Manager of Land Protection – Southern Region

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU), the world’s leading waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization, and its supporting organization, Wetlands America Trust, Inc. (WAT), one of the nation’s largest accredited land trusts, are seeking qualified candidates for a Manger of Land Protection to join a dynamic team of professionals located throughout the Southern Region. DU is an accredited land trust with a portfolio of more than 600 conservation easements conserving over 492,000 acres and a revolving fee title portfolio of over 30,000 acres. 

The successful candidate will join DU’s talented and growing land protection team and will have the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts across some of the nation’s most coveted landscapes. The position will report to the Managing Director of Conservation Programs and work closely with Regional Lands Program staff to facilitate fee title and conservation easement transactions and to steward DU/ WAT’s conservation easement portfolio. Preferably, this position will be located at DU’s Southern Region Office in Ridgeland, Mississippi.  

• →Working with partners, landowners, and regional lands staff on all aspects of land transactions including fee title acquisitions and dispositions, conservation easement acquisitions, wetlands and species mitigation agreements, and other land protection tools. 
• →Conducting all transactional components of land protection projects including drafting and reviewing contracts such as purchase agreements and deeds of conservation easement, reviewing due diligence materials, tracking associated funding, and coordinating transaction closings with regional staff and outside parties.
• →Coordinating with regional and national lands staff on project evaluation, prioritization, and selection of lands protection projects, including alignment of proposed projects with strategic geographic and programmatic priorities of DU.
• →Coordinating with national and regional staff to respond to threats to DU’s conservation easement portfolio posed by utility/transmission expansions, condemnation proceedings, road development, etc.
• →Collaborating with regional and national lands program staff in the development of land protection projects, priorities, and conservation plans, as well as updates to lands program operations.
• →Assisting with the development of agreements, contracts, and other legal templates in support of DU’s new strategies to accelerate and expand land protection and conservation.
• →Ensuring DU's land protection efforts comply with federal and state statutes, all internal guidelines and policies, as well as accreditation standards of the Land Trust Alliance.

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree or law degree preferred, but not required) in applicable field with 5-7 years of experience in land use planning, real estate, and/or fee title and conservation easement transactions. Working knowledge of and experience with management of agricultural and conservation lands are important. Successful candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills, work effectively within teams, and be highly organized and detail oriented.

To apply: Please fill out all application materials and attach a resume and cover letter indicating your qualifications and why you are interested in the position. The position will be open until filled.