Conservation Grazing Program Manager

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District; Los Altos (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

District housing available

CalPERS retirement system

Employee benefits (medical, dental, v

Job summary

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is seeking a Conservation Grazing Program Manager to plan, coordinate, and oversee conservation grazing projects and agricultural leases across Pacific Coast properties. You will liaise with grazing tenants and multiple departments to ensure resource protection and project delivery.

The ideal candidate brings strong knowledge in rangeland ecology, vegetation management, and contract administration, with supervisory experience and a willingness to work in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental design or related field and three years of increasingly responsible experience in natural resource management (parks/open space).
• Supervisory and administrative responsibility.
• Bi-Lingual in Spanish is a plus, but not required. Master’s degree desirable.

Responsibilities

• Monitor compliance with lease terms and coordinate with grazing tenants to complete annual work plans.
• Prepare contracts for infrastructure improvements and solicit proposals for grazing services and vegetation management.
• Supervise one full-time Resource Management Specialist I/II and collaborate with Natural Resources and Land Stewardship & Trails teams.
• Provide guidance to multi-disciplinary teams and support program management and strategic planning.

Skills

Resource management

Contract management

Project management

Supervisory experience

Rangeland ecology

Lease oversight

Bilingual Spanish

Education

Environmental design

Natural resource management

Ecology

Biology

Geology

Master's degree desirable

Job description

1 Sep 2026

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) has an excellent career opportunity for an experienced and motivated Conservation Grazing Program Manager who will plan, organize, manage, oversee, and participate in the implementation of objectives outlined in the conservation grazing program and the agricultural land management projects within the District’s Coastside mission. The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge base of resource management principles focused on rangeland ecology, rangeland vegetation management, rangeland plant physiology, and rangeland animal management and can provide a high level of lease oversight to assist tenants with incorporating resource protection measures as part of their grazing practices. The start date for this position is November 2026. District housing will also be available for rent beginning in November 2026 for the selected individual.

About Midpen

Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact. View our Working at Midpen video! If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well‑being of our region. Refer to our recruitment and hiring process and FAQs document here for more information.

About the Position:

The Conservation Grazing Program Manager is responsible for monitoring compliance with lease terms, coordinating with grazing tenants to complete annual work plans, preparing contracts for infrastructure improvements, and soliciting proposals for grazing services, vegetation management, and infrastructure enhancements. This position has supervisory responsibility over one full-time Resource Management Specialist I/II. The successful candidate will work closely with the Natural Resources department on predation issues, pond management and water supply enhancement projects, and cultural resource protection. The role also collaborates with the Land Stewardship & Trails department on the maintenance and repair of roads and culverts located on grazing properties.

The Ideal Candidate:

As the single point of contact for Midpen’s conservation grazing program, the position is expected to enhance and expand customer service support for grazing tenants and agricultural partners on the coast. Successful performance in this role requires a strong working knowledge of a broad range of resource management and property management principles, contract and project management practices, and effective program management and strategic planning skills, as well as the ability to provide guidance to multi-disciplinary teams. This position works regularly with staff, public agencies, community groups, contractors, scientific study representatives, easement holders and grazing tenants. Candidates withexperience managing grazing properties, agricultural leases, and project management aredesirable. For additional information about the Conservation Grazing Program Manager position, see the RMS III Job Description .

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment and contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team of bright, energetic, and motivated professionals with a passion for the outdoors, trails, and preserving open space
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

Work Environment:

The Conservation Grazing Program Manager reports to the Facilities & Fleet Manager in the Facilities & Fleet department. This position operates in a hybrid work environment with approximately 60% of the time spent working in an administrative or field office, 10% work from home, 30% conducting field work. The District currently has 12,000 acres under lease for conservation grazing along the Pacific Coast extending from Half Moon Bay to Pescadero. Field work requires driving in remote areas on dirt roads, working in temperatures ranging from cold and windy to hot and dry, and hiking through steep terrain and wildland areas. District vehicles are available for use for travel to the grazing properties. Poison oak is present on several grazing properties and exposure is possible. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working in these types of field conditions, as well as in an office environment. Following onboarding and successfully meeting job performance expectations, may be eligible for the flexible work programs which includes 9/80 schedules.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in environmental design, natural resource management, ecology, biology, geology or a related field, and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in natural resource management preferably in parks, open space, or related field, including at least one (1) year of supervisory and administrative responsibility. Bi-Lingual in Spanish is a plus, but not required. A Master’s Degree is desirable.

Licenses & Certifications Required:

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Certified Rangeland Manager Certification is highly desirable.

Benefits:

See the Benefits page on our website for details.

Application deadline is Sunday, September 27, 2026. Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

• Fully completed CalOpps employment application
• Resume

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

• First Interview (virtual): Tuesday, October 13 th or Wednesday, October 14 th , 2026
• Written Exercise/ Final Interviews (in person): Wednesday, October 26, 2026

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership .

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

Put your passion for Open Space to work!