2004 VERSION OF STANDARD 7 Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants The land trust has volunteers, staff and/or consultants with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its programs.. The land trust regularly evaluates its programs, activities and long-term responsibilities and has sufficient volunteers, staff and/or consultants to carry out its work, particularly when managing an active program of easements.. If the land trust uses volunteers, it has a program to attract, screen, train, supervise and recognize its volunteers. C. Staff. If the land trust uses staff, each staff member has written goals or job descriptions and periodic performance reviews. Job duties or work procedures for key positions are documented to help provide continuity in the event of staff turnover. D. Availability of Training and Expertise. Volunteers and staff have appropriate training and experience for their responsibilities and/or opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge and skills. E. Board/Staff Lines of Authority. If the land trust has staff, the lines of authority, communication and responsibility between board and staff are clearly understood and documented. If the board hires an executive director (or chief staff person), the board delegates supervisory authority over all other staff to the executive director. (See 3E.) F. Personnel Policies. If the land trust has staff, it has written personnel policies that conform to federal and state law and has appropriate accompanying procedures or guidelines. G. Compensation and Benefits. If the land trust has staff, it provides fair and equitable compensation and benefits, appropriate to the scale of the organization. H. Working with Consultants. Consultant and contractor relationships are clearly defined, are consistent with federal and state law, and, if appropriate, are documented in a written contract. Consultants and contractors are familiar with sections of Land Trust Standards and that are relevant to their work. Land Trust Standards and /February 2017/Page 1
STANDARD 7 DECONSTRUCTED INTO ELEMENTS Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants The land trust has volunteers, staff and/or consultants with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its programs. The land trust regularly evaluates its programs, activities and long-term responsibilities The land trust has sufficient volunteers, staff and/or consultants to carry out its work, particularly when managing an active program of easements If the land trust uses volunteers, it has a program to attract, screen, train, supervise and recognize its volunteers C. Staff If the land trust uses staff, each staff member has written goals or job descriptions and periodic performance reviews Job duties or work procedures for key positions are documented to help provide continuity in the event of staff turnover D. Availability of Training and Expertise Volunteers and staff have appropriate training and experience for their responsibilities and/or opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge and skills E. Board/Staff Lines of Authority If the land trust has staff, the lines of authority, communication and responsibility between board and staff are clearly understood and documented If the board hires an executive director (or chief staff person), the board delegates supervisory authority over all other staff to the executive director. (See 3E.) F. Personnel Policies If the land trust has staff, it has written personnel policies that conform to federal and state law and has appropriate accompanying procedures or guidelines G. Compensation and Benefits If the land trust has staff, it provides fair and equitable compensation and benefits, appropriate to the scale of the organization H. Working with Consultants Consultant and contractor relationships are clearly defined, are consistent with federal and state law, and, if appropriate, are documented in a written contract Consultants and contractors are familiar with sections of Land Trust Standards and that are relevant to their work Land Trust Standards and /February 2017/Page 2
STANDARD 7 TRACK CHANGES Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and ConsultantsHuman Resources The lland trusts has have sufficient skilled personnel volunteers, staff and/or consultants with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its their programs, whether volunteers, staff and/or consultants/contractors. The land trust regularly evaluates its programs, activities and long-term responsibilities The land trust has Periodically evaluate whether the land trust has sufficient volunteers, staff and/or consultants/contractors to carry outachieve its work, particularly when managing an active program of easementsstrategic goals and carry out its programs, and then add capacity as needed If the land trust usesprovide volunteers, it has a program to attract, screen, train, supervise and recognize with training, supervision and recognition its volunteers C. Consultants or Contractors Clearly define relationships with consultants or contractors, ensure they are consistent with federal and state law and document them in a written contract, as appropriate D. Transition Planning Develop a written process or plan to provide for continuity in the leadership and management of the land trust s functions CE. Staff If the land trust uses staff,have a written job description for each staff member has written goals or job descriptions and conduct periodic performance reviews Job duties or work procedures for key positions are documented to help provide continuity in the event of staff turnover Document the lines of authority, communication and responsibility between board and staff D. Availability of Training and Expertise Volunteers andensure staff have appropriate training and experience for their responsibilities and/or opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge and skills E. Board/Staff Lines of Authority If the land trust has staff, the lines of authority, communication and responsibility between board and staff are clearly understood and documented If the board hires an executive director (or chief staff person), the board delegates supervisory authority over all other staff to the executive director. (See 3E.) F. Personnel Policies If the land trust has staff, it has Adopt written personnel policies that conform to federal and state law and has appropriate accompanying procedures or guidelines Land Trust Standards and /February 2017/Page 3
STANDARD 7 TRACK CHANGES G. Compensation and Benefits If the land trust has staff, it pprovides fair and equitable compensation and benefits, appropriate to the scale of the organization H. Working with Consultants Consultant and contractor relationships are clearly defined, are consistent with federal and state law, and, if appropriate, are documented in a written contract Consultants and contractors are familiar with sections of Land Trust Standards and that are relevant to their work Land Trust Standards and /February 2017/Page 4
STANDARD 7 REVISED CLEAN Yellow highlighting indicates new practices or new practice elements Blue indicates designated accreditation indicator elements Standard 7: Human Resources Land trusts have sufficient skilled personnel to carry out their programs, whether volunteers, staff and/or consultants/contractors. 1. Periodically evaluate whether the land trust has sufficient volunteers, staff and/or consultants/contractors to achieve its strategic goals and carry out its programs, and then add capacity as needed 1. Provide volunteers with training, supervision and recognition C. Consultants or Contractors 1. Clearly define relationships with consultants or contractors, ensure they are consistent with federal and state law and document them in a written contract, as appropriate D. Transition Planning 1. Develop a written process or plan to provide for continuity in the leadership and management of the land trust s functions E. Staff 1. Have a written job description for each staff member and conduct periodic performance reviews 2. Document the lines of authority, communication and responsibility between board and staff 3. Ensure staff have appropriate training and experience for their responsibilities and/or opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge and skills 4. Adopt written personnel policies that conform to federal and state law 5. Provide fair and equitable compensation and benefits Land Trust Standards and /February 2017/Page 5