Deadline: February 4, 2019

The Land Trust Alliance is the voice of the land trust community. As the national leader in policy, standards and education, we work passionately to support land trusts across America so they can save more land and better serve their communities.

Our natural places and working lands are a lifeline to clean air, water, food and good health. These lands also bring us together, inspire us and provide opportunities to recreate and recharge. The land trust community is a crucial component in this equation. With important places under continual threat, land trusts need access to the best tools, information and policy advocates. Armed with a diverse network and valuable resources, the Alliance is the land trust community’s source for the knowledge and capabilities they need to reach their goals. From tax and funding policies on Capitol Hill to innovative ideas, partnerships and initiatives, we ensure our land trust members can always be heard and achieve more.

The Alliance is committed to building the constituency for conservation. Our team focuses on building the communications capacity of land trusts while using the Alliance’s communications channels to build public support and political influence in favor of private land conservation. At the same time, we work to elevate and promote the work of the Alliance and its programs to our members, funders and other key stakeholders.

Position Summary

The Land Transactions Program Manager position offers an exciting opportunity for a highly entrepreneurial, energetic conservation leader to develop and implement a new initiative — the Pacific Northwest Resilient Landscapes Initiative (the Initiative). Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Initiative is a collaborative partnership among the Alliance, Oregon Community Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, and the Idaho Community Foundation. The community foundations will leverage donor contributions to match the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s investment, and fully achieve the goals of the Initiative. The Alliance may establish a similar program in the Great Lakes region as early as July 2019, contingent on available financial resources, and the Land Transactions Program Manager would also oversee the Great Lakes program should it come to fruition.

Through the Initiative, the Alliance will administer a grants program that distributes land capital to land trusts to permanently protect resilient lands in the Pacific Northwest as identified through the application of The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Landscapes science (aka “resilience science”). In addition, the Alliance will deliver a re-grant and capacity building program that encourages and enables land trusts to prioritize and complete land transactions that protect resilient lands. The Initiative will be integral to achieving the goals and strategies of the Alliance’s national Land and Climate Program, launched in 2017. The purpose of this program is to provide land trusts with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to address climate change in their land protection, stewardship, and management practices. Moreover, the Initiative will offer sophisticated capacity-building services to land trusts as integrated with the Alliance’s Western Program in areas we believe will result in highly leveraged, high-impact outcomes, including community engagement, strategic communications, advanced conservation finance, and climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Further, this position plays an important role in building and maintaining effective partnerships with a variety of organizations and stakeholders working in the climate change arena, including state and regional associations of land trusts (e.g., Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts), national conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, state/federal agencies, donors, and private foundations.

The location of this position is negotiable. Oregon, Washington or Idaho is preferred.

Responsibilities

Program Development, Management, and Coordination: In collaboration with land trusts, conservation partners, and community foundations, develop and implement the Pacific Northwest Resilient Landscapes Initiative. Design and manage a large regrants program to provide capital for land purchases; financial investments in land trusts to help them incorporate climate science into their conservation planning; and, funding for projects that strengthen the capacity of land trusts. The position will also be responsible for ensuring effective coordination across the Alliance’s departments, programs, and staff.

Partnerships and Collaboration: Build highly collaborative working relationships with the Oregon Community Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, and the Idaho Community Foundation. Recruit and manage relevant external, expert advisory committees to help guide land acquisition decisions, including The Nature Conservancy which will serve as a chief science and technical advisor for the Initiative.

Donor Engagement: Coordinate with Alliance development staff and key partners in identifying and cultivating relationships with key foundations, corporations, individuals, and public agencies, and writing development proposals and reports.

Training: Lead or assist in designing and implementing training and networking programs. This includes evaluating the topics, speakers and locations for training events, developing new workshops that reflect known training needs in conjunction with Alliance staff and experienced practitioners, and assisting with the design of new and efficient ways to deliver training to land trusts.

Budget Management: Partner with the Vice President of National and Regional Services and the Chief Financial Officer, grants department, and other program staff to help build, monitor, and report on program budgets.

Ambassadorship and Communications: Represent the Alliance in the Pacific Northwest as a chief spokesperson on resilience science and the Initiative at select conferences, events, coalition meetings, land trust gatherings and other venues as warranted.

Administrative: Lead or assist with grant program administration, meeting logistics, mailings, accounting, reporting and other administrative responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications and Attributes

Familiarity and experience with conservation easement and fee title land acquisition transactions, including legal and fiduciary due diligence

Understanding of how land acquisition funding is sourced, matched, and secured from state, federal and private sources

Experience in the application of The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Landscapes science to strategic land conservation planning and acquisition

Track record of managing grant funds, foundations programs and other philanthropic initiatives in the conservation, environmental protection, community development, or public policy space

Demonstrated track record of superb project management and coordination, program evaluation, and adaptive management

Demonstrated ability to build and sustain high-functioning teams, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and relationships with diverse partners

Experience in organizing and delivering/teaching technical trainings

A minimum of five (5) years’ experience working with nonprofit organizations, preferably with land trusts and within the context of climate change issues

Ability to manage multiple, complex projects simultaneously

Demonstrated ability to manage consultants and other contractors

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Ability to work effectively without close supervision and as part of a team in a fast-paced work environment

Minimum of three (3) years demonstrated ability to fundraise at all levels including foundations, corporations and individuals

The full-time position requires 37.5 hours per week

Ability to travel up to 40%, including weekends

Bachelor’s Degree required. Graduate degree in a related field preferred

Compensation

Competitive salary and benefits provided.

Contact

Send resume and cover letter, via email to hr@lta.org (link sends e-mail). If email is not an option, applications will be accepted by mail to Human Resources, Land Trust Alliance, 1250 H St, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005.