Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) is seeking an experienced conservation professional to develop, coordinate, and lead land and water conservation projects across an 11-county service area in Eastern Oregon and southeast Washington. Depending on qualifications and experience, the selected candidate will be hired either as a Conservation Manager or Conservation Director.

Both roles lead complex land conservation projects, including conservation easements and fee title acquisitions, and work closely with landowners, funding partners, agencies, Tribes, and community partners. Both roles work closely with the stewardship and restoration director, executive director, and other BMLT staff to complete land and water acquisition projects to further strategic conservation goals. The Director role carries additional responsibility for strategic leadership, program management, staff supervision, and organizational leadership.

Job Role & Responsibilities:

Conservation Planning and Program Management

• Identify, evaluate, and develop conservation opportunities that advance BMLT’s strategic conservation priorities.
• Guide conservation easement and fee title acquisition projects from initial outreach through project completion, coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
• Coordinate project funding, due diligence, appraisals, title work, surveys, baseline documentation reports, management plans, and conservation agreements.
• Manage grant-funded conservation projects, reporting requirements, contracts, and project budgets.
• Ensure compliance with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and accreditation requirements.
• Support stewardship activities, including long-term project monitoring and landowner relationships.

Partnership Building & Community Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with private landowners, agricultural producers, Tribes, government agencies, nonprofit partners, and local communities.
• Serve as BMLT’s primary point of contact for project partners and private landowners throughout the conservation project process.
• Collaborate with Tribes, local communities, conservation organizations, public agencies, elected officials, and funding partners to advance regional conservation priorities.
• Represent BMLT at public meetings, conferences, workshops, and community events. Participate and lead public events and work parties on protected properties and other conservation projects.
• Help communicate the value of voluntary land conservation to diverse audiences.

General & Financial Duties

• Assist with identifying and securing funding through federal, state, foundation, and private grant programs.
• Manage grant implementation, reporting, contracts, and project reimbursements.
• Collaborate with BMLT’s development and communications staff to share conservation successes with donors, partners, and the community.
• Participate in organizational planning and contribute to a positive, collaborative workplace culture.

Additional Responsibilities for Conservation Director

In addition to the responsibilities above, the Conservation Director will:

• Lead implementation of BMLT’s long-term conservation plan and help identify emerging conservation priorities across the region.
• Serve as the organization’s lead conservation staff with Tribes, major partners, agencies, funders, and private landowners. Represent BMLT in regional and statewide conservation initiatives and collaborative partnerships.
• Supervise interns, volunteers, and consultants while fostering a collaborative team culture. 
• Develop annual conservation department work plans, budgets, and performance goals. Help develop major funding strategies for land acquisition projects. 
• Prioritize conservation projects and organizational workload.
• Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to the Executive Director and Board of Directors regarding conservation transactions, landowner relations, funding opportunities, and conservation priorities.
• Support fundraising, grant strategy, and organizational partnerships.

Desired Experiences, Skills & Attributes

Qualifications required to excel in this position can come from professional and/or lived experiences. Below we describe what we believe to be important qualifications for a candidate while remaining open to diverse experiences that can lead to these skill sets. We strongly encourage anyone who feels passionate about this work to apply.

Don’t check off every box in the qualifications and skills section? Please consider applying anyway. Studies have shown that marginalized communities, such as women, LGBTQ+, and people of color, are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging.

Conservation Manager

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (conservation, natural resources, biology, ecology, planning, real estate, or law) or equivalent three-year work or lived experience in agriculture, land management or stewardship, real estate transactions, land and water protection, habitat restoration, or other related conservation work.
• Knowledge of or strong interest in natural resource issues in Eastern Oregon and southeast Washington, including land and water conservation, Tribal governments and Native communities.
• Experience working and building relationships with people of different backgrounds and a wide range of perspectives, views, and ideas. Strong sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to DEIJ principles.
• Experience working with rural communities, landowners, and agricultural producers.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple, complex projects simultaneously.
• Independently motivated, innovative problem solver. Ability to work individually and collaboratively with a team, lead colleagues and volunteers, and gain buy-in from all stakeholders to move projects forward.

Conservation Director

In addition to the qualifications above:

• Approximately 6+ years of progressively responsible conservation experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex conservation projects from beginning to closing.
• Experience supervising staff or leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience developing conservation strategy, annual work plans, and departmental budgets.
• Significant experience securing and managing public and private grants and funding.
• Skills in GIS to collect, analyze, and visualize data. 
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization in high-level partnerships

ADA Requirements/Working Conditions

• This position can be fully remote within BMLT’s service area with occasional required office-based work in BMLT’s Walla Walla office.
• Valid, insurable driver’s license and clean driving record. Ability to regularly travel throughout BMLT’s 11-county service area, often to remote locations. BMLT has a work vehicle for use and offers mileage reimbursement at State Government rates for any personal vehicle use.
• Ability to hike long distances over difficult terrain and in inclement weather conditions.
• Flexibility to work occasional weekend or evening hours on an as-needed basis.