POSITION
Director of Conservation Programs
ORGANIZATION
Marin Agricultural Land Trust
JOB DESCRIPTION
MALT is a nonprofit land trust created in 1980 by a coalition of ranchers and environmentalists to permanently protect Marin County farmland. Some of the Bay Area’s most highly acclaimed dairy and cheese products, grass-fed meats, and organic crops are produced on farmland protected by MALT’s 93 agricultural conservation easements.
As an innovative agricultural land trust, MALT operates at the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Our mission is to permanently protect Marin County’s agricultural land for agricultural use. Our commitment is to the long-term health of the land itself, as well as to the farmers and ranchers who work on the land. The Director of Conservation Programs will be part of a dynamic team working to permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use in ways that benefit healthy communities, clean water and air, diverse habitats, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and climate resiliency.
MALT has permanently protected over 58,739 acres of West Marin’s diverse mosaic of coastal grasslands, oak woodlands, rangelands, and pastoral open space. MALT is committed to supporting sustainable management, climate-beneficial and regenerative agriculture in Marin County, including farming and grazing practices that rebuild soil organic matter and improve soil biodiversity to draw down carbon and improve the water cycle.
We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs to join us in achieving our mission to permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use. MALT is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace in which everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. We are a team that works together to achieve our goals. We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
We invite you to join the MALT team—a dynamic and passionate staff who care deeply about our mission and one another.
The Position
The Director of Conservation Programs is a senior-level position, responsible for developing and implementing strategies that will build resilient and durable land management solutions to help preserve agriculture, protect biodiversity, and build climate resilience on working lands in Marin County.
The Director of Conservation Programs reports directly to the Executive Director and will manage a team of one (1) to three (3) staff as well as mentor and collaborate with non-direct reports to strengthen the organization as a whole. This is a full-time, exempt position with a flexible schedule that accommodates in-person and remote-work schedules, requiring weekly presence in MALT’s office in Point Reyes Station, and in the West Marin community.
About You
-BA/BS degree in related field and a minimum of 10 years of successful experience in conservation practice or related field, preferably nonprofit, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
-Minimum of 5 years’ supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
-Experience managing and implementing complex and multiple projects, including managing finances, coordinating the work of colleagues and partners, and stepping in to do necessary work yourself.
-Experience in partnership development and project management with non-profit partners, community groups, and government agencies.
-Highly collaborative leader with demonstrated standing in the conservation and land trust communities.
-Strong track record of achieving results.
-Demonstrated experience tracking, applying for, and managing public and private funding sources, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
-Ability to gain confidence in and work with agriculturalists and the agricultural community.
-Excellent oral and written communication skills; demonstrated proficiency in Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Google Suite, preferred experience with Monday.com and Slack.
Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions
-Lead and manage a team to advance best practices for efficient and effective agricultural land management to maximize biodiversity, climate resilience, and regenerative agricultural stewardship practices.
-Work collaboratively with the Executive Director and the Leadership Team to identify, establish, and implement programmatic goals and strategies.
-Promotes cross functional collaboration and leads team projects involving climate resilience, biodiversity, best land management practices, and other topics germane to the mission of MALT.
-Actively track, and collaboratively apply for public and private funding for conservation programs.
-Strategically cultivate partnerships with individuals, agencies, and organizations, including presenting MALT’s work to external audiences as needed.
-Cultivate and manage relationships with land stewards, landowners, partners, and the agricultural community, representing MALT in the West Marin and neighboring communities.
-Plan, manage, budget, and implement conservation programs, which includes staff specialized in land stewardship and conservation science. Current projects include, but are not limited to:
** MALT’s growing grant programs – including the Stewardship Assistance Program and small grants program – which grants approximately $600,000 a annually.
** A technical assistance program to provide farmers and ranchers with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain, and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
** Supporting conservation easement monitoring for compliance and collaborating with MALT’s Land Protection team to identify stewardship and conservation priorities on easements based on monitoring data.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position with a flexible schedule that accommodates in-person and work-from-home schedules, requiring weekly presence in MALT’s office in Point Reyes Station, the West Marin community and some in-person collaboration with stakeholder groups including donors, agriculturalists, partners, and community members.
Salary Range: $135,000 – $145,000
Benefits:
Health Insurance
Dental insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Long Term Disability
FSA Child Care
FSA Medical
Paid Time Off
403 (b); 403 (b) Employer Match
Employee Assistance Program
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
CONTACT
Dena Grunt
[email protected]
https://malt.org/director-conservation-programs/
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