Southern Oregon Land Program Manager

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) seeks an organized, detail-oriented, flexible, process-oriented, ambitious person with a passion for agricultural land conservation to serve as our Southern Oregon Land Program Manager. Job responsibilities include: building relationships with landowners and partner organizations to advance the permanent protection of priority agricultural lands; identifying, writing and managing grants for acquisition funding; stewarding and monitoring conserved farms and ranches; supporting the provision of technical assistance to other organizations; and participating in OAT’s Land Committee. The position will primarily serve Lake and Harney Counties and potentially Klamath and Douglas Counties.

About Us

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is a statewide, 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of Oregon’s economy, communities, and landscapes. We work collaboratively with regional and statewide partners to permanently protect farm and ranch land in priority geographies within Oregon.  

We also partner with regional leaders to:

• educate farmers, ranchers, service providers, and the public about protecting and passing on agricultural land;
• increase the capacity of peer organizations to protect agricultural land; and
• advocate for programs and incentives that support agricultural land protection.

 

Position Overview

Compensation: $70,000 Program Manager DOE, plus generous benefits. 

Status: Full-time (exempt). 

Reports to: Land Program Director

Location: OAT staff work remotely within the state of Oregon with frequent virtual meetings and  periodic in-person meetings in different locations. Residence in Lake or Klamath Co. preferred.

Position Description

OAT welcomes applications from interviewees who might not have all of the desired experiences, skills, or attributes at this time, but are interested in acquiring them. If you feel that you meet or can grow into most of the above qualifications, please apply! Underlined portions refer to duties where the Manager’s role will increase in independent action over time, depending on positive performance reviews.

Land Protection

• Identifying, developing, and completing ag land protection projects, primarily in the priority areas of Lake and Harney, and potentially Klamath and Douglas Counties and in nearby areas as needed. This includes: landowner outreach; project assessment, negotiation and closing; project due diligence; meeting state/federal tax requirements, and preparing baseline documents;
• Identifying and pursuing grants and other funding for: land /easement acquisitions and (in some cases) general operating support;
• Developing and sustaining partner and landowner relationships; and
• Participating in the Land Committee, including project approvals.

Program Development

• Participating in strategic, conservation, and communications planning;
• Preparing maps and data to inform planning, land protection projects, and stewardship efforts; and
• Helping to develop policies and procedures to support a successful Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program.

Stewardship and Enforcement

• Conducting monitoring and stewardship activities until OAT has stewardship staff; and
• Supporting the resolution of easement violations and interpretation disagreements.

Generally

• Representing the program; developing partnerships/collaborations; identifying and managing technical assistance and fee-for-service for partners and interested entities
• Working cooperatively with colleagues, Directors, and Committee members;
• Staying current on local, regional, and national land trust topics and issues; and
• Helping OAT comply with land protection and stewardship policies and procedures.

 

Desired Experience, Skills, & Attributes

• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exacting attention to detail.
• A commitment to understanding the purpose of each step in accomplishing a goal.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience in easement acquisitions or other land trust experience is preferred, but not a requirement for application to the position.
• Experience in real estate, paralegal, titlework, ArcGIS or environmental assessment is preferred, but not a requirement for application to the position.
• Experience writing technical reports, ideally for conservation projects.
• Has a valid driver’s license, is able to lift 25 lbs, and can walk on rough terrain.

 

Leadership Profile

Oregon Agricultural Trust values our team members as whole humans. We treat each other with respect and compassion, honor each other’s diverse backgrounds and perspectives, get excited about each other’s successes and innovations, and enjoy working towards shared goals together. While we work remotely throughout Oregon, we meet weekly for team meetings where we have fun, learn about each other, develop opportunities for cross-program partnerships, and strategize together. We also meet at least weekly with our direct supervisor and programmatic team to stay accountable and strategic in our activities. Leadership supports the personal and professional development and advancement of each of our team members through substantial professional development opportunities (including the ability to apply for tuition reimbursement) and regular performance meetings with supervisors.

Leaders on our team exemplify these core attributes:

Work/Life Balance – Enjoys working strategically towards organizational goals, with attention to excellence in all intermediate tasks, and sets boundaries where necessary to prevent burnout. Holds space for time outside of work, and asks for support when needed to balance work and non-work time and energy.

Integrity and Trust – Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences and commitments; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent themself for personal gain.

Interpersonal Savvy – Is easy to approach and talk to; is a good listener; spends the extra effort to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with the interpersonal anxieties of others; builds rapport well with with people up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization, builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably. 

Composure – Is cool under pressure; can handle stress; is considered mature; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; doesn’t show frustration when resisted or blocked; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; is a settling influence in a crisis. 

Process Management – Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can’t; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources. 

Outcome Focused – Delivers the highest-quality products and services which meet the needs and requirements of internal and external customers; is committed to continuous improvement through empowerment and management by data; knows what to measure and how to measure it; leverages technology to positively impact quality.

Decision Quality – Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of their solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions. 

Action Oriented – Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things they see as challenging; seizes more opportunities than others.

Benefits

OAT strives to support our staff with a generous benefits package, including*:

• Health, Vision & Dental Insurance: Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Platinum Health and Vision Plan and Ameritas Dental Plan with orthodontic coverage. Employees receive 100% coverage for the employee and employees pay no more than 50% or $400/month for partner and child, or $200/month for partner or child.
• 401K: Up to 5% employer match
• Life Insurance: $50,000 policy
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Health FSA and Dependent FSA. Available for employee contribution.
• PTO and Office-Closures: Starting at 20 days PTO per year and increasing to 30 days by year 6 with OAT. 16-17 days of office-closure / holidays with flexibility for employee religious holidays. Plus other types of leave including bereavement and medical & family.
• Stipends: $100/mo for home office and $50/mo for personal phone if no work phone.
• Flexible Work Hours.

 

* Plan features are subject to change.