Job Description

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Canadian Rockies Program Manager to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.


NCC is the nation's leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.


NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Canadian Rockies Program Manager

NCC manages and holds 81,000 hectares of conservation land in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia. Reporting to the Canadian Rockies Program Director, the Canadian Rockies Program Manager will be responsible for supporting land securement and conservation land management obligations across the Canadian Rockies Program Area. The successful applicant, with land stewardship staff support, will lead landscape and property level planning, ensuring best management practices on the land, and oversee the development of Baseline Inventories, and Monitoring Reports for all NCC's projects in the Canadian Rockies Program Area. The Program Manager will supervise and collaborate with on-the-ground Stewardship Coordinators to accelerate conservation and optimize delivery to showcase exemplary land management. They will represent NCC at external conservation partnerships, support community relationships, collaborate on restoration planning, write funding proposals and reports, oversee, and develop annual work plans for Stewardship Coordinators, and other tasks as directed by the Program Director.


NCC is a collaborative, dynamic and interdisciplinary team environment, the Program Manager will collaborate with other NCC staff and departments, regionally and nationally, when appropriate. They will coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, co-supervise and manage the intern program when applicable, work with and coordinate volunteers and partners, and use ecological data to decide actions. This role involves professional/technical and management skills while also bridging important community relationships.

Responsibilities:

Conservation Planning and Reporting (35%)

Ensure conservation actions are consistent with NCC nationally and regionally approved policies and processes, as well as relevant Provincial and/or Federal laws and regulations. Oversee the development of baseline inventory reports and management directions for fee simple lands, and all baseline documentation reports for any new covenant agreements. Ensure consistent and up to date storage of data and documents within NCC's internal systems such as the Land Information System or spatial databases. Support stewardship staff in data entry and training. Implement exemplary land stewardship through the alignment of conservation actions with NCC's strategic plan and other guiding documents. Support and oversee enhanced land management and restoration efforts (e.g., wetland and open forest ecosystem restoration). Support landscape level planning for the Canadian Rockies in collaboration with the Director of Planning and Innovation and other regional staff. Identify subregional land management funding needs and potential granting opportunities. Contribute to cross-functional efforts to develop long term delivery plans. Prepare reports, applications, and proposals related to grants and funding agreements. Source granting opportunities to support Stewardship Coordinators and conservation efforts in the subregion. Lead grant reporting. Support Canadian Rockies Program Director in researching potential securement projects and provide input to the Land Administration team for securement projects as requested. Facilitate external research/inventory on NCC lands.

Land Stewardship (25%)

Lead the delivery of land management in the Canadian Rockies. Oversee Stewardship Coordinator(s) to complete conservation actions and monitoring efforts across a growing portfolio of conservation lands and conservation covenants throughout BC's Canadian Rockies. Drive collaborative "on the ground" conservation and restoration efforts with First Nations, work directly with Indigenous lands staff and community members on land stewardship projects and the protection of cultural values. Ensure permits, leases, licences, and other tenures on NCC's fee simple lands are up to date. Coordinate recreational access and implementation of visitor use plans. Manage relationships with leaseholders where required and in collaboration with Stewardship Coordinators. Ensure Stewardship Coordinators have resources and information needed to implement land management actions and develop and manage contracts. Support Stewardship Coordinators in implementation of invasive species management plans, restoration prescriptions and range use plans. Lead larger scale restoration project delivery where additional funding and/or permitting is required. Take lead on issues that may arise, such as complaints or non-compliance and development of creative solutions and remedy actions. Track reporting deadlines and provide guidance to Stewardship Coordinators for completion of annual monitoring reports. Provide field support as required.

