Conservation Manager/Conservation Practitioner

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a

science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest

challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission

and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People,

Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding

mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC

Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a

sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only

achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which

we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent

and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to

innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC

staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Dugdown Conservation Manager develops, manages, and advances strategies to protect, restore

and maintain the mountain longleaf pine ecosystem and its associated habitat types within the

Dugdown Corridor, which stretches from Paulding and Sheffield Wildlife Management Areas in

northwest Georgia westward to the Talladega National Forest in northeast Alabama. Strategies

predominantly focus on land protection, the implementation of prescribed fire, and replanting efforts.

Flexible work location within 60 miles radius of our Armuchee Office in Rome, Georgia.

The Dugdown Conservation Manager is primarily responsible for driving land acquisition, working

directly with Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff to cooperatively manage a large network of

state land holdings in Georgia, and overseeing longleaf pine ecosystem restoration efforts in the

Dugdown Corridor.

LAND ACQUISITION

1. Assist with managing the land protection vision within the Dugdown Corridor, focusing primarily

on land acquisitions and conservation easements.

2. Collaborate with land protection team and partners on landowner outreach, deal negotiations,

and ongoing land protection project support such as performing site inspections, providing site

information for funding and approval requests, and providing site access and tours to

contractors, donors, and partners. 

FIRE AND STEWARDSHIP

1. Supervise Dugdown Stewardship Technician, a seasonal fire crew, and a summer work crew.

2. In conjunction with Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff, prepare units for prescribed

burns. Serve in a leadership capacity on prescribed fires. Develop and maintain a post-fire

monitoring program.

3. Obtain and keep current an FAA certification as a drone pilot.

4. Manage and maintain all TNC equipment, vehicles, structures, and related records and

reporting. Responsible for the readiness and transport of all fire equipment.

5. Develop and maintain cooperative management relationships with managers of other natural

areas, commercial timber lands and public lands.

6. Assist Georgia Department of Natural Resources with management of wildlife management

areas within the Dugdown Corridor, primarily focusing on overstory/midstory/and understory

restoration efforts.

7. Manage TNC Dugdown Corridor land holdings for biological diversity, resiliency, and ecosystem

services.

8. Supervise contractors and others engaged in activities on Conservancy and Georgia Department

of Natural Resources lands.

OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

1. Work with neighboring private and public landowners to encourage sustainable and ecologically

compatible stewardship practices in strategically important areas.

2. Provide technical expertise in fire management, land stewardship and forestry for planning

purposes.

3. Coordinate training for partners as well as training and recruitment of volunteer burn crew to

assist staff with prescribed fires.

4. Work with educational institutions in developing partnerships and building resource

management capacity.