Land Protection Associate

Sequoia Riverlands Trust; Visalia (CA); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer matched retirement

Health insurance

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Sequoia Riverlands Trust, based in Visalia, California, is seeking a Land Protection Associate to support monitoring, baselines, and data management for conservation easements and acquisitions. You will work closely with the Land Protection Director and staff to advance stewardship across multiple counties.

The role emphasizes communication with landowners, data handling, and mapping, with opportunities for hybrid work and field duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively with landowners, staff, and partners.
• Experience with ArcGIS and basic spatial analysis.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends.
• Driver’s license with reliable vehicle for travel (mileage reimbursement).

Responsibilities

• Monitor a portfolio of protected lands and complete monitoring reports.
• Research and prepare Baseline Documentation Reports for easements.
• Help develop annual easement program goals with the Land Protection Director and team.
• Identify compliance issues and assist in stewardship projects.
• Maintain data storage and documentation per policy.
• Provide data management and mapping support for plans and proposals.
• Assist with land acquisitions, easements, and reporting deadlines.
• Attend meetings with landowners and partner agencies.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Writing

Data analysis

Public outreach

Team collaboration

Stamina

Driving

Hiking

Education

College degree in natural resource management or related field

Tools

Esri ArcGIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Sequoia Riverlands Trust is a regional nonprofit land trust focused on the Tulare Basin, which comprises the southern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills of Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties, with additional conservation projects in 5 other California counties. We are accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, and our mission to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland is supported by our ambitious programs in conservation easements (habitat and farmland), land stewardship, restoration, conservation outreach, and education.

We envision a future in which a network of protected natural and working lands thrives in the region we serve, with business, agriculture, and society aligned around sustainable land and water management practices.

OVERVIEW

The Land Protection Associate position supports Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) Land Protection Department by conducting landowner communication and conservation easement monitoring, assisting in land transaction projects, regional outreach and education, and land management activities on land owned or conserved by SRT.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitor and steward a portfolio of protected land interests annually according to Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and SRT standards; developing landowner relationships, completing required monitoring reports in a timely manner, and providing immediate feedback to landowners and land protection staff
• Research, gather data and produce conservation easement Baseline Documentation Reports
• Support the development of annual easement program goals with the Land Protection Departments Director, Project Manager and Operations and Data Manager, including measurable targets and outcomes
