The Stewardship Director is fundamental to AVLT’s long-term success and plays a critical role in overseeing ongoing stewardship of conserved properties. This includes primary responsibility for enforcement and management of conservation easements, oversight of the annual monitoring program, and nurturing strong relationships with landowners. This role helps ensure AVLT’s compliance with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and supports our strategic conservation plan.

The Stewardship Director supports the Executive Director and Lands Team in long-range planning and landowner engagement strategies, and contributes to organizational goals of inclusivity, community connection, and conservation excellence. This is an opportunity for a motivated leader to bring innovation and personal connection to AVLT’s stewardship program.

Stewardship and Monitoring

• Oversee all aspects of AVLT’s annual conservation easement monitoring program, including scheduling and completing annual in-person site visits and incorporating remote monitoring tools. Ensure all in-person monitoring is completed by October 1 annually, and that written reports are mailed out to landowners and tracked in AVLT’s database by the end of the year.
• Provide timely written feedback and follow-up to landowners after monitoring visits.
• Respond to landowner requests and inquiries, including technical conservation easement issues, land management questions, and development referrals requested by local governments.
• Address conservation easement violations and follow-up issues in coordination with legal counsel and other Lands Team members.
• Support onboarding of new conservation landowners, including providing conservation easement documentation and orientations.
• Maintain and continually improve monitoring templates and stewardship records to align with best practices and national land trust accreditation standards.

Systems and Organizational Support

• Continue to develop and maintain stewardship databases and tracking systems to improve efficiency and onboarding readiness for future staff growth.
• Support grant writing and reporting related to stewardship and land management needs.
• Participate in site evaluations for new conservation projects and assist with amendments, updates, and strategic conservation plan implementation.
• Assist with organizational events and represent AVLT in public and partner meetings as needed.

Skills and Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years’ experience in land or water conservation, natural resource management, land stewardship, land use planning, law, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain trusted relationships with diverse landowners and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate technical information with clarity and empathy.
• Experience with GIS and mapping tools, and familiarity with managing field monitoring programs.
• Knowledge of current conservation trends, agricultural land management, and regional land use issues; familiarity with the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys preferred.
• Strong organizational and data management skills; attention to detail and ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; comfort learning and using land trust databases (e.g., Landscape).
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Personal Attributes:

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a “no task too small” attitude.
• High integrity and trustworthiness; able to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to approach challenges with creativity and resilience.
• Ability to occasionally deliver bad news and decline landowner or partner land use requests.
• Passion for private land conservation and community connection; enjoys working with people from varied backgrounds.
• Sense of humor and appreciation for working in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Other Information:

This position is based out of the main AVLT office in Carbondale. Occasional weekend and evening commitments are required (4-6 weekend days per year and occasional evenings). Valid driver’s license and personal transportation to occasional meetings and site visits throughout AVLT’s service area.