About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change’s (ECC’s) role is to protect the environment, human health and animal health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations and policies, process notifications, applications, and approvals for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise.

Our goal is to educate, inspect and enforce to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations. We also proactively respond to environmental, conservation, animal, and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Protected Areas & Ecosystems, you will be responsible for advancing land acquisition and protection in support of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar partner-based conservation project. This a collaborative project with Department of Natural Resources & Renewables and is supported by supported by Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Federal Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. The primary purpose of this funding stream is carbon accumulation and averting carbon emissions, with biodiversity conservation as a co-benefit.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Conservation Land Administrator, you will work with the Project Coordinator & undertake the acquisition of private lands or legal interests in lands for the purpose of protection, with a focus on old-growth forests. This will include the development and implementation of a priority private land acquisition inventory with staff from ECC and Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, contacting landowners about acquisition (including, as appropriate, purchase, bargain sale, donation, conservation easements, and consents to legal designation), site visits to assess ecological values, human uses, and liabilities, negotiating property sale, coordinating legal, survey, and appraisal work, and preparing Cabinet submissions for land acquisitions and protected area designations.

You will also work in a team environment with staff from this department and Department of Natural Resources & Renewables; as well as municipalities, Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq representatives, lands trust partners, and various contractors and conservation groups. You may also interact with industry and non-government partners, community groups, conservation and recreation organizations, and others to advance project goals.

Additionally, you may be involved in stakeholder and public partnerships and consultations, developing public communication materials, preparing reports and maps and negotiating and overseeing various contracts. You may also be involved in policy development, process facilitation, and collaborative planning.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have a high school diploma plus 2-year planning technician course plus six years related experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience in land acquisition, preferably in a conservation context (either in private or public land acquisition or conservation).

You will have demonstrated competency and experience in land conservation or protected areas planning and have a practical understanding of current issues and best practice approaches in securing lands for conservation. Familiarity with the Nova Scotia Protected Areas Program is essential.

You will be experienced in communicating with landowners, land conservation collaborators, land acquisition service providers (e.g., appraisers, surveyors, legal professionals), stakeholder groups, dealing with concerns and fostering education, with superior written and verbal communication skills. You will be self-directed, have excellent problem solving and organizational skills. You must also be highly proficient with computer word processing and spreadsheet software. Competency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) would be an asset.

You will have knowledge of provincial and federal legislation, regulations, policies, and programs relevant to real property acquisition within a provincial government context, as well as protected areas, private land conservation and land management in Nova Scotia. You will be familiar with Nova Scotia’s Land Registry System, Property Online, and working with deeds, legal descriptions, and surveys.

You will be self-directed, have excellent problem solving and organizational skills, sound judgement and critical thinking skills that are necessary to resolve complex and sensitive issues.

Assets include experience in private land conservation, ecological inventory and conservation planning, public land-use planning, policy development, public consultation, Indigenous consultation and facilitation. Knowledge of protected areas establishment and environmental planning is also an asset.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Other Considerations

You must be willing and able to travel throughout Nova Scotia including occasional work in remote locations such as wilderness areas, and work irregular hours when deemed necessary.

Please note, this is expected to be a term status position with an end date of March 31, 2026; however, the position status (“term”, “temporary” or “casual”) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.