Position: Farmland Conservation Manager
Reports To: Conservation Director
Salary Range: DOE, based on 40 hour/week and full-year work
Ideal Start Date: December 2017

About PCC Farmland Trust:

PCC Farmland Trust secures, preserves, and stewards threatened farmland in Washington, ensuring that generations of local farmers productively farm using sustainable, organic growing methods. The Trust is a nationally-accredited 501(c)(3) land trust founded in 1999 by Seattle-based PCC Community Markets and is operated independently with separate offices, staff, board of directors, and administrative functions. Learn more.

About the Position:

The Farmland Conservation Manager is responsible for planning and management of farmland conservation projects in line with the Trust’s land protection priorities, with a particular focus on the South Puget Sound geography. The successful candidate will ensure the Trust meets its core mission of protecting our region’s most threatened prime agricultural lands by building positive relationships with landowners, maintaining strategic organizational partnerships, and developing and implementing conservation easement and fee simple land conservation transactions that meet the goals of the Trust. This position requires close collaboration with all team members and external consultants and contractors. PCC Farmland Trust has eleven full-time staff, including this position. The Trust’s office is located in downtown Seattle; this is a primarily office-based job.

Responsibilities:

Conservation Project Development

• Develop and manage farmland conservation projects with private landowners, including execution of transactions for easement and fee simple conservation. This position will focus primarily on project development in the Trust’s Pierce County focus area.
• Work with private landowners to negotiate easement terms and design farmland conservation projects that meet the goals of both the organization and landowner for farmland protection, access, affordability, and natural resource conservation.
• Work with the Conservation team to develop the public grant funding strategy, and coordinate completion of public grant applications for all projects.
• Manage all project due diligence for conservation acquisitions, including negotiating purchase agreements, hiring appraisals, surveys, and environmental assessments, completing water rights research, and coordinating closing, recording, and project documentation of completed transactions.
• Represent the Trust in the implementation of the Puyallup Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award with USDA-NRCS and the Pierce Conservation District, including targeted landowner outreach and project enrollment under the award.
• Support the Stewardship Manager in creating baseline documentation, stewardship plans, and property management plans for farm conservation projects, and respond as needed to property management and stewardship issues on conserved farms in the South Puget Sound geography.

Program Support

• Assist with engagement of strategic partnerships in the Trust’s Pierce County focus area.
• Represent the Trust by speaking at agencies, public forums, and other workshops as appropriate to advance the Trust’s work.
• Support the Farm to Farmer Program Coordinator with landowner outreach and response to inquiries.
• Assist with preparation and documentation for the Trust’s renewal of accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Assist with preparation of materials for project review by the Conservation Committee and full Board of Directors, with support from the Conservation Director.
• Participate in fundraising and other activities to support organizational development

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in resource management or related program.
• 2-3 years of hands-on experience in the conservation field, including natural resource management and restoration, sustainable agriculture, forestry, or ecology.
• Familiarity with national conservation and stewardship issues and best practices including the Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.
• Ability to read and understand deeds, conservation easements, and related legal documents.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Strong computer proficiency and experience using ESRI ArcGIS software.
• Highly organized and able to juggle multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail.
• Willingness to work outdoors in various weather conditions.

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in resource management or related program.
• Land trust transaction and conservation easement management experience.
• Experience with public grants for land conservation, particularly USDA-NRCS, RCPP, and ACEP-ALE programs.
• Experience working with private landowners and farmers.

Licenses, Certificates, or Other Requirements:

• Valid WA driver’s license.
• Access to a personal vehicle.
• Willingness to work varied hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Willingness to travel across the state.
• Ability to spend most of the work week in Seattle office, while conducting a significant amount of field work in Pierce County, Washington.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary will be DOE and based on 40 hour/week and full-year work. Competitive insurance and benefits package; 10 paid holidays; paid time off; ORCA transit card; retirement.

To Apply:

Applications will be accepted until position is filled. First round of application reviews and interviews will commence on October 31. Please email your resume and cover letter to Conservation Director Hilary Aten at farmlandtrust@pccfarmlandtrust.org.

PCC Farmland Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of all ages, races, gender identities, and sexual orientations are encouraged to apply.