MDF Project Coordinator -  Private Lands Program - Great Plains (multiple positions may be filled)

Reports to:      MDF Program Manager (Grazing & Working Lands)

Classification: Salaried / Exempt
Start Date:      On/After August 16, 2026
Term:              3 years (with potential for extension based on funding)
Salary:            $60,000 – $70,000 DOE, plus benefits (Health Insurance, Paid Time Off, and 401K)

Location:  Remote; Candidates must reside within, or be willing to relocate to, the project service area in the Great Plains region of eastern portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming or the western portions of Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.

Job Summary

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is seeking a highly organized and motivated Project Coordinator (Coordinator) to join its Private Lands Conservation Program. The position will help successfully implement activities associated with the grant MDF received from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative (GRACI). GRACI is a program that invests in voluntary conservation efforts to strengthen the long-term resilience and health of working grasslands. Within MDF's Private Land Conservation Program, this effort is delivered through MDF's Great Plains Initiative, advancing voluntary, incentive-based conservation to improve ecosystem health while enhancing mule deer and other wildlife habitats on private working lands across the Great Plains.

Working under the direction of the Program Manager (Grazing & Working Lands), the Project Coordinator will assist with the day-to-day delivery of the program across multiple states, including landowner outreach, grazing management planning, conservation project implementation, partner coordination, and grant administration support. The ideal candidate will have  practical experience in grazing systems, rangeland management, and working lands conservation and who enjoys working directly with ranchers, private landowners, and conservation partners to implement voluntary conservation practices that improve both ranch productivity and wildlife habitat.

The successful candidate will advance MDF’s conservation mission through partnerships with private working landowners and other stakeholders, supporting project delivery focused on habitat enhancement and restoration, grazing management, ecosystem restoration, wildlife-friendly infrastructure, and broader efforts to conserve mule deer and other wildlife habitats across the western United States.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with implementation of MDF's GRACI project throughout the Great Plains service area.
• Conduct outreach to identify, engage, recruit, and enroll eligible private landowners and ranchers into the GRACI project.
• Work directly with private landowners and ranchers to evaluate grazing systems and develop practical grazing management plans and recommendations.
• Promote the adoption of regenerative and adaptive grazing practices that improve rangeland health, livestock production, soil health, water function, and wildlife habitat.
• Assist with planning, coordination, and implementation of conservation projects on participating ranches.
• Work closely with NRCS field staff and conservation partners to incorporate Farm Bill programs (EQIP, CSP, ACEP, etc.) and other available conservation resources where appropriate.
• Maintain project records, track expenditures, accomplishments, and grant activities, and provide timely information to the Project Manager to support successful program delivery.
• Support development of strategic partnerships, including engagement with conservation, corporate partners, and MDF partners.
• Track and report project accomplishments, expenditures, performance metrics, and outcomes.
• Conduct site visits throughout project implementation and assist with planning, enrollment, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of MDF's Private Land Conservation Program.

Essential Duties

• Maintain regular communication with the Project Manager regarding project progress, priorities, accomplishments, and implementation needs.
• Coordinate and prioritize assigned projects to ensure efficient scheduling, timely implementation, and successful project completion across the service area.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of grazing management plans, conservation practices, and wildlife habitat improvement projects.
• Conduct vegetation monitoring, ecological site evaluations, rangeland inventories, and other field assessments necessary to support grazing management planning and project implementation.
• Collect, organize, and maintain field data, monitoring information, and project documentation to support grant reporting, adaptive management, and project delivery.
• Utilize GPS, GIS, ArcGIS, OnX, Google Earth, and other mapping technologies to assist with project planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Verify conservation practice implementation and conduct post-project monitoring to document project effectiveness and conservation outcomes.
• Identify implementation challenges and recommend practical solutions to support successful project delivery.
• Represent MDF professionally in meetings, workshops, field tours, producer events, and partner outreach activities.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with participating landowners, conservation partners, contractors, and agency personnel to support successful project implementation.

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in rangeland management, natural resources, wildlife biology, ecology, agricultural sciences, or a closely related field.
• Two or more (2+) years of professional experience in conservation, rangeland management, grazing management, ranch management, or a related agricultural or natural resources field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing grazing management plans.
• Experience working directly with private landowners, agricultural producers, and working landscapes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working in the Great Plains region.
• Experience implementing regenerative, adaptive, or prescribed grazing systems on working ranches.
• Experience working directly with private landowners and agricultural producers to develop and implement grazing management and other conservation projects.
• Experience working collaboratively with NRCS, conservation districts, state and federal agencies, and other conservation partners.
• Experience coordinating multi-partner conservation projects and grant-funded initiatives.
• Familiarity with NRCS conservation planning processes and Farm Bill conservation programs (e.g., EQIP, CSP, ACEP).
• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with corporate, nonprofit, or private funding partners.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational, project management, and data management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities across a large geographic area.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS, OnX, Google Earth, GPS, and other mapping and geospatial technologies.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and reporting skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in project tracking, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively within a remote team environment.

Work Environment

• Remote position with regional overnight travel required
• Must be comfortable working across a large geographic area and with a distributed team
• Some weekend work may be required

Application Deadline

Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled at any time with an expectation to be filled within 30 days. Early application is strongly encouraged to ensure full consideration.