Manager, Natural Areas

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Manager, Natural Areas 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 Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. NCC takes a collaborative, science-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.

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Working Landscapes Program Director and working closely with the Southwest Program Director the Natural Area Manager leads the coordination and delivery of applicable activities identified within the Milk River Basin and Manitoba and Saskatchewan Community Pastures Natural Area Conservation Plans and other conservation programming. The Natural Area Manager will work as part of the Working Landscapes team to provide an on-the-ground demonstration for partners and other stakeholders of how responsible livestock ranching can help achieve durable outcomes for conservation and biodiversity. This will be accomplished through the stewardship of NCC’s flagship Saskatchewan property and first working ranch, the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area (OMB). Additionally, the Natural Area Manager will provide technical support and expertise to the Working Landscapes team with the implementation of stewardship incentive programing, completion of health assessments, management planning, and analysis of Crown and private land management legislation, policy and regulations related to conservation tools like Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). The position’s responsibilities will shift focus throughout the year between seasonal activities at OMB (May to October) and broader Working Landscapes Program activities for the balance of the year (November to April). The Natural Area Manager will prioritize their time to ensure all essential activities are completed.

**Responsibilities**

**Management and Administration - 30% of time**
- Lead the development of an annual operating budget and workplan for assigned program delivery and in the monitoring, tracking and reporting of expenditures and activities related to stewardship activities;
- Support the Working Landscapes Program Director in development of annual operating budgets for the program and annual stewardship work planning, activity tracking and progress reporting;
- Responsible for the project administration related to project documentation and processes, including LIS input and tracking;
- Recruitment, hiring, and supervision of any contractors or seasonal staff required to assist in the management of the property including pasture riders, heavy equipment, general labour, etc.;
- Receiving and coding invoices received from contractors or other expenditures related to the management of the property and forwarding for approval by the Program Director(s);
- Provide support, recommendations and monitoring of regional assets as required;
- Provide training, supervision, and support for seasonal staff as needed, and contribute to the scheduling of stewardship activities within the region; and
- Complete monthly time and billing, and expense reporting.

**Outreach and Partnerships - 30% of time**
- Coordinate the implementation of available stewardship incentive programming with eligible participants throughout southwest Saskatchewan;
- Establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with grazing patrons, neighbours, and other local landowners, stakeholders, and rightsholders;
- Maintain positive relations with local communities, governments, municipalities, Indigenous Nations and other partners on the landscape;
- Work with the Conservation Science and Planning Manager and researchers to facilitate access to the property to conduct different types of research;
- Work with members of the Development, Communications and Engagement teams to develop property or program-specific funding proposals, conservation volunteer events, and any other donor and other engagement events as appropriate; and
- Represent NCC on various committees and at meetings or workshops as needed.

**Land Stewardship - 25% of time**
- Identification and completion of stewardship activities that maintain or enhance identified biodiversity targets and mitigate any identified threats;
- Administration of the cattle grazing program, including determining individual allocations, planning of annual grazing rotation schedules, regular checks of grazing livestock, infrastructure, and water system, development of lease agreements and collection of gra