Title:  Stewardship Coordinator

Reports to:  Executive Director

Location:  Salida, Colorado; possibility of a hybrid work situation from home office within an hour drive to Salida.

Classification:  Fulltime, Salary, Exempt

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About us

Central Colorado Conservancy (Conservancy) is an accredited land trust and community-based conservation organization based in Salida, CO. Our mission is to protect the land, waters and quality of life of Central Colorado as our communities face pressure and rapid growth. Since 2001, the Conservancy has protected nearly 7,000 acres of private land through conservation easements and acquisitions. The Conservancy also leads landscape-scale collaborative partnerships to improve watershed health and implement stream and wetland restoration projects; delivers programming for and works with agricultural producers to keep working lands working. We envision a future for Central Colorado that is supported by thriving communities that have safeguarded their rural character, lands, waters and wildlife for future generations.

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About the Position

The Stewardship Coordinator is an integral member of the Conservancy’s team working to protect, restore and steward Central Colorado’s land and water resources. The primary responsibilities of the Stewardship Coordinator are managing the monitoring and stewardship of our conservation easements and the Conservancy’s Hands for Lands volunteer program. The Stewardship Coordinator also will be responsible for coordinating the Badger Creek Watershed Partnership and the Arkansas Headwaters Wetland Focus Area Committee.

 

This position collaborates with Conservancy program staff to build and sustain trust-based relationships with partner organizations, local governments, agency staff, and landowners to advance open space and conserved lands initiatives, stream and wetland restoration projects, and agricultural resilience undertakings. This is an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated individual to take the lead role in deepening landowner engagement and enhancing the Conservancy’s monitoring and stewardship activities in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices and requirements for Land Trust Accreditation.    

 

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Easement Monitoring & Stewardship: Lead the easement stewardship program to ensure compliance with easement terms and conditions. Ensure completion of monitoring visits through site visits or remote monitoring, including review of remote imagery as needed, walking properties, and meeting and/or speaking with landowners and land managers. Ensure the Conservancy’s easement monitoring and stewardship practices meet or exceed the requirements of the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices and requirements for Accreditation.

 

• Landowner Relations: Implement existing and develop new strategies to establish, build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with landowners to encourage stewardship practices that align with easement goals. Provide guidance and support to landowners on conservation practices, land management, and easement obligations. Identify project opportunities to implement with landowners.

 

• Reporting & Documentation: Maintain detailed records of monitoring visits, landowner correspondence, and any legal or stewardship issues. Prepare easement stewardship reports and other documents as needed.

 

• Legal Compliance, Enforcement & Amendments: Work with Conservancy staff, partners, and legal counsel to ensure easement terms are enforced and any violations are addressed appropriately. Assist with enforcement actions in collaboration with the Conservation Program Manager and legal counsel. Assist with the evaluation of and implementation of amendments to conservation easements in cooperation with other land trust staff, legal counsel and relevant committees.

 

• Program Development & Improvement: Revise and/or develop policies, procedures, and strategies to enhance the easement stewardship program, including monitoring processes and landowner engagement strategies.

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• Data Management: Maintain and update easement records in Landscape, the organization's stewardship and lands database. Ensure data integrity and accessibility for staff and stakeholders.

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• Volunteer Work Party Coordination: Manage the Conservancy’s Hand for Lands Program, coordinating 6-8 volunteer work parties a year. Educate volunteers about the importance of habitat protection and restoration and keeping working lands working.

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Additional Responsibilities

• Badger Creek Watershed Partnership: Serve as the coordinator for the Badger Creek Watershed Partnership, a watershed-wide stakeholder partnership aimed at the assessment, improvement, restoration, and protection of all aspects of the Badger Creek Watershed. Coordinate partnership activities, field days, etc, and oversee monitoring activities conducted by consultants.

