Title:
Conservation Coordinator
Supervisor:
Executive Director
Location:
Aiken, South Carolina
Job Classification:
Permanent, Salaried, Full Time
Pay:
$55,000 - $75,000, depending on experience
Benefits:
Paid holidays, paid time off, retirement contribution, health insurance
Position Summary
Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) seeks a passionate person to lead land conservation efforts for the organization and continue to grow its conservation footprint. The Conservation Coordinator, with support from the Executive Director and Stewardship Coordinator, will take the lead on completing fee and less-than-fee conservation projects, with a particular emphasis on ALC’s Strategic Focal Areas. Due to the small size of ALC, the Conservation Coordinator will also have the unique opportunity to work closely with the Executive Director and Stewardship Coordinator on a number of other activities as time, interests, and skillsets allow.
Position Responsibilities
Complete Land Conservation Projects
- Meet with prospective conservation easement landowners and educate them about the procedures, benefits, and costs associated with a conservation easement.
- Prepare conservation assessments for potential conservation transactions and present them to the Stewardship and Strategic Lands Committees of Aiken Land Conservancy’s Board.
- Oversee all aspects of project development including, but not limited to, baseline documentation reports, conservation easement drafting and negotiation, and coordination of due diligence activities.
- Complete applications to the South Carolina Conservation Bank, along with other funding sources, to secure funding for landowners to help them complete conservation projects.
- Pursue and complete targeted fee-simple acquisitions on behalf of, and in coordination with, agency partners.
- Ensure that all conservation easement projects are consistent with Aiken Land Conservancy’s polices and the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices.
Promote Land Conservation at the Local, Regional, and State Level
- Seek, and provide outreach to, potential conservation easement landowners in Aiken Land Conservancy’s Strategic Focal Areas and within other key areas.
- Encourage and help coordinate meetings between landowners to promote conservation in targeted areas.
- Present to community groups to describe land conservation and its benefits.
- In coordination with the Executive Director, meet with local, regional, and state elected officials to highlight the benefits of conservation and advance conservation goals.
- Maintain and expand strong relationships with partners including, but not limited to, the South Carolina Land Trust Network, The Nature Conservancy, The Longleaf Alliance, Audubon South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Forestry Commission, and other land trusts in the area.
Provide general support to Aiken Land Conservancy
- Review management plans, grants, and other materials when requested.
- Help to implement land management activities such as prescribed burning and trail maintenance.
- Co-lead or lead educational hikes to the public.
- Assist staff in the planning and implementation of fundraising or educational events.
- Participate in biological surveys when available.
- Create social media posts and other outreach material to tell the story of ALC’s activities.
- Provide GIS and other spatial analyses that support land conservation.
Required Qualifications and Skills
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field or an unrelated bachelor’s degree with related experience in the field.
- Proven track record of completing all stages of the conservation easement process.
- The ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of personality types, backgrounds, and levels of understanding.
- The ability to write in a way that is clear, accurate, and grammatically-correct.
- Demonstrated diplomatic skills.
- A valid South Carolina driver’s license or the ability to get a valid South Carolina driver’s license within 60 days.
- Ability to hike in a variety of terrain types in a variety of field conditions.
- Familiarity and, ideally, experience with Southeastern flora and fauna.
- Ability to pay close attention to details and stay organized.
- Ability to produce quality work both independently and collaboratively.
- Comfort with multi-tasking.
- A demonstrated passion for conservation.
Start Date
The desired start date is January 12, 2026.
Application Requirements
Please send a cover letter, C.V. or resume, contact information for three references, and a writing sample to peter@conserveaiken.org as a single pdf file.
About Aiken Land Conservancy and Aiken
Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) is an accredited land trust whose mission is to preserve Aiken’s unique character and natural and historic resources for present and future generations through advocacy and land protection. ALC works on projects ranging from protecting historic properties within Aiken’s Horse District to conserving thousands of acres of natural habitat in rural parts of the County, and conserves both private and public land. For more information, visit our website.
Aiken, South Carolina is a small town nestled in the sandhills of South Carolina, and often ranks as one of the top small towns in the South. It is famous for its urban canopy, its strong ties to the equestrian community, and its historic architecture. Though quaint, it contains a variety of high-quality restaurants and shops while also providing excellent access to a diverse range of natural areas. Aiken is approximately 30 minutes from Augusta, Georgia and is an hour from Columbia, South Carolina. It is also approximately two hours from both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.