Manager of Conservation & Stewardship
Larkspur Conservation at Taylor Hollow
Office Location: Nashville, TN (Hybrid)
Field Location: Westmoreland, TN
Reports to: Executive Director
Supervises: Stewardship / Field Staff
Compensation & Benefits: $75,000 annually + benefits (negotiable)
About Larkspur Conservation
Larkspur Conservation is a nonprofit land steward and conservation burial preserve dedicated to protecting and restoring land through a revival of natural burial practices. Our work is grounded in ecological integrity, care for the dead, and reverence for the living world.
Larkspur Conservation at Taylor Hollow is a 155-acre mixed-mesophytic forest with pocketed meadows and cedar glades—an ecosystem of which less than 5% remains in the southeastern United States. The preserve is protected by a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy and is actively managed for long-term ecological health.
We understand land not as a backdrop, but as a living system—and as a sanctuary.
Position Summary
The Manager of Conservation & Stewardship is a senior leadership role responsible for guiding, managing, and advancing Larkspur’s conservation vision across all stewarded properties. This position blends ecological expertise, strategic program leadership, and hands-on land management, working closely with burial operations, field staff, conservation partners, and leadership.
This role does not replace hands-on field stewards, but instead provides experienced leadership, planning, and oversight—ensuring that daily work on the land aligns with long-term ecological goals, conservation easement requirements, and best practices in land management.
This is a hybrid role, with meaningful time spent both on the land and in planning, coordination, and relationship-building work.
Core Responsibilities
Conservation Leadership & Program Development
- Lead the development and implementation of Larkspur’s conservation and land management program across current and future properties.
- Translate conservation easement requirements, management plans, and ecological goals into clear, actionable work plans.
- Ensure conservation activities align with best practices in land trust stewardship, ecological restoration, and risk management.
- Serve as a senior internal advisor on land use, ecological impact, and long-term stewardship decisions.
Land Management & Ecological Stewardship
- Oversee ecological management activities including habitat restoration, invasive species control, biological monitoring, and adaptive land management.
- Collaborate with field stewards to guide day-to-day land care while maintaining a strategic, landscape-level perspective.
- Monitor burial areas to ensure burial activity supports—rather than degrades—ecological health.
- Maintain up-to-date maps, records, and documentation of land conditions, species of concern, and management activities.
Integration with Burial Operations
- Work closely with burial operations staff to identify appropriate burial areas based on ecological sensitivity and restoration goals.
- Help shape burial practices that align with conservation outcomes, land protection commitments, and community expectations.
- Support a shared culture of stewardship between conservation and burial teams.
Partnerships, Compliance & Representation
- Serve as a primary conservation liaison with The Nature Conservancy, land trust partners, consultants, and relevant agencies.
- Support compliance with conservation easement requirements, reporting, and monitoring obligations.
- Participate in donor site visits, educational programming, and occasional public engagement as a representative of Larkspur’s land ethic.
- Assist with conservation-related grant writing, budgeting, and donor stewardship efforts as needed.
Team Leadership & Operations
- Supervise a small team (less than 2) and support stewardship and conservation staff, contractors, and consultants.
- Help shape staffing plans, workflows, and tools as Larkspur grows.
- Develop and manage conservation budgets, vendor relationships, and project timelines.
- Ensure safety protocols, equipment use, and field operations meet organizational standards.
Who We’re Looking For
This is a foundational role for Larkspur. We’re seeking someone who is both deeply grounded in conservation practice and excited to help build a program thoughtfully from the ground up. You are someone who:
- Thinks long-term, but isn’t afraid to get muddy.
- Can translate science into action.
- Understands land as ecological, cultural, and relational.
- Communicates clearly with neighbors, partners, staff, and the public.
- Leads with humility, curiosity, and care.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in land conservation, ecological management, or stewardship roles.
- Strong working knowledge of ecological restoration, land management, and conservation best practices.
- Experience supervising staff or leading projects.
- Comfort working independently, setting priorities, and making informed decisions.
- Ability to perform field work in variable weather and terrain.
- Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel between properties.
Preferred / Desired Experience
- Experience working with conservation easements or land trust organizations.
- Proficiency with GIS and mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS).
- Experience with prescribed fire, fuels reduction, or fire ecology.
- Knowledge of southeastern flora and fauna.
- Experience operating and maintaining land management equipment (tractor, skid steer, chainsaw, etc.).
- First aid, CPR, herbicide application, or related certifications (or willingness to obtain).
- Cross-cultural experience and comfort working within values-driven organizations.
Compensation & Benefits
$75,000 (negotiable) Benefits include PTO, healthcare, vision, dental, (Larkspur pays 80%).
How This Role Will Grow with Larkspur
As Larkspur expands to steward additional properties, this role will:
- Shape conservation strategy across multiple landscapes
- Help define long-term stewardship standards for conservation burial nationally
- Play a key role in organizational leadership and legacy planning
To Apply:
Please submit a resume and a letter of interest to Careers@LarkspurConservation.org
Please note: We understand finding a candidate that perfectly fits this job description is likely impossible. We are looking for someone who is the closest fit with room to grow into the role over time. That person may be you. Thank you for considering Larkspur!
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