• Arkansas Headwaters Wetland Focus Area Committee: Serve as the Chairperson of the Arkansas Headwaters Wetland Focus Area Committee working to protect, restore, and enhance the ecological function of our region’s wetlands and riparian areas. Coordinate two meetings a year, plus other committee activities as identified by the committee.

• Arkansas River Community Preserve: Provide a supporting role in the stewardship of the Arkansas River Community Preserve, a 345-acre Preserve owned by the Conservancy.

• New Land Protection Projects: Support the Conservation Program Manager in new conservation easements and land purchase projects. Activities may include review of Baseline Documentations Reports, easement deeds, and boundary surveys.

• Community Outreach & Education: Represent the Conservancy at public events, meetings, conferences, and other avenues to advance the organization’s mission and to raise awareness about conservation easements and watershed stewardship.

• Fundraising: Assist with fundraising efforts, including but not limited to grants, donors, businesses, and events.

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Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and personal commitment to land and water conservation.

• Background in natural resource management, landscape ecology, river and wetland function, conservation policy or related field. Experience with developing conservation programs, managing projects, implementing community engagement programs and fundraising, desired.

• Experience with conservation easement transactions and monitoring and stewardship protocols with the ability to comprehend and interpret legal documents and maps, preferred.

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of experience in a related field, preferred.

• Experience or strong interest in working with people in rural and agricultural communities. Knowledge of private lands conservation issues in the West.

• Respectful, articulate and effective listener and communicator. Works well in a team environment as well as independently.

• Natural ability to communicate clearly and authentically with a wide range of stakeholders including landowners, volunteers and fellow staff. Public speaking experience a plus.

• Willingness to learn and adapt in a face paced environment. Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

• Organized with the capability to simultaneously advance multiple projects and timelines with a positive attitude, flexibility, and attention to detail and to establish clear priorities for themselves.

• Demonstrated ability to think both strategically long-term and short-term for optimum operational effectiveness.

• Exposure to grant writing and other fundraising activities, desired.

• Computer proficiency using Windows-based software. Proficiency with the Google Suite and Microsoft products.

• Proficiency in ArcGIS Pro or similar GIS mapping software, preferred. Demonstrated experience navigating and recording data using GPS devices and mapping apps (Avenza, OnX or similar)

• Resident of Chaffee County or willingness to relocate to Chaffee County, preferred.

 

Physical Demands / Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to work in a standard office setting, with considerable sitting, standing and viewing of computer and reaching continually throughout the workday (mouse, keyboard, telephone).

• Travel through the Conservancy’s six-county service area and beyond in personal vehicle. Valid state driver’s license and automobile insurance required.

• Able to walk/hike and navigate over sometimes rough terrain, as needed.

• Willingness to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions.

• May include lifting up to thirty (30) pounds of project gear on an infrequent basis.

• Going up and down stairs carrying materials or project gear to and from meetings, events, site visits, etc.

• Experience and physical strength to use and operate basic field equipment in a safe and proper manner such as shovels, axes, etc.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and overnights as needed

 

If you meet most of the above qualifications and are eager and willing to learn the additional skills required to execute the job duties and responsibilities of this position, please consider applying. Professional development and learning opportunities are an integral part of this role and working at the Conservancy.

If you meet most of the above qualifications and are eager and willing to learn the additional skills required to execute the essential job duties and responsibilities of this position, please consider applying. Professional development and learning opportunities are an integral part of this role and working at the Conservancy.

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Compensation

Salary range is $50,000 - $60,000 per year for this full-time, exempt position (40 hours/week). Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation and holidays, cell phone stipend, and flexible work arrangements.

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To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume to careers@centralcoloradoconservancy.org. Please include “Stewardship Coordinator” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through February 28, 2025. Early applications are encouraged as we will begin reviewing applications prior to the deadline. Desired start date is April 7, 2025.

 

Central Colorado Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people of every color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Our work culture embraces—and is strengthened by—the unique perspectives, contributions and experiences of all our staff.

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Job Posted February 6, 2025

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