Job Announcement
Associate Director of Ecological Management
(Full-time, Exempt)
January 2026

The Santa Lucia Conservancy (SLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1995 to protect and steward in perpetuity the natural, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Santa Lucia Preserve (Preserve) and serve as a model of ecologically sustainable development to communities outside of the Preserve. Through adaptive land management, conservation easement stewardship, ecological research, and environmental education, the Conservancy owns and co-manages through conservation easements 90% or 18,000 acres of the 20,000-acre Preserve. Located in Carmel Valley, CA, the organization partners with several other Preserve entities as well as academic and environmental institutions to advance land management practices and deepen understanding of local ecosystems and their relationship to human communities.

Position Summary
The Santa Lucia Conservancy (SLC) seeks a collaborative, innovative, and science-driven Associate Director of Ecological Management to help lead its dynamic ecological management team in advancing landscape-scale conservation on the 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Director serves as SLC’s day-to-day ecological operations lead, responsible for integrating science, restoration, grazing, fuel-management, and GIS programs and resourcing staff activities into a cohesive and efficient management framework.

The Executive Director provides overall strategic direction and external representation while conservation vision and scientific leadership are shared with the Associate Director, who ensures strategies are implemented effectively in the field. The Executive Director and Associate Director will collaborate to unite big-picture vision with scientific depth, operational excellence, and organizational integration.

The Associate Director directly supervises the Conservation Ecologist, Restoration Program Manager, and Conservation Grazing Program Manager, aligning their programmatic efforts to advance SLC’s strategic priority of conserving native biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience through adaptive land management.

Key Responsibilities

Plan and Manage Ecological Management Program - 50%

• In collaboration with the Executive Director, set ecological goals and desired future habitat conditions consistent with Conservancy plans, regulatory requirements, and best available science.
• Provide operational leadership for the Conservancy’s ecological management program, ensuring goals, activities, staffing, and resources are effectively planned, coordinated, and delivered across restoration, grazing, fuel management, and monitoring programs.
• Lead the financial planning and management of the Ecological Management Department, including annual budgets, expenditure tracking, and multi-year cost forecasting.
• Partner with the Grants Manager and program staff to identify, pursue, and secure funding aligned with ecological management priorities; provide programmatic oversight once grants are awarded.
• Oversee grant implementation and compliance in coordination with Finance and project leads, ensuring timely reporting and deliverables.
• Oversee fuel and vegetation management programs to ensure they balance ecological integrity and wildfire resilience in accordance with approved plans and agreements.
• Direct short- and long-term planning cycles (daily, weekly, quarterly) for ecological management activities, ensuring alignment across programs and efficient use of staff and contractor capacity
• Provide leadership and oversight for a rigorous biological monitoring program, integrating consultants, field surveys, remote sensing, and drone-based data collection to inform management decisions.
• Guide interpretation of ecological data with staff and collaborators, using current statistical methods and adaptive management principles to refine strategies over time.
• Synthesize program outcomes and monitoring results for adaptive management, board briefings, and funding proposals.

Staff Supervision & Development - 25%

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Conservation Ecologist, Restoration Program Manager, and Conservation Grazing Program Manager.
• Actively promote and foster a cross-departmental culture of collaboration among ecological management, outreach, development, and finance.
• Coordinate staff training and professional development in ecological monitoring, restoration, grazing, and fire and fuel management.
• Encourage inter-program learning and teamwork, ensuring staff understand how individual projects contribute to broader organizational goals.

Community & Partner Engagement - 25%

• Support landowner engagement and community collaboration related to ecological stewardship and wildfire preparedness.
  Santa Lucia Conservancy
• Maintain strong coordination with SLC departments, Preserve entities (Community Services District, Ranch Club, Santa Lucia Preserve Co.), and external collaborators.
• Represent SLC resource management endeavors by delivering presentations, leading field tours, and sharing research outcomes that demonstrate the Conservancy’s leadership in conservation and climate resilience.
• Regularly produce scientific publications and/or technical reports, white papers, and professional presentations highlighting SLC’s innovative programs and practices.
• Partner with the communications and engagement team to share ecological management outcomes, monitoring results, and drone-based applications with the broader community.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in innovation, teamwork, and inclusive leadership.
• Demonstrated success in communicating scientific or controversial topics to diverse audiences; being relatable.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in ecological management, restoration, or conservation science. Experience with eradication of invasive plant species, conservation grazing, rare plant and wildlife management, and features of regional geography desirable.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects and programs including managing budgets, grants, or fundraising partnerships in collaboration with development or finance staff.
• Advanced degree in conservation, ecology, environmental science, range management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in adaptive land management, ecological monitoring, and integrated fuel management.
• Experience implementing or managing drone-based monitoring, remote sensing, or GIS-based ecological assessment tools preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in public speaking; able to represent SLC’s science effectively to diverse audiences.

Working Conditions/Physical Effort

• This position is primarily office-based, with regular field visits across the Santa Lucia Preserve to support program oversight, staff coordination, and project implementation.
• Field work may include hiking or driving on rugged terrain, working outdoors in variable weather conditions, and occasional travel to remote locations.
• Occasional lifting or carrying of equipment or materials weighing up to approximately 40 pounds may be required.
• The position may involve occasional evening or weekend work to support field operations, meetings, or special events.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and current insurance required. A Conservancy vehicle will be available for work-related travel.

Compensation
The annual salary for this position starts at $125,000. Santa Lucia Conservancy offers a competitive benefit package including health, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance, a 401(k) with up to a 6% employer match, 12 paid holidays, vacation, and paid sick leave.