Cheyenne, WY

Position Title: Conservation Director

Organization: Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust

Location: Cheyenne, WY

Organization Overview: The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is dedicated to conserving Wyoming’s agricultural lands, which also provide open space, wildlife habitat and other environmental benefits, for future generations. The Land Trust was founded by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association membership to meet the need for voluntary, private-sector options in agricultural land conservation. The Land Trust is Wyoming’s first and only Wyoming-based, statewide land conservation organization. To date, the Land Trust has partnered with 89 families to conserve over 296,000 acres of working lands across Wyoming.

Position Overview: The Conservation Director will provide strategic vision and leadership for advancing agricultural conservation across Wyoming. The ideal candidate is passionate about conserving agricultural land, wildlife habitats, and open spaces and will use a range of tools to achieve the Land Trust’s mission through strategic partnerships, conservation easements, and land stewardship projects. The Conservation Director oversees staff and a portfolio of conservation easement projects, including managing due diligence, grant writing, and other elements of the transaction process. The Conservation Director will also coordinate stewardship of existing conservation easements. Candidates should possess supervisory skills, real estate transaction expertise, experience working with landowners and conservation partners, and knowledge of agriculture and natural resources. This position is central to the Land Trust’s success in accelerating the pace and scale of conservation, investing in rural communities, and keeping Wyoming’s agricultural lands whole.

Duties:

• Leadership Responsibilities
  • This position will supervise the conservation and stewardship staff and is responsible for leading the land trust’s work in identifying, developing, closing, and monitoring conservation easement projects. The Conservation Director will work with the Executive Director to evaluate programs and staff.
• Program and Staff Management
  • The Conservation Director helps landowners achieve their long-term conservation goals by leading and supervising the conservation and stewardship programs. Duties include:
    • Lead the conservation team and manage the portfolio of conservation easement projects.
    • Work with landowners to identify conservation goals, timelines, and overcome project challenges.
    • Ensure transaction excellence while coordinating project due diligence, collaboratively drafting legal documents, and closing projects.
    • Development of and fundraising for conservation easement projects, manage project budgets.
    • Manage annual stewardship activities on 118 conservation easements (over 296,000 acres) and counting.
    • Facilitate reserved rights requests and resolve conservation easement violations in a timely and professional manner, consistent with land trust policy.
    • Ensure excellence and adherence to internal policies and external requirements, including alignment with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices.
    • Promote and further the mission of the land trust, relationship building.
    • Collaboratively develop strategic conservation goals and objectives.
    • Communicate the importance of working land conservation.
    • Provide support to land trust outreach staff, including communications and fundraising.
    • Compose reports and serve as staff to the Board of Directors Conservation Committee, present program priorities and project management information.
    • All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, or related field.
• Proven professional experience in related field.
• Project management skills – the ability to manage multiple projects with accuracy and attention to detail and to motivate those involved in projects.
• Ability to work independently, under deadlines, and produce professional and accurate work products.
• Demonstrates integrity and ability to exercise confidentiality and sound judgment. Ability to work with a high degree of personal and professional initiative.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Excellent computer skills. MS Office, Adobe required. Database management desirable.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Commitment to the mission, programs, and philosophy of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust. Knowledge of and passion for private, agricultural land conservation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (J.D. also acceptable).
• Proven professional experience of 5 years in land protection/conservation easement transactions.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Exhibits strong interpersonal skills rooted in teamwork, diplomacy, and respect with a commitment to working collaboratively.
• Experience writing, managing, and reporting on public and private grants.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with landowners, external stakeholders, partners, funders, and others to achieve common goals.
• Able to think strategically, develop and manage complex projects from start to completion, stay accountable to deadlines and teammates, manage confidential information, and adopt new approaches in response to changing circumstances.
• Intentionally shares power through decision-making, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, and effective delegation.
• Familiarity in real estate transactions including appraisals, title work, due diligence, and closings.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS and other mapping tools.
• Enthusiasm for and willingness to travel extensively in Wyoming’s rural and rugged landscapes. Some overnight travel, particularly during the summer months.

Salary/Pay: The starting salary for this position is $65,000-$80,000 annually, DOE. Annual paid time off includes 15 days per year, 10 paid holidays, and 12 sick days per year. Health, dental, and vision insurance provided. 401(k) retirement plan after 1 year.

Application Deadline: April 28

How to Apply: To apply, please submit resume, cover letter (.pdf) and three references via email to kaylee@wsglt.org, with the subject line “Conservation Director Application.”