Community partnerships and outreach (25%)

Maintain and/or establish positive relationships with First Nations, landowners, agreement holders, community members, governments, municipalities, and NCC's partners in conservation to advance conservation in British Columbia. Support Stewardship Coordinators in maintaining and developing relationships. Work with relevant agencies at the at the Provincial and Local Government scale to coordinate response plans for wildfires and other emergencies which may occur on NCC's conservation lands. Work with local industry partners to advance a conservation land ethic across a complex multiuse landscape that supports prosperous and sustainable communities. Represent NCC at meetings, workshops and in communities as required. Support media and public outreach efforts. Represent NCC with donors and at public events. Attend meetings with partnership organizations and other conservation groups as related to land stewardship in Canadian Rockies program area.

Work Planning and Administration (15%)

Develop annual and field season work plans in support of subregional conservation goals. Implement, manage, and report on progress against work plans and budgets. Assist Program Director with annual budget planning. Review and approve Stewardship Coordinator timesheets, time off requests, and expenses. Ensure the subregion is meeting National and provincial (Worksafe BC) Health and Safety standards. Supervise additional seasonal staff as required. Coordinate/support hiring of stewardship staff and conservation interns as required. Ensure all field staff and contractors are adhering to Health and Safety protocols, completing safety forms and check-ins as required.

Position Requirements:

We encourage and invite all interested individuals to apply, and to demonstrate their relevant experience and expertise. Individuals who may not fully meet the position requirements will be considered provided relevant qualifications and experience is demonstrated.

Education and Knowledge

Undergraduate degree in a related discipline (e.g., applied conservation biology, restoration ecology, natural resource conservation, forestry, geography, environmental science, etc.) or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Working knowledge of southeastern BC conservation issues and land stewardship activities. Understanding of species at risk and ecosystems throughout southeast BC landscapes. Experience with land management techniques (e.g., livestock and range management, forestry, invasive species, recreational use management, etc.)

Experience

Supervision of field staff and coordination of contractors, often from remote office location. Working in a hybrid office-based setting and remote office location. Building and facilitating effective relationships through positive and clear communication. Working and collaborating with Indigenous peoples and communities. Managing work plans, budgets, and staff. Reviewing terms of contracts, leases, licenses, permits. Creating management plans and baseline inventory documents. Conducting conservation land management activities including but not limited to recreational access, invasive species management, range use plans, ecosystem restoration and other related best management practices. Managing projects related to stewardship and restoration of southeast BC ecosystems, including wetlands and dry open forest ecosystems. Writing grant applications, funding proposals, and reports. Working with databases and collecting and using spatial data via various platforms. Operating off road vehicles, working in remote locations and navigating rural or remote areas if required. Following a Health and Safety program including protocols for working in remote locations, ensuring field safety for staff and contractors, and using or monitoring emergency communication devices for check-ins.

Competencies

Effective communicator: proficient collaborator when working with others in a fast-paced environment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Established solution-oriented approach; willingness to seek creative strategies when barriers encountered. Problem solver: ability to overcome challenges, adapt and maintain resilience when facing adversity. Capacity and flexibility; ability to stay focused on meeting project and reporting deadlines while maintaining a positive and energized work environment with changing priorities. Accountability: Demonstrated ability to be accountable in a remote or semi-remote virtual work environment and organizing time to manage competing priorities while still meeting deadlines. Ability and willingness to travel for multi-day work trips (even up to 1 or 2 weeks) multiple times during the field season and some weekend work. Proficient user of Microsoft Office Comfortable working independently and as part of a team with many colleagues in a decentralized work environment. Ability and willingness for occasional on-the-ground work including manual labor activities such as fixing fences, installing signage or managing invasive plants. Possess a valid class 5 driver's license and are comfortable driving on both highways and rough remote roads.

Additional Preferred Assets

Relevant professional designation such as RPF, R.P. Bio, etc. Familiarity with the MS Office Suite, ESRI software or other GIS programs, & Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation Wilderness First Aid Training Conflict Resolution Training

Application Deadline

July 25, 2025 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST


At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.


Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at hr@natureconservancy.ca to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at hr@natureconservancy.ca.