Jobs

Friends of Acadia

Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Communications and Outreach Coordinator: Develops and implements strategic program, policy, and education communications. Editor of the Friends of Acadia Journal and Annual Report. Prepares materials for advocacy, press releases, briefings, publications. Maintains press clippings archive. Coordinates program and general advertising. Manages website, Facebook, MySpace, and other strategic online presence. Designs and maintains Friends of Acadia display(s), coordinating and staffing presence at fairs, conferences, events, etc. Occasionally serves as FOA spokesperson.

Schedule: Full-time permanent, salaried position, with benefits. Some evenings and weekends required.

Qualifications: Commitment to conservation and stewardship of natural and cultural resources. Experience communicating complex issues, writing and editing to deadlines. Experience using the web, e-mail and other new media for promoting issues and organizations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong experience with PC-based graphics, word processing, and databases. Computer proficiency a must. Experience in producing high quality publications. A passion for details. Organized problem solver. Ability to manage multiple priorities. Flexibility and willingness to help when and where needed—a team player and leader. College degree helpful. Competitive salary. Commitment to a mission that counts.

Reports to: Conservation Director

Visit www.friendsofacadia.org for a full description.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume, preferably via e-mail, to: sheree@friendsofacadia.org. Or surface mail to: Communications and Outreach Coordinator Search, c/o Sheree Castonguay, Friends of Acadia, 43 Cottage St., P.O. Box 45, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Web: www.friendsofacadia.org.

Application deadline: March 26, 2010.

Royal River Conservation Trust

Stewardship Coordinator

The Royal River Conservation Trust is a regional, non-profit organization working to conserve land and improve water quality throughout the 12-town Royal River region. RRCT’s office is located in Yarmouth, Maine, and our real estate interests are scattered about the Royal River Watershed.

The Stewardship Coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director and the Stewardship Committee Chair to meet RRCT’s obligation to monitor and care for its real estate interests. The position also includes working with the Town of Yarmouth to help manage its conservation lands. The person in this position must be organized, comfortable working with and organizing volunteers, able to work in the field doing physical labor, and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Familiarity with land conservation and natural resources is important.

Duties include:
a. Maintaining baseline documentation for existing easements, developing it for new easements
b. Overseeing RRCT’s easement stewardship program, utilizing volunteers where possible
c. creating and implementing management plans for RRCT properties
d. organizing volunteers to monitor easements and participate in preserve stewardship
e. developing working relationships with landowners of easement properties
f. calculate stewardship costs for easement and preserve properties
g. promoting public access where appropriate
h. creating media content; maintaining RRCT website
i. managing RRCT’s Geographic Information System and contributing to the Town of Yarmouth’s GIS system
j. performing administrative tasks to assist the Executive Director
k. assisting with special events
l. preparing grant applications to support the stewardship program and the town’s open space management
m. maintain a good relationship with town governments in the Royal River watershed
n. working with schools and community groups on stewardship related projects
o. staffing RRCT’s Stewardship Committee and Yarmouth Parks and Lands Committee
p. working with Yarmouth town officials to mange the town’s conservation lands

The position is full time, 40 hours per week, and includes benefits. Approximately one-half of the Stewardship Coordinator’s time will be devoted to staffing the Town of Yarmouth’s Parks and Lands program as a natural resource planner.

Please send a letters of interest and a resume to Henry Nichols at hnichols@rrct.org by March 21st.

Contact:
Henry Nichols
RRCT
P.O Box 90
Yarmouth ME 04096
hnichols@rrct.org

Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Foundations Manager

Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide nonprofit land conservation organization, seeks an experienced and energetic individual to oversee its foundation program to benefit Maine Coast Heritage Trust and its work in Maine’s coastal communities. The position is a full-time position and will be based at the Topsham office. Qualified individuals should send a cover letter and resume to: Search Committee, MCHT, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 201, Topsham, ME by March 12, 2010.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust conserves and stewards Maine's coastal lands and islands for their renowned scenic beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, ecological diversity and working landscapes. MCHT promotes the conservation of natural places statewide by working with land trusts, communities and other partners.
Founded in 1970, the trust was a pioneer in the use of conservation easements as a way to protect land. Since this time we have worked to protect more than 130,000 acres in Maine, including more than 275 entire coastal islands.

