Trails and Urban Spaces Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

This Trails and Urban Spaces Manager is a new position for Greenbelt Land Trust that works to enhance inclusive public access, expand urban partnerships in key regions of the Willamette Valley, and bring the values of land conservation into the backyards of Benton County.

Greenbelt is at a pivotal moment in expanding our local access to the outdoors. Many years’ efforts of coalition-building and planning have brought us to a point where we have shovel-ready trail building projects in the Corvallis area, as well as trail design and implementation opportunities in other parts of the Willamette Valley. Our updated Conservation Strategy guides Greenbelt to be growing and fortifying partnerships in urban environments, particularly Corvallis, Albany, and Salem, to better serve our communities including Latinx communities. Furthermore, we are poised to launch Nature Neighbors, a Benton-County backyard habitat certification program in partnership with Benton Soil and Water Conservation District. The Trails and Urban Spaces Manager is a new position with Greenbelt that will provide leadership to shape and implement a long-term vision for inclusive, community-centered access to nature.

WHO YOU ARE

The ideal candidate would be:

• Passionate about expanding inclusive access to the outdoors, from trails to urban spaces
• A strategic mind that can outline a clear project vision, while also finding joy in managing the complex details of project and partnerships
• Confident in working independently and in partnership with a close team
• Interested in the art of public speaking and a confidence in presenting to groups large and small
• Eager to engage trail users in interpretive and educational materials for diverse trail users
• Led by a genuine passion for land conservation and community

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Trail Partnerships and Planning (60%)

• Serve as the lead for Greenbelt in regional and local trail planning efforts
• Provide management responsibility for planning, permitting, implementation, and management of GLT’s recreational projects
• Represent GLT in trail meetings, coalitions and forums to ensure alignment with shared recreational goals and cultivate strong partner relationships – including state agencies, local government, private landowners, community nonprofits, advocates, and others.
• Develop and implement new public access and recreational opportunities on GLT lands.
• Develop and implement trailside signage, infrastructure and educational materials that integrate a strong alignment with GLT’s equity, diversity, and inclusion values and objectives.
• Coordinate contractors and vendors for trail construction, maintenance, and design.
• Work with the Volunteer Manager to coordinate volunteer opportunities associated with GLT and partner trails
• Working with a contractor to oversee regular maintenance and periodic updates to The Right Trail website – the database of publicly-accessible trails within Benton County
• Assist in securing funding for priority projects and act as project manager for grant-funded trail projects

Urban Communities Engagement (40%)

• Oversee the implementation and growth of Greenbelt’s role in Nature Neighbors, a new Benton-County backyard habitat certification program in partnership with Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
• Identify new priority partnerships in the cities of Corvallis, Albany and Salem – with a focus on outdoor recreation partnerships and networks serving Latinx families
• Create annual partner relationship workplans in close alignment with GLT’s Outreach, Development, and Volunteer staff
• Represent GLT in outreach programming aligned with the priority partnerships identified in Albany, Salem and Corvallis
• Manage communications with designated urban partnerships, strengthening authentic relationships that build on trust and aligned projects

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Passion for the mission of Greenbelt Land Trust and a commitment to working with the community to advance the Land Trust’s mission
• 5+ years experience in recreation planning, trail development, or community partnership development (or combination of). We will consider candidates with life experience in addition to work experience in these fields.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and complete multiple projects on schedule, including managing people, contracts, budgets, schedules, workflow and tracking outcomes.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills; ability to work with diverse groups/partners in a variety of settings; comfortable addressing conflict.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and equity in the workplace
• Demonstrated cultural competence with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds
• Demonstrated independent initiative with identifying needs and managing projects
• Demonstrated abilities in public speaking and leading diverse groups
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Experience using relational databases (Salesforce, Raisers Edge, etc.) and websites, and/or ability to learn new tools.

Desired, but not required:

• Fluent in speaking/writing Spanish and English
• Experience in ecological restoration and land management
• GIS and mapping experience

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position will work from Greenbelt Land Trust’s office in Corvallis, Oregon.
• This position will include both office and field work. Field work includes being outdoors in all weather conditions and uneven terrain.
• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record.
• This position will need to manage transportation to and from partner and field meetings with their own vehicle. Mileage to work-related meetings using personal vehicle is reimbursable.
• Some weekend and evening work will be required.

COMPENSATION

Salary range is $60,000-$75,000

We believe great benefits make work better: Greenbelt Land Trust provides a group health plan, dental, vision, and short and long-term disability benefits, retirement, eleven floating holidays, longevity leave, and 16-hours per month accrued Paid Time Off. Greenbelt invests in employees’ professional development and personal growth.

Greenbelt Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff of qualified, highly-skilled, and creative individuals is necessary to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color, people who are queer, trans, non-binary, people with disabilities, people who are immigrants, people from poor and working class backgrounds, and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT GREENBELT LAND TRUST

Greenbelt’s vision is for a thriving, healthy environment for all and our work is oriented around three strategic areas: climate resilience, community wellbeing, and social justice. We believe that by protecting and taking care of the lands and waters of the Willamette Valley, we will all be better off. Our air and water will be cleaner, our fish and wildlife more abundant, our working lands more productive, and our communities and families will be healthier. That’s the vision that we’ve been making a reality for 37 years in the Willamette Valley and that has enabled us to permanently protect 6,2000 acres of native prairies, forests, floodplain habitats, trails and working lands.

Greenbelt is committed to being adaptive and embraces change as a core value. We appreciate that the lands, waters, and people of the Willamette Valley are changing, and that success hinges on our ability to be poised to change as well (read Greenbelt’s current Strategic Framework).

Our Values: Values are the tenets that guide our work towards our conservation mission and vision.

• Build relationships with humility
• Embrace change
• Seek root causes
• Be fearless change-makers
• Welcome constructive conflict

Our vision of a thriving, healthy environment for all is inextricably linked to our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. We are in this for the long haul, and understand that for meaningful transformation, we must be steadfast, patient, and willing to make mistakes.

Greenbelt Land Trust is an accredited land trust. We are honored to have been listed within the top 100 Best Nonprofits to work for in Oregon.