Conservation Project Specialist

Summary of Position:

GVLT is seeking a highly motivated and organized individual to join our land conservation team. The Conservation Project Specialist’s primary role is to support conservation easement projects throughout GVLT’s service area with a focus on Gallatin County. This person will work closely with the Conservation Program Manager to help develop and complete conservation easement projects. This position will be heavily involved in all aspects of project due diligence as well as contributing to funding applications. We are looking for someone with exceptional organizational skills and the ability to support complex, multi-year real estate projects that require a high attention to detail. This position is well supported by an experienced 6-person land conservation team that works collaboratively to develop strategic, innovative, and enduring conservation projects.

About the Gallatin Valley Land Trust:

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust connects people, communities, and open lands through the conservation of working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat, and the creation of trails, in the Montana headwaters of the Missouri and Upper Yellowstone Rivers. Since our founding in 1990, Gallatin Valley Land Trust has protected 127 properties totaling over 65,000 acres and has helped create over 100 miles of trails in the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. For more information about GVLT and its programs, visit www.gvlt.org. 

Specific Duties:

Support land conservation projects (75%):

• Support Conservation Project Managers to initiate and sustain outreach with individual landowners, landowner groups, and other strategic partners to identify and develop new conservation easement projects.
• Evaluate new projects based on the current strategic land conservation goals and project selection criteria.
• Coordinate aspects of due diligence work related to conservation easement acquisition including contracting and managing consultants with a range of expertise (e.g., appraisers, attorneys, realtors, environmental scientists, surveyors, etc.).
• Help to develop funding proposals and write grant applications for the purchase of conservation easements through public and private granting sources, especially the NRCS Agricultural Land Easement Program.
• Utilize ArcGIS Pro to help the Lands Team identify, evaluate, and manage potential projects.
• Support the preparation and review of acquisition and transfer documents (e.g., deeds, purchase agreements, title documents, escrow instructions, etc.) in collaboration with a GVLT attorney.
• Support land conservation projects as they move through GVLT’s internal review process.
• Maintain complete files on active projects and create permanent paper and digital files once a transaction is recorded. Ensure that all land conservation transactions are adequately documented, including written reports, database management, and GIS maps.

Communication, planning, and administration (25%):

• Assist Communications Manager with communications related to conservation projects such as press releases, maps, web content, videos, and other impactful materials.
• Cultivate relationships with community members, as well as local, regional, and national partners to further GVLT’s mission and goals.
• Support outreach to landowners and landowner groups throughout the GVLT service area to assist in better understanding conservation easements and how they can achieve private land conservation goals.
• Participate in national and/or regional networks of conservationists and/or land trust organizations to further GVLT’s mission.
• Learn and stay current on all aspects of conservation easements and other conservation
• Participate in weekly staff meetings, Lands Committee meetings, and bi-monthly Board meetings, keeping colleagues and members apprised of issues as they ari
• Participate in Lands Team tracking of annual work plan.

Essential Skills & Competencies:

• Ability to develop positive working relationships and communicate with a diversity of people including co-workers, landowners, community leaders, and government agencies.
• Strong speaking, writing, and listening skills.
• Practical problem-solving and organizational skills with attention to detail and record-keeping.
• Familiarity with open lands, natural resources, water, and wildlife in the Gallatin Valley and Greater Yellowstone area preferred.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of the theories, practices, principles, and techniques of land conservatio
• Basic knowledge of current tax and conservation easement laws preferred.
• Physical requirements: ability to walk up to one mile over rough terrain and navigate in remote ar

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Minimum BA/BS in natural resources management, conservation, law, or another related field of study.
• Experience in land conservation, natural resources, real estate, law, or related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experien
• Experience with conservation easements or other real estate transactions.
• Experience developing and managing federal grants, especially through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro.

Generous benefits package includes:

• 2 weeks paid vacation increased to 3 weeks at one year of employment. Employees gradually increase to 5 weeks of paid vacation after 5 years of employment.
• 10 days of paid personal leave, 10 paid holidays, and 2 unplanned outdoor days.
• Eligible for a 2-month paid sabbatical after 5 years.
• 100% coverage for employee’s Health, vision, and dental insurance premiums and 50% coverage for dependents. Monthly health savings account contributions.
• 100% coverage of Long-Term Disability Insurance, Basic Term Life and AD&D insurance.
• Matching retirement contributions up to 3%.
• 2-months paid family leave
• Flexible and family-oriented schedule
• Investment in professional development