Director of Land Conservation

The Director of Land Conservation is responsible for the successful acquisition, effective stewardship and enforcement, and overall administration of Capital Region Land Conservancy’s land interests to include conservation easements and lands held in fee. The position supervises the Deputy Director of Land Conservation and the Land Stewardship Manager, who, together with the Executive Director and other staff, coordinate the successful implementation of CRLC’s mission, vision, and strategic plan throughout its expanded service area.

• Lead the Conservancy’s conservation easement acquisition program from application to recordation, and oversee ongoing stewardship and enforcement
• Coordinate with the Deputy Director of Land Conservation and oversee the Conservancy’s fee simple acquisition program and any dispositions of land interests
• Engage with Board members to convene and manage CRLC’s Easement and Owned Land Committee meetings and prepare documentation for Board approval
• Lead the creation of baseline documentation reports and oversee the creation of other land management plans
• Communicate, and sometimes negotiate, directly with landowners regarding their vision for the future of their property and CRLC’s need for measurable and enforceable restrictions on conserved lands
• Work directly with landowner attorneys, appraisers, tax credit brokers and other professionals
• Support and understand CRLC’s unique service area and the need to balance conservation and development and appreciate the diverse needs for urban, suburban and rural conservation across the Richmond region
• Help implement grant program requirements for initiatives such as Agricultural Land Easements (NRCS-ALE), American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) and Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF)

• Oversee and fulfill the conservancy’s policies for responses to landowner notices, reviews and approvals including notices of potential violation
• Maintain CRLC’s insurance policy with its legal defense insurance provider Terrafirma, to include completing the annual application and filing of any relevant insurance claims
• Support the Land Stewardship Manager’s efforts to achieve compliance with deeds of easements by maintaining good relationships and open communication with easement donors and subsequent landowners to include review and approval of annual monitoring reports and communications intended to avert easement violations
• Engender an ethos of landowner trust and relationship building among all staff

• Supervise, manage, and coach subordinate staff
• Engage attorneys, either as in-house or external pro bono, low bono, or contractual, and work collaboratively to represent CRLC’s interest in legal matters such as deeds, contracts, and enforcement
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with public and private partners emphasizing process and consistency

• Work closely with Executive Director to ensure compliance with CRLC’s policies, Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices, accreditation requirements, and all federal, state, and local laws
• Participate in and co-lead the Land Trust Alliance’s reaccreditation process
• Develop, maintain, regularly review, and update CRLC policies and processes considering best practices and accreditation requirements
• Oversee CRLC’s paper and digital records including archiving requirements for land interests and periodically auditing such records to ensure compliance with policies
• Public Outreach and direct engagement with landowners and broader community to educate about conservation easements and the breadth of CRLC’s work
• Establ…