WHO WE ARE:
PCC Farmland Trust (the Trust) protects and stewards threatened farmland across Washington State. We keep land in production by making it accessible to future generations of farmers. 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. For more information on our programs, please visit our website at https://www.pccfarmlandtrust.org/our-work/.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Farmland Conservation Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and completing farmland conservation transactions in line with the Trust’s land protection priorities with a focus on the South Puget Sound geography, particularly Pierce County. 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 governmental partnerships, and developing and implementing conservation easement and fee simple land conservation transactions. The successful candidate will also have experience working to increase diversity in land conservation and stewardship. This is a full-time position that reports to the Conservation & Stewardship Director and requires close collaboration with all team members and external consultants and contractors. PCC Farmland Trust has twelve staff, including this position. The Trust’s office is located in downtown Seattle; this position will spend significant field time in the South Puget Sound region and offers the potential for working remotely. We are seeking a candidate who can join our team as soon as possible.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. 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 and implementation in Pierce County, as well as the larger South Puget Sound region.
• Work with private landowners and land-seeking farmers to negotiate easement terms and design farmland conservation projects that meet the goals of both the organization and landowner for farmland protection, affordability, access for historically underrepresented groups, 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/land-seeker outreach and project enrollment.
• 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.

B. PROGRAM SUPPORT DUTIES:

• Support the Conservation & Stewardship Director with engagement of strategic partnerships in Pierce County and the South Puget Sound region.
• Participate in and support the implementation of the Trust’s initiative to advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
  • Support the Conservation & Stewardship team in identification of program needs and opportunities to meet and expand DEI goals
  • Contribute to evolution of Farm to Farmer Program to identify and remove barriers to land tenure for active and potential land-seekers
  • Support Farm to Farmer Program Coordinators with landowner outreach, land-seeking farmer networking and response to inquiries
  • Contribute to creation and implementation of capacity support programs to diversify land conservation, stewardship and land tenure.
• Assist with preparation of materials for project review by the Conservation Committee and full Board of Directors.
• Participate in fundraising and other activities to support organizational development.
• Represent the Trust by speaking at agencies, public forums, and other workshops as appropriate to advance the Trust’s work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in resource management or related program; Master’s degree or equivalent preferred.
• 2-3 years of hands-on experience or equivalent in the conservation field, including land conservation, conservation easement management, real estate transactions, agricultural assistance, and/or natural resource management.
• Highly organized and able to juggle multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with a broad and diverse range of stakeholders.
• Willingness to work outdoors in various weather conditions.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: (NOTE: Some on-the-job training will be available and expected, therefore applicants with limited experience in the following should not hesitate to apply.)

• Prior land conservation transaction and conservation easement management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with land acquisitions and real estate transactions preferred.
• Familiarity with national land conservation issues and best practices including the Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices
• Ability to read and understand deeds, conservation easements and legal documents.
• Experience with public grants for land conservation preferred, particularly USDA-NRCS, RCPP, and ACEP-ALE programs.
• Experience working with private landowners and farmers preferred.
• Strong computer proficiency and experience using ESRI ArcGIS software.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid WA driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle for field visits (mileage reimbursed at the IRS rate).
• Willingness to work varied hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Willingness to travel across the state. This position will also require significant time conducting field work in Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, and Grays Harbor County, WA.
• Ability to travel to the Trust’s Seattle main office on a semi-regular basis.

COMPENSATION:
The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $63,000, depending on experience 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.