Executive Director Jefferson Land Trust

All original content is; Port Townsend (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Paid time off

Negotiable relocation package

Job summary

A nonprofit conservation organization is seeking an Executive Director to lead strategic initiatives and support a strong team in Port Townsend, Washington. Candidates should have proven leadership experience, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to engage the community. A competitive salary of $120,000–$140,000 is offered, along with a comprehensive benefits package and potential relocation assistance for out-of-area applicants.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in organizational leadership and strategic planning.
• Strong ability to engage and collaborate with diverse communities.
• Experience in fundraising and donor relations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Guide strategy and support a talented staff team.
• Maintain strong relationships with the board and community.
• Serve as the public face of the organization.

Skills

Organizational leadership

Community engagement

Strategic planning

Team empowerment

Fundraising

Collaborative mindset

Education

Relevant higher education degree

Job description

Jefferson Land Trust is an accredited, private, nonprofit conservation organization with an annual operating budget of approximately $2M serving Jefferson County on the stunning Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Founded in 1989 on the belief that conservation is fundamentally a community endeavor, Jefferson Land Trust works with willing landowners to permanently protect wetlands, floodplains, salmon streams, farmland, wildlife corridors, working forests, marine shoreline, and scenic landscapes from inappropriate development. The organization is legally committed to caring for these lands forever — and does so with a collaborative spirit and willingness to embrace complex conservation challenges.

Jefferson Land Trust operates with a deep sense of gratitude for place and an abiding conviction that there are abundant resources to support the good work ahead. Over 250 community members shaped a recently completed 2026–2030 strategic plan that aims to act boldly but responsibly, protecting the lands that define Jefferson County while building an organization strong enough to steward the region for generations. Throughout its work, the organization is committed to shared purpose, mutual respect, and genuine partnership at every level. Staff, board, volunteers, and community members are all part of the same team, working together toward a future in which the people and lands of Jefferson County thrive in relationship with one another.

The Executive Director will provide organizational leadership by guiding strategy, supporting a talented and empowered staff team, maintaining strong board relations, stewarding donor and community relationships, and serving as a face and voice of Jefferson Land Trust across the Peninsula and beyond. The position calls for someone who leads from humility — a connector and convener who brings people together around a shared love of place. The Executive Director will understand that the organization’s culture of collaboration, kindness, and consensus is not just how Jefferson Land Trust works, but why it works. They will step into a high-functioning team and see their role as a partner and an empowerer.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position. The anticipated annual salary range is $120,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience.

A comprehensive benefits package will be provided and includes health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits appropriate to the role and organization. A relocation package is negotiable for out-of-area applicants.

Location

The Executive Director will be based at Jefferson Land Trust’s offices in Port Townsend, Washington, with regular travel throughout Jefferson County and the broader Olympic Peninsula and region. The position requires a regular in-person presence to build and sustain strong relationships with staff, board members, landowners, community partners, and donors.

Start Date

July 2026

Application Information

TO APPLY This search is conducted in partnership with Potrero Group. Please visit https://potrerogroup.com/jlt and select “Apply Here.” Applications should include a resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications that match the position criteria and what you will bring to the role. Interested candidates should apply by April 13th for priority consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION More information on Jefferson Land Trust can be found at saveland.org. For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact Daniel Student, Managing Director and Search Lead at Potrero Group, at [e-mail] .

A full copy of the job description can be found here .