SENIOR MANAGER OF LAND PROTECTION

Save the Redwoods League is seeking a Senior Manager of Land Protection who is responsible for all aspects of a portfolio of League real estate transactions, including complex, large-scale timberland fee and conservation easement acquisitions. This important work is key in implementing the League’s Strategic Plan, consistent with the League’s Centennial Vision.

The Senior Manager is responsible for pipeline development, landowner negotiation, project design, funding plan development and implementation, due diligence, and closing of fee and conservation easement acquisitions on high priority redwood properties. 

Internally, the Senior Manager works with staff across all departments and teams, including Conservation Programs, Development, Finance, and Marketing and Communications, and the Senior Team, to help identify and track the League’s priority conservation acquisition projects.  Moreover, the Senior Manager directs all aspects of real property transactions within their portfolio, including the coordination of funding strategies, and guides and supports related media and public relations activities.  Externally, the Senior Manager represents the League with landowners and their representatives, public agency partners and funders, private donors, while coordinating large and diverse teams of stakeholders, partners, and consultants to achieve desired program and project outcomes.

For over 100 years, Save the Redwoods League has been dedicated to protecting the ancient redwood forests so all generations can experience the inspiration and majesty of redwoods.  Since its founding in 1918, Save the Redwoods League has protected more than 200,000 acres of forests and helped create 66 redwood parks and preserves for everybody to enjoy. To learn more about us, go to www.SaveTheRedwoods.org

We provide excellent benefits including paid vacation, sick time, medical, dental, transit benefits, life insurance and a generous 401K!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as lead coordinator for land acquisition and disposition projects; facilitates the League’s conservation work, and participates in planning for the highest and best uses for held properties, with supervision from the Director of Land Protection and in coordination with other members of the Conservation Programs team
• Advances a portfolio of landscape-scale land conservation projects through which commercial forest land is acquired for permanent protection and restoration
• Coordinates with the Conservation Programs, Development and Finance teams, to pursue creative funding strategies, partnerships, ownership structures, and forest management plans to accomplish large scale acquisitions and stewardship and management
• Assumes primary responsibility for all aspects of selected complex real estate transactions, including: negotiating with landowners and their representatives; developing and recommending transaction and funding strategies and projecting revenue and expenses; representing the League with land trust partners, funders, government personnel, real estate agents, and title companies; contracting for and reviewing property appraisals and environmental reports; preparing transaction documents, completing title review and other due diligence tasks, and conducting transaction closings
• Collaborates with the Development and Marketing & Communications teams; provides content and context for significant, complex land acquisitions; serves as subject matter expert in discussions with potential funders regarding priority projects
• Represents the League in regional groups of land trusts, federal agencies, tribes, and other partners to advance conservation efforts
• Collaborates with Conservation Programs staff to identify and prioritize potential projects within key redwood areas
• Conducts project research, administration and coordination with other land program functions; drafts correspondence, memos, funding proposals, graphic and statistical reports and presentations in support of project activities
• Coordinates external activities that may include public relations, outreach and third-party support for projects, including convening large agency and community meetings on specific topics designed to achieve desired outcomes
• Supervises contractors and vendors for appraisals, surveys, environmental reports, architectural designs, restoration plans, construction plans, and other master planning efforts related to specific ranges of properties and projects

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in conservation science, policy, management, forestry, or related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in real estate management and complex transactions; commercial forest-land acquisition experience is a plus
• Experience in land conservation project management, real property transaction, due diligence, close escrow, and land use planning
• Proven project management expertise, with a track record of success coordinating multiple projects and budgets; able to organize time efficiently and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to structure land transactions, conduct due diligence, and close escrow, with limited oversight
• Familiarity with California local, state and federal policies, laws, conservation funding programs and permits
• Familiarity with or demonstrated ability to quickly learn about the redwood region ecosystems, regulatory environments, permitting requirements, geography, land trust partners, funding sources, culture, socio-economics, academic communities, conservation partners and political and government institutions, including the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Coastal Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, the National Park Service, Forest Service, CalFire, and the offices of elected officials
• Familiarity with California forest practice rules and timber industry is preferred
• Experience in some or all of the following is preferred:appraisals; hazardous materials reports; business operations and compliance; government and non-government contracting and grant making; government and legislative relations; innovative conservation tools and approaches that go beyond traditional fee and conservation easement transactions with private and public partners
• Skilled in managing varied project stakeholder relationships and successful at facilitating collaboration, cooperation, coordination of large project teams
• Ability to handle multiple demands, projects, budgets, and competing priorities
• Strong research, writing, oral communication, and presentation skills
• Strong experience with Microsoft Office, and other databases
• Familiarity with ArcGIS is preferred
• Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities; verbal and written fluency in a language other than English is desirable
• Commitment to the mission of Save the Redwoods League; passion for forest conservation, land management, and natural cultural resource preservation

Working Conditions:

• Frequent travel within California, often requiring multiple overnight trips, including on weekends; some weekend and evening responsibilities
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Required to hike through forestland while working off-site, including walking on uneven ground, climbing over obstacles, and accessing remote locations
• Occasionally lifts, carries, or otherwise moves and positions objects weighing up to 30 pounds

To Be Considered:

Email your resume, a cover letter addressing why you are a great fit for this role, and your salary expectations to: Jobs@SaveTheRedwoods.org with the subject heading "Senior Manager of Land Protection.”

NO CALLS PLEASE... we are busy protecting redwoods. THANK YOU!

Save the Redwoods League is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Fluent English speakers who are bi-or multi-lingual, including indigenous language speakers, are encouraged to apply.

Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities; verbal and written fluency  in a language other than English is desirable.