Western Reserve Land Conservancy has an immediate opening for a Manager of Public Policy. The position reports to the Chief Conservation Officer and will be located at Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Conservation Center in Moreland Hills, Ohio.

This is a full-time position with a salary range of $60,000 to $72,000 annually, commensurate with experience, and the position is eligible for benefits.

BACKGROUND

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is transforming communities across Ohio by protecting the land and water that sustains us and reimagining the places where we live. Headquartered in Moreland Hills, we are the largest land conservancy in the state and a nationally accredited nonprofit through the Land Trust Alliance.

Our work spans the state of Ohio—from the Lake Erie shoreline, to working farms and forests, and into the heart of our cities. Through partnerships statewide, we have permanently protected more than 80,000 acres across 1,000 properties, including the creation of 250 public parks and preserves. We collaborate with private landowners, farmers, public agencies, corporations, and community partners to conserve natural landscapes, prime soils, and bring nature back into neighborhoods. Our nationally recognized Urban Conservation program is at the forefront of urban revitalization—turning vacant and blighted properties into vibrant green spaces, advancing innovative land reuse strategies, planting trees, and creating healthier, more resilient communities.

None of this is possible without the commitment and dedication of our talented staff. We are very proud that since 2021 we have been recognized 5 times as a Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio by The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com.

Driven by a bold vision and powered by public and private investment, Western Reserve Land Conservancy is proving that strategic conservation and community revitalization can shape a stronger, greener future for all Ohioans.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Conservation Officer, the Manager of Public Policy will work on a variety of tasks related to developing and implementing the Land Conservancy’s federal and state public policy platform, as well as assisting with grant-writing (public funding) efforts to secure state and federal funding. This role will prioritize supporting the Land Conservancy’s core policy initiatives, including but not limited to assisting with strategic land acquisitions, conservation easement purchases, habitat restoration, park improvement projects, farmland preservation, and urban revitalization.

Public policy addresses governmental actions such as legislation, appropriations and rulemaking taken by the administrative or executive branches at federal, state and local levels. This role encompasses tasks including researching and analyzing existing and proposed public programs related to the Land Conservancy’s mission, coordinating and helping to develop positions on public policy, and developing a strategy to create relationships and educate elected and agency officials on the mission of Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

Public funding includes identifying grant opportunities at the federal, state and local level plus private sources, and writing and submitting state/federal grants in collaboration with the Land Conservancy’s Grants Manager.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Public Policy

• Lead the process to establish and implement an annual public policy platform to advance the mission of the Land Conservancy
• Originate and maintain relationships with elected officials and their staff, and agency officials as required
• Build institutional knowledge on elected officials and track with database
• Research, analyze and track federal public policy through legislation, current law, appropriations, and regulations that pertain to the Land Conservancy’s mission
• Collaborate with other partnerships/coalitions and the Land Conservancy’s external lobbying group to advance the Land Conservancy’s public policy agenda and increase public funding to advance the mission
• Create new collateral materials, outreach and internal materials, as well as educational and advocacy materials such as memos, public testimony, and letters
• Lead processes related to requests for Capital Budget and Federal Earmark funding

Public Funding

• Assist in the process of obtaining conservation funding for all land conservation projects, including grant identification, writing, submission and administration
• Coordinate research on potential sources of funding from a wide array of public entities
• Administer the organization's farmland protection program (State and Federal)
• Assist in public funding award tracking and reporting to Board of Trustees

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES

• Experience working with elected officials, legislative staff, public agencies or advocacy coalitions
• Understanding of legislative, appropriations, and budget processes
• Grant writing experience is preferred
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college preferred
• Must be able to convey a strong passion for the Land Conservancy’s mission and knowledge of its strategies and activities in order to build engagement and support
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• An ability to work independently and in a fast-paced work environment
• Able to be collegial, collaborative, flexible and creative
• Must have good writing skills and ability to communicate policy needs
• Able to travel as needed, at least 10-15 days per year traveling to Washington, D.C. and Columbus, Ohio
• Strong commitment to the Land Conservancy’s mission

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to hiring staff members who represent the rich diversity of our community. At the Land Conservancy, all employees and applicants for employment are judged on their merits.  The Land Conservancy is committed to providing an environment free of illegal discrimination of any kind, and does not base any employment decisions on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, religion, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected category under federal and state laws.