Job Description:
Responsible for executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Foundation Giving Program that will create opportunities for charitable foundations and corporations to become invested in MCHT and encourage sustained financial support under the direction of the Development Director. Manage all aspects of the Foundation Giving Program including strategic planning, goal setting, implementation, and evaluation, and assist the Director of Development with overall fundraising efforts and goals. Provide personalized donor stewardship for foundation/corporate donors by utilizing a full range of cultivation techniques including personal visits, telephone calls, site visits and personal notes. Meet or exceed budget goals set by director of development. Compile information to contribute to the annual budget process. Develop positive, ongoing relationships with volunteers, supporters and MCHT personnel. Help evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of fundraising programs and events and make recommendations for change. Participate in departmental staff meetings and all other meetings deemed necessary.

Major Responsibilities:
• Responsible for writing donor proposals, preparing project budgets and collateral materials and for writing the spring and fall appeal letters and thank you letters.
• Responsible for identifying potential funding opportunities, writing and submitting proposals for grants, and for tracking progress of, and submitting timely and accurate reports for, all existing grant funded projects.
• Responsible for soliciting corporate sponsors for the MCHT Land Trust Conference and building a corporate giving program.
• Responsible for conducting the full range of activities required to prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals to foundation and corporate sources.
• Working with the Major Donor Manager, perform prospect research on funding opportunities from foundations and corporations to evaluate prospects for grants.
• Work with senior management to gather information necessary to report to foundation/corporate funders on current grant programs and to submit funding proposals and grant applications.
• Comply with all grant reporting requirements as required by corporate/foundation donors.
• Fundamental understanding of MCHT mission and technology programs.
• Maintain current records in database and in paper files, include grant tracking and reporting.
• Track statistics relevant to development and provide written materials to allow senior management team to assess progress.
• Assist with other fundraising projects as requested.

Knowledge and Skills:
• Strong knowledge of basic fundraising techniques and strategies.
• Skilled in grant writing and working with foundations, corporations and major donors.
• Understanding of the moves management process; relationship management.
• Exceptional writing skills and strong communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate and persuasive proposals.
• Strong editing skills.
• Attention to detail and follow up.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of fundraising information sources.
• Experience with proposal writing and institutional donors.
• Strong contributor in team environments.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree (BA) from an accredited four year college or university and minimum three years experience with grant writing.
• Previous experience with non-profit fundraising.
• Experience working in deadline driven environments.
• Comfortable and effective working in a group as well as independently.
• Being a self-starter with demonstrated organizational skills and proven ability to multi-task and complete projects independently is essential.
• Working understanding of the importance of major gifts solicitation.
• Aptitude and experience in the utilization of prospect research and development of solicitation strategies.
• The warmth, humor and leadership qualities that will promote energy and enthusiasm within MCHT, and with its volunteers and constituents along the coast of Maine.
• Demonstrated ability to work easily and effectively with a wide range of people
• Ability to communicate a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose.
• Willingness to work long hours and to travel as necessary.
• Ability to use existing technology to achieve desired results.
• Knowledge of land conservation in Maine is a plus but not a requirement.
• Experienced with Raiser’s Edge and Moves Management is an advantage.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust provides a competitive salary and benefits package to regular employees that include health insurance, pension and vacation. The Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, handicaps, sexual orientation, or for any other reason

Five Rivers Conservation Trust, Concord NH

Executive Director

Five Rivers Conservation Trust, a regional land trust based in Concord, NH, seeks a highly motivated, experienced Executive Director to manage and grow our 21-year-old conservation organization. With a mission to preserve and protect open space land in central New Hampshire, Five Rivers currently holds 35 easements in 12 towns. In addition to the Executive Director position, Five Rivers is supported by an active, highly engaged 14- member board and community volunteers that help implement its conservation programs. With a steadily growing membership and conservation easement portfolio, Five Rivers Conservation Trust is a small organization with large potential.

