Ag Lands Program Director - Oregon Agricultural Trust, Salem, Oregon

The Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is seeking an experienced, passionate Ag Lands Program Director to help establish OAT's farm and ranch land conservation program and technical assistant program. Position duties include conserving ag land in priority areas of the Willamette Valley, working with the Executive Director to identify and build community partnerships in new priority regions, stewarding and monitoring conserved farms and ranches, providing technical assistance on working land preservation to other organizations, and leading OAT's new Ag Lands Committee of the Board.

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is a new, statewide land trust that partners with Oregon farmers and ranchers to protect and pass on their land for future generations. Columbia Land Trust is OAT's fiscal sponsor while its 501(c)(3) status is pending.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, March 9, 2020. Submit a resume a cover letter in one pdf to Nellie McAdams, Executive Director, via email to jobs@oregonagtrust.org. Please refer any questions to this email address as well.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Status: Full-time (exempt). Employee of OAT, not our fiscal sponsor.
Compensation: Starting salary $60,000 – 65,000 plus benefits, DOE.
Reports to: Oregon Agricultural Trust’s Executive Director
Direct reports: None currently, anticipating 1-2 future reports within 3
years.

The Ag Lands Program Director is the first member of OAT’s Ag Lands team.
Responsibilities include:

Land Protection
•       Identifying, developing, and completing ag land protection projects,
primarily in priority areas of the Willamette Valley.  This includes:
landowner outreach, project assessment, negotiation and closing, meeting
state/federal tax requirements, and preparing baseline documentation;
•       Identifying and pursuing grants and other funding for: land and
conservation easement acquisitions, outreach and prospecting, and (in some
cases) general operating support;
•       Developing and sustaining partner and landowner relationships; and
•       Leading and coordinating the Ag Lands Committee, which reports to
OAT’s Board.

Program Development
•       Participating in strategic planning, conservation planning, and
communications planning; and
•       Preparing maps and data to inform planning, outreach, land protection
projects, and stewardship efforts.

Stewardship and Enforcement
•       Conducting monitoring and stewardship activities until OAT has
sufficient acquisitions to justify stewardship staff; and
•       Leading the resolution of easement violations and interpretation
disagreements.

Generally
•       Working cooperatively with colleagues, Directors, and Committee
members;
•       Staying current on local, regional, and national land trust topics and
issues; and
•       Ensuring compliance with land protection and stewardship policies and
procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS
•       5-8 years land conservation experience;
•       Bachelor’s degree;
•       Understanding of the methods and best practices for ag land
conservation and stewardship;
•       Passion for agricultural land, its preservation, and agricultural
communities;
•       Excitement for developing a new program at a new land trust, and
openness to making program adjustments based on new experience and
information;
•       Interested in participating in all aspects of ag land preservation and
access by the next generation. Willing to assist other staff when needed;
•       Experienced user of Microsoft office suite, ArcGIS and GPS technology;
•       Valid driver’s license and a vehicle that can be used for nearby
business travel; and
•       Must be able to walk over rough terrain and to lift up to 50 lbs, as
needed.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
•       Track record of successful project management;
•       Track record of identifying, developing, and closing agricultural
conservation easements and/or fee acquisitions.  Able to manage multiple
projects and competing priorities;
•       Track record of resolving conservation easement violations or similar
conflict resolution;
•       Experience building and sustaining partnerships with other
organizations;
•       Strong strategic thinking abilities;
•       Experience developing and implementing conservation, strategic, or
other organizational plans and policies;
•       Strong spoken and written communications skills;
•       Ability to communicate well with and gain the trust of agricultural
landowners;
•       Willingness to work with people from diverse backgrounds;
•       Flexible, creative, self-starter; and
•       Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at prioritizing tasks.

WORKING CONDITIONS
•       OAT’s office is in Salem, OR. Remote work and flexible working
arrangements can be negotiated.
•       As necessary, must be able to work before/after normal business hours
and some weekends.
•       Frequent automobile travel throughout Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and
approximately monthly travel to other regions of the state; some overnight
travel.
•       While most position responsibilities are conducted by computer,
outdoor walking will be required for site visits and stewardship and
monitoring activities.