain relationships in partnership with local Natural Area Managers and Alberta’s Government Relations, Conservation, and Engagement teams. Relationships of focus for this role include: landowner, partner and community relations, regional government and Indigenous relations.
- Support land acquisition projects, in partnership with local Natural Area Managers and Alberta’s Habitat Acquisition Managers.
- Lead delivery of stewardship programing and projects that support landscape-level conservation and relationship development.
- Support local Natural Area Managers to deliver landscape-level stewardship activities in their areas.
- Collaborate with other Conservation Program Leads to integrate landscape-level strategies and best management practices into their Programs.
- Support the Range Resource Manager to develop and deliver aspects of the Range Management Program that facilitate stewardship and relationships.
- Support the Development and Communications team to raise funds to deliver landscape-level Stewardship.

**Position Requirements**
- 4-year degree in business, agriculture or conservation biology, or a 2-year diploma with an additional 2 years of experience.
- At least 5-7 years professional experience in landscape ecology, conservation biology, natural resource management, or related field.
- A superior working knowledge of Alberta’s landscapes, communities and conservation issues, particularly when working in Alberta’s grasslands region.
- Strategic thinking and planning coupled with experience in business development.
- Entrepreneurial with a strong ability to manage projects, timelines, goals and expectations wisely.
- Project management skills, including excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills, and attention to details and timelines.
- Leadership skills, in particular conflict resolution and collaboration.
- The ability to build and support effective partnerships both within and outside NCC to achieve the organization’s goals, including donors, government representatives, Indigenous communities, NGO partners, and landowners.
- Excellent strategy and problem-solving skills and an ability to make creative, sound decisions and resolve problematic situations before they arise and/or to deal swiftly and effectively with them when they do.
- A proven ability to work comfortably in many different venues, from the day-to-day office environment and in the field.
- Comfortable working in a team setting and capable of easily communicating with a wide range of people from the public and private sectors.
- Ability to demonstrate leadership when collaborating with leaders, peers and other staff without being a direct supervisor.
- Must be prepared to travel and work flexible hours.
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite, and some knowledge of database and GIS software is beneficial.
- Ability to manage hig