Position Duties:
The Executive Director leads the organization, manages its day to day operations, works closely with the Board of Trustees, interacts with donors and community members, and raises funds. We are seeking an individual with vision, leadership skills, and energy to raise the Trust’s visibility, grow its fundraising, and expand its capacity to do conservation work throughout the Capitol area region. The Director will need strong organizational and management skills necessary to run a small nonprofit organization. The ideal candidate will have experience cultivating major donors, writing and managing grants, and engaging in public outreach. The Director serves as the face and voice of Five Rivers and must be able to speak in public to large and small groups of people, and build strong collaborative relationships with residents, municipal boards and committees, and business interests in the communities we serve. The Director is also responsible for overseeing the organization’s land conservation activities, including working closely with the Board on land protection and easement stewardship.
The Executive Director is currently structured as a 25-30 hours/week position, however there is potential to grow the position to full-time. The Director reports to the Board of Trustees. The Board anticipates that the Director will supervise a part-time membership/outreach administrative assistant (position to be hired summer 2010).

Key Qualifications:
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Capacity to think strategically and resourcefully
• Proven fund raising experience (one-on-one donor solicitation, grant writing, marketing)
• Ability to work both independently and collegially with others
• Ability to build collaborative relationships that get results
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated financial management and budgeting skills
• Demonstrated competence with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint). Experience with MS Access or other databases a plus.
• Passion for our conservation mission
• Experience as a non-profit staff or board member, or with non-profit administration a plus
• Knowledge of land conservation and/or natural resource management a definite plus (training available)

Salary and Benefits:
Salary range is $22 - $25 per hour. The position offers paid vacation benefits. Health and retirement benefits are not offered at this time.

To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and contact information for three references to: fiveriversjob@yahoo.com. If you have any questions about the position, please submit them in writing to the e-mail address. Review of applications will begin March 15, 2010. Five Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Boothbay Region Land Trust

Land Steward

The Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is seeking a qualified Land Steward to help manage all fee properties and conservation easements. The successful applicant will be required to maintain over 30 miles of trails. Other duties will include coordinating volunteers for work parties and overseeing summer caretakers on Damariscove Island. Candidates should be self-reliant and organized and shall provide their own transportation. Qualified applicants must have experience using outdoor power equipment. Familiarity with Maine coastal flora, fauna and culture are a plus.
This is a year-round, part-time position scheduled for 16-hours per week. Actual hours may vary according to seasonal workload. Compensation is $12 - $15/hour depending on experience.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and references to Nick Ullo at BRLT, PO Box 183 Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or brlt@bbrlt.org no later than Monday, March 8.

Maine Natural Areas Program

Field Ecology Intern

The Maine Natural Areas Program seeks a summer intern to assist with the inventory, monitoring, and assessment of natural communities and rare plants in various locations throughout Maine. Fieldwork activities include collection of ecological data (e.g., vegetation composition, soils, forest structure), identification of plants, and use of hand-held GPS. Some office work is required, including creating GIS maps, data entry and analysis, and landowner contact. Individuals must be able to work outdoors for long periods of time under a wide variety of conditions, including long hikes and some canoeing. Requires a strong interest in plant ecology, forestry, or wetland ecology, and unmitigated enthusiasm. Familiarity with GIS software such as ArcMap or ArcView is a plus, as well as familiarity with New England’s vegetation or related field experience. Position is 40 hours/week @ $11.00/hour. Some overnight travel is required. Position runs from approximately May 2010 to September 2010. Preference will be given to applications received by Friday February 26th, 2010.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume with names and contact information for references to:

Maine Natural Areas Program
Attn. Kristen Puryear
93 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0093
Kristen.Puryear@maine.gov (electronic applications also accepted)

For more information on MNAP: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mnap/index.htm

2010 Maine Land Conservation Conference details now available