Land Trust Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Are you passionate about conservation and enjoy working with people?

Colorado West Land Trust is hiring a Land Conservation Specialist to help landowners achieve their conservation goals while advancing land protection in Western Colorado. This position offers a unique blend of project management, field work, community engagement, and conservation planning in some of Western Colorado's most remarkable landscapes.

Status Full time, regular, non-exempt

Reports to Conservation Director

Location CWLT office in Montrose, CO - this is not a remote position

Schedule Monday-Fridaywith some evenings and weekendsrequiredfor board meetings andspecial events

Travel Regional travelrequired;urban, rural, backcountry

Salary range $24.50/hr- $31.75/hr

Hiringrange $22.50/hr-$28.25/hrbased onthecandidate's experience, education,and skills

Colorado West Land Trust (CWLT)is the leading Land Trust in Western Colorado, servinga seven-county region from Grand Junction south to Ouray and Gunnison west into Grand County, Utah. CWLT has conserved over150,000 acresthrough more than 600 conservation agreements over its 40-year history. CWLT is a private, charitable non-profit organization, accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and governed by an active Board of Directors. CWLT has offices in Grand Junction and Montrose, Colorado.

CWLT's professional staff work together cooperatively to achieve CWLT's mission:To protect and enhance agricultural land, wildlife habitat and scenic lands in western Colorado to benefit the community at large, enrich lives, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, and ensure our connection to the land for generations to come.CWLT's professional staff are flexible, solutions-oriented, collaborativeworkers who have a passion to fulfill the organization's mission.

JOB SUMMARY

TheLandConservation Specialistadvances the mission of Colorado West Land Trust byidentifying, developing, andcompleting landprotection projects that meet the goals and initiativesestablishedby the ConservationPlanand ConservationDirector. S/he will work closely with landowners, service providers, and funders and must be able to build andmaintainfriendly relationships, and professional and courteous communications with a diverse variety of constituents and stakeholders.TheLandConservation Specialist's primary assignment is the Land Protection program; s/he will also provide supportinconservation easementmonitoringand stewardship. S/he must be able to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines,be proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, andbe willing and able to speak in public. TheConservation Specialistis personable, detail oriented, and is flexible with the ability to respond well to changing priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a key member of the Colorado West Land Trust team, the LandConservation Specialistperforms all duties collaboratively, contributing to a cooperative and supportive work environment. All actions and initiatives are undertaken in alignment with the overarching goals and priorities defined through organizational planning under the guidance of the Conservation Director, ensuring that progress is consistent with CWLT's mission and strategicdirection.

Land Conservation

• Work closely with the Conservation Director toidentify, recommend, and develop new land protection opportunities and initiatives as outlined in the Conservation Plan.

• Work with landownersto developconservation agreements. Work with CWLT legal counsel to draftconservation easements to ensure they meet CWLT's goalsandLand Trust AllianceStandards and Practices while meeting the needs of the individual landowners.

• Ensure all stepsand due diligencefor easementand acquisitionprojects are professionally completed including landowner negotiation, title work,appraisals,environmental hazard assessments, baseline documentation,budgeting,andrequiredrecord keeping, frominceptionto completion.

• Work with the Conservation Director to take projects through an organizational pipeline including intake,timelyfollow up, tracking, prioritizing, and advancing projects to completion.

• Work with Conservation Director to apply for land protection and transaction cost funding;implementand report onfunding received

• In coordination with the Development Team, planoutreach events andgivepresentationstoprovideinformation on conservation easements, the process,andconservation easementbenefits to a wide range of audiences.

• UpdateLOCATEdatabase with project information, status,and communications.

• Prepareandsubmitreports,andgivepresentationsforthe Lands Committee, CWLT Board,fundersandpartners.
  

Stewardship and Monitoring

• Conduct and document annual monitoring of an assigned portfolio of conservation easement and fee propertiesin accordance withCWLT policies and Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.

• Field landowner inquiries, passing questions toappropriate conservationstaff.

• UpdateLOCATEdatabase with landownerchanges,property changes, and relevant communications.

Professionalism and Teamwork

• Build andmaintainpositive collegial relationships within the Conservation Team andCWLT staff at large.

• Establishand sustaincordial, productive,and trustworthyrelationships with landowners, funders,and external partners.

• Communicate professionally, courteously,and effectively withcolleagues, board members,landowners,attorneys, service providers, funders,andother partners.

• Demonstrateproblemsolving skills.Proactively developand recommend solutionsas needed.

• Accept feedback in the spirit of growth and continuous improvement.

• Maintain productivity when working remotely and in an office setting.

Otherresponsibilities

• Participate in Conservation Program planning and team meetings.

• Participate in Lands Committee meetings.

• Assistin departmental budgeting.

• Attend Board meetings as requested by the Conservation Director.

• Complete other duties as assignedby the Conservation Director.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A bachelor'sdegree in conservation, natural resources, range management, or a related field;orequivalent experience in one or more of the following areas: land conservation, stewardship, real estate transaction, or conservation easement monitoring.

• Experience with grant writing preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Power Point, Word, Publisher).

• Experience with database applications ora demonstratedproficiencyin learning to use software.

• Demonstrated ability intheinterpersonal skillsrequiredtoaccomplishthe duties listed in "Professionalism and teamwork"including communication, collaboration,problem solving, and time management.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, negotiate solutions, and find common ground with diverseconstituencies.

• Willing and able to speak in public, experience in public speaking preferred.

• Valid driver's license and ability to drive safely in urban, rural and some backcountry environments requiring 4-wheel drive.

• Personal qualities of integrity, reliability,and commitment to the mission.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods at a desk and working on a computer.

• Occasionally traverse rough outdoor terrain such as gravel and packed dirt, uneven ground, and navigate around obstacles.

WORK ENVIROMENT

• Environmentfor office work is temperature controlled.

• Outdoor activities may exposeindividualto weather elements such as rain, snow, wind,heatand cold.

• Field work may requireemployeeto be alone in remote, backcountrylocationspossibly withoutcellular service.

BENEFITS

Current employer paid benefits package includes employer paid health insurance; short- and long-term disability; life insurance; employeeassistanceplan;15 dayspaid vacation,10 dayspaid sick time, 11 paid holidays; 403(b) retirement plan with company match after 1 year.Additionalemployee paid supplementary insurance plans available: dental, vision, life, accident, critical illness, and hospitalization.