Senior Conservation Project Manager

~ We sustain America's forests for all their public benefits of wood, water, wildlife, and people's well-being in cooperation with landowners and communities. ~

Position Overview

'The Senior Conservation Project Manager position will play a central role in building and managing PFT’s portfolio of forest conservation projects in Oregon and regionally. The Project Manager will engage with landowners, key funders, and agency stakeholders to identify, initiate, and manage conservation projects and transactions. Particular emphasis will be on advancing our outreach and building our constituency and support in Oregon. PFT’s projects are often large-scale and complex, and involve collaboration with multiple public and private partners. This position will lead and facilitate these projects from inception to closing.

The Project Manager will plan for strategic acquisitions and manage/assist in the completion of easement and fee title projects from outreach through development to closing. All activities will be performed in a manner consistent with PFT’s overall program priorities, policies and procedures as a twice-accredited land trust and publicly supported charity and with our commitment to the highest ethical standards.

Note: This role reports to the  PFT President; works closely with the Conservation and Stewardship team and Oregon Program Director.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify and cultivate partnerships through outreach to private forestland owners, foresters, public agencies, elected officials, other resource managers, and other forest stakeholders. This includes one-on-one visits; organizing, attending and/or presenting at meetings, conferences and workshops (including PFT’s own); participating in regional collaboratives of which PFT is a member; and collaborating with other PFT staff on articles and other media.
• Actively source and develop conservation easements and fee title projects in PFT priority areas, consistent with PFT’s acquisition policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement funding plans for acquisitions by cultivating financial support for PFT at the state, national and local level. Understand and be able to successfully access all potential government funding sources (state, federal, other), as well as philanthropic and private sector financial sources and structures. Prepare proposals and financial analyses. Fulfill reporting requirements of funders.
• Negotiate and manage conservation easement acquisitions, including drafting and quality assurance of conservation plans or assessments for the property; supervising property due diligence, including title investigation, site characterization, and environmental assessment; negotiation and drafting of conservation easement deeds; and oversight of transaction closing processes.
• Play a key role within PFT’s Conservation and Stewardship team, collaborating with other conservation and stewardship staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years working in land conservation, including at least 5 years in conservation easement transactions. Forestry or other related resource management background preferred.
• Demonstrated success negotiating, financing and managing conservation easement acquisitions.
• An understanding of, commitment to, and experience meeting the high standards of land trust accreditation.
• Advanced degree, preferably in relevant field of law, resource management or business.
• Strong track record of collaboration and partnership with varying stakeholders to develop successful conservation projects.
• Expertise and success obtaining funds from public and private sources for land and conservation easement acquisitions and fulfilling funding requirements, including reporting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively articulate the benefits of working forest conservation to engage potential and existing partners, including forest owners, government agencies and community stakeholders.
• Experience building long-term partnerships with stakeholders to develop successful conservation projects.
• Experience managing and leading teams.
• A commitment to high standards and personal accountability, with strong initiative, perseverance, and resilience.
• Commitment to Pacific Forest Trust’s mission and desire to make an enduring contribution to the field of conservation and sustainable forestry.
• Fluent with basic computer applications, e.g., Microsoft Office, ArcGIS
• Personable and flexible. Able to work under pressure and to manage time and competing priorities. Comfortable and effective working in a small, busy organization.
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds and hike across sometimes steep or uneven terrain.

Travel:

• Significant travel is required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.