The Deschutes Land Trust is seeking a Conservation Director to join its dedicated team!

Who We Are:

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves and cares for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come. Since 1995, the Land Trust has protected more than 18,700 acres throughout Central Oregon for future generations. We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and are committed to building a conservation community with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. For more information about us, visit deschuteslandtrust.org

What You’ll Do:

The Conservation Director provides leadership for all land protection activities of the Land Trust. This senior position is the cornerstone of the organization's conservation mission—overseeing land acquisitions, and conservation easements across the trust's protected lands portfolio. Working closely with the Executive Director, board, landowners, agency partners, and community stakeholders, the Conservation Director builds lasting relationships that translate the trust's values into durable landscape-level conservation outcomes. This is an opportunity for a passionate, experienced professional to shape the future of land protection in a region of extraordinary ecological and agricultural significance.

Essential Functions:
Management, Organizational Sustainability, Governance

• Participate in the strategic planning and overall management of the Land Trust with the Executive Director and leadership team.
• Participate in strategic planning, long-range goal setting, and organizational development for the organization.
• Annually create, implement and manage the Conservation Department’s detailed goals, strategies, timelines, budgets, and evaluation practices that will engage constituents in support of the Land Trust’s mission.
• Understand conservation best practices and monitor trends, issues, and regulations that may affect the Land Trust.
• Lead the Conservation Department and coach and guide all Conservation staff. Manage external contractors, and volunteers. Responsible for management and annual objectives of staff that create and implement core conservation strategies.
• Act as a lead in organizational efforts to build Tribal partnerships and strengthen Tribal community relations.
• Assist with integration of climate change-related practices, mitigation, and responsiveness throughout Land Trust projects.
• Lead the conservation portion of Land Trust Accreditation.
• Support DEI expansion throughout the Land Trust organizational culture and integration into conservation practices.
• Act as the lead staff for any communications regarding conservation activities with the Land Trust Board and its committees.
• As a department head, may be designated as Acting Executive Director while Executive Director is away.

Conservation

• Lead, Implement, and manage the organization's strategic conservation plan to reach the conservation goal of conserving lands throughout Central Oregon that provide climate resilience, protect vulnerable habitats and species, and foster overall community connection.
• Develop and direct acquisition strategies ensuring accountability and budget alignment.
• Lead all aspects of conservation project development, including negotiations, due diligence, document drafting, legal review, and closing.
• Co-lead with Development Staff and Executive Director, the development and management of fundraising related to land acquisitions.
• Build and maintain relationships with current and prospective landowner partners.
• Direct hiring and training for new conservation staff, and annual review and evaluation of existing staff. Manage independent contractors.
• Develop and maintain strategic conservation partnerships

Stewardship

• Work with Stewardship staff to further our overarching conservation goal of conserving lands throughout Central Oregon that provide climate resilience, protect vulnerable habitats and species, and foster overall community connection.
• Work with Stewardship staff in the development and assessment of acquisition strategies, land transactions and management plan documentation.
• Work with Stewardship Director (and other lands staff and Board as necessary) to enforce conservation easements.

Other

• Coordinates legal advice on transactions to ensure their legal sufficiency and compliance with Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices.
• Work collaboratively with the Community Engagement Director to further goals and strategies associated with community engagement.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Director to further fundraising goals and strategies for the organization.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with community partners, funders, supporters, donors, media, and other stakeholders.
• Lead tours and community presentations, engage with volunteers.
• Assist with management of GIS Program and contractors.

Work Environment:

• The Conservation Director regularly works in an office setting, and occasionally in the field/at Land Trust protected lands.
• The Conservation Director attends roughly 1-3 property tours and visits per month walking or riding in ATVs on uneven terrain in varying weather conditions.
• The Conservation Director travels 3-6 times per year to conferences, agency meetings, and other work-related events.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

What You Need:

• Conservation Commitment: Passion and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the Deschutes Land Trust.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experience: Cultural competency skills and demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds. Experience with and commitment to applying diversity, equity and inclusion principles and practices to conservation work.
• Land Conservation Expertise & Technical Knowledge: The ideal candidate brings 5–7 years of progressively responsible land conservation experience, with hands-on involvement in conservation easements and fee acquisitions. A strong foundation in real estate law, real estate transactions, title review, and other due diligence is desired as is familiarity with Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices and accreditation requirements. Candidates should be comfortable conducting transactional due diligence. Candidates should have familiarity with ecological and climate sciences and strong research skills. A background in agricultural lands, working forests, or water resources conservation is a plus, as is knowledge of federal and state funding programs such as OWEB and ACEP-ALE. A working knowledge of the Oregon land use system is also desirable.
• Legal & Financial Acumen: Applicants must be capable of navigating the legal and financial dimensions of conservation work. This includes drafting and reviewing conservation easement documents, understanding the tax implications of easement donations and land gifts, and coordinating with attorneys, appraisers, title companies, and agency partners to bring transactions to a successful close. Familiarity with charitable giving options and landowner incentive programs is beneficial.
• Relationship Building & Communication Skills: The Conservation Director must be a skilled communicator and relationship builder—someone who earns the trust of landowners and who can work effectively across cultures, generations, and land management philosophies. Strong written skills are equally important, from grant narratives and board reports to landowner correspondence and public outreach materials. Experience cultivating partnerships with state and federal agencies and peer conservation organizations is highly valued.
• Tribal Partnership Experience: Partnerships with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Klamath Tribes are central to our conservation work. Candidates must have direct experience working alongside Tribal nations, and familiarity with the consultation processes and Tribal governance structures. Equally important is the humility to listen, learn, and build trust over time.
• Organization Skills: the right candidate is a self-directed, collaborative leader who thrives in a medium nonprofit environment and is comfortable wearing multiple hats. The ability to manage several active projects and transactions simultaneously—while supporting and mentoring staff—is essential.
• Technology Skills: Strong computer skills, including proficiency with current office computer applications, Google Suite, and experience with GIS tools such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Outdoor Skills: Fieldwork is a regular part of the role, and candidates must be willing and able to work in varied terrain and weather conditions. A valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required.

People of color and others from historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. For a complete job description and more information about us, visit  www.deschuteslandtrust.org/careers. We appreciate your interest in the Deschutes Land Trust!

Compensation: $86,000-$115,000 depending on experience, plus generous benefits.

What’s Important to Us:

Our Mission: We conserve and care for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come.

Our Values: Integrity, Diversity, Quality, Collaboration, Adaptability.

Our Vision: We envision a future of strong and healthy natural and human communities—where we work together to conserve and care for the lands that make Central Oregon an incredible place to live, work, and grow.

• With the population of Central Oregon continuing to grow and our climate rapidly warming, we protect the rivers, forests, canyons, meadows, and agricultural lands that Central Oregon will need to thrive for generations to come.
• We conserve lands that are strong and adaptable to the changing climate and that sustain functioning natural systems, abundant native plants and animals, clean air and water, and healthy local communities.
• All people have an opportunity to meaningfully connect with this place, so that together we can build an interconnected community of people committed to protecting and caring for the lands we all love.

What We Offer:

The Deschutes Land Trust offers competitive salary and benefits to full-time staff. This  includes 100% paid health and dental insurance for employees and 50% for dependents, a 403B retirement plan with 3% employer matched contributions, volunteer time off, 20 paid days of time off annually to start, 13 paid holidays annually, and a 4 week paid sabbatical after 6 years of employment. The Land Trust offers a flexible work location where employees may work in the office or remotely depending on the requirements of the position.

The Deschutes Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate based on race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity or expression, religion, ability, or national origin. More Information: www.deschuteslandtrust.org