Location: Santa Fe, NM
Position Summary
Join our Team at the New Mexico Land Conservancy! We're seeking a Project Manager who will work to protect land and water across New Mexico - with a primary focus on northern and eastern New Mexico -- through conservation planning, outreach, conservation easement and land acquisition, fundraising, partnering and policy work. This exciting position will blend individual, parcel-by-parcel transactions with community, watershed and landscape land conservation efforts. The Project Manager will also oversee NMLC's Stewardship Program and supervise the Stewardship Coordinator and any interns/volunteers that are engaged for easement monitoring. The position will be based in Santa Fe with frequent travel around New Mexico.
Position Scope and Responsibilities
NMLC seeks a qualified and motivated individual to provide technical expertise, leadership and support to the organization by planning, generating, implementing, managing and helping fund land conservation activities, including conservation easement, fee title acquisitions and transfers; landowner and community outreach; and project-related fundraising activities in support of the organization's mission and in accordance with its established policies, plans and strategies. This position will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the entire staff and Board.
The primary responsibilities of the Project Manager include:
Land Conservation
- Work closely with both the Executive Director and Southern New Mexico Project Manager to generate, negotiate, guide and implement NMLC's statewide and regional conservation easement, fee title and other land conservation transactions.
- Manage projects (including related budgets and timelines) and coordinate with outside consultants/contractors in the development and completion of land protection projects, including project design, drafting of conservation easements and other agreements, appraisal, baseline documentation, mineral, water rights and environmental assessment, title review and other project-related due diligence.
- Identify land conservation funding opportunities, develop project-related applications and grant proposals, and, as needed, assist Executive Director and staff with other fundraising activities.
- Ensure NMLC's land conservation efforts comply with federal and state statutes, as well as internal guidelines, policies and accreditation standards.
- Coordinate the project evaluation, prioritization and selection process with conservation staff and partners.
- Refine land conservation project review and tracking procedures and systems.
Outreach & Communications
- Respond to land conservation inquiries from private landowners, community groups, public agencies and the general public.
- Initiate interest in land protection and generate new projects/transactions through outreach to and regular meetings with private landowners, community groups, public agencies and other conservation organizations.
- Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish goals and objectives. Partner with other public and private entities, as appropriate, to leverage resources toward the furtherance of NMLC's mission.
- Contribute project articles and updates to newsletters, electronic bulletins, website content and annual reports and other communications materials.
- Maintain regular communication with the Executive Director and, as requested, provide summaries and updates to the staff and Board.
Stewardship
- Oversee NMLC's Stewardship Program, including supervising the new Stewardship Coordinator. Provide guidance for conservation/stewardship staff and interns, as needed, regarding conservation easement stewardship, monitoring and legal defense.
- Assist conservation/stewardship staff, as needed, with management planning for fee properties owned by NMLC.
Organizational Development
- Provide support for Conservation Committee and Board meetings as requested by the Executive Director.
- Ensure NMLC remains up to date and in compliance with Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices as they relate to our conservation and stewardship activities, and support NMLC's professional accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.