Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) delivers landscape-scale private forest conservation in the Pacific West and develops innovative incentives for forest conservation at the national level. PFT conserves irreplaceable private forest landscapes and secures the vital forest resources on which we all depend. We do so in ways that reward private landowners, support communities and livelihoods, and restore resilient forest ecosystems.
About this Opportunity
Are you an accomplished land conservation professional who wants to make a lasting impact with your work at the landscape scale? Are you a detail-oriented manager, skilled at managing conservation real estate and winning competitive grant awards? The right candidate is adept at organizing conservation projects from inception to closing. They love forests and conservation management, and see the importance of sustaining working forests with wild qualities. They are resourceful, and have a knack for working with landowners, resource managers, public conservation agencies and community stakeholders. This position plays a central role in supporting PFT’s conservation easement and fee title acquisition projects from initial reconnaissance to development of legal terms through closing. This includes due diligence, title review, appraisal, grant writing and all the details of final acquisition of working forest conservation easements and forest properties in fee. Our projects, primarily located in California and Oregon, are often large-scale and complex, with multiple public and private partners. This position provides overall project origination and management consistent with PFT’s policies and procedures as an Accredited Land Trust and publicly supported charity – and with our commitment to the highest ethical standards. This is a full-time position, offering a competitive salary and benefits package.
Candidates are expected to have all or most of the following qualifications.
Minimum of 5 years working in conservation or timberland acquisitions or a similar role.
Demonstrated success in applying for and receiving conservation grant funding, specifically land acquisition funding. Success in doing so in California or Oregon a plus. Be prepared to provide specific examples.
Ability to do a basic field assessment of a property and report positive and negative property attributes from both PFT’s mission and a project feasibility standpoint. Knowledge and training in natural resource management (especially forestry) a plus.
Strong track record of collaboration and partnership with varying stakeholders to develop successful conservation projects.
Experience in reviewing property chain of title and providing insightful analysis as to how title restrictions may impact conservation goals and/or funder requirements.
Demonstrated experience in working with private landowners as well as managing and maintaining positive relationships with those landowners.
Excellent organizational and written and oral communication skills.
Strong capacity to manage time and competing priorities; and ability to communicate potential roadblocks as well as offer solutions thereto.
Comfortable and effective working in a small, busy organization.
Applicants must be able to lift 20 pounds, hike across sometimes steep or uneven terrain and drive to sometimes quote rural locations.
Committed to PFT’s mission
This position is based in the main San Francisco office, at least initially.
Annual Salary: $75,000-$95,000 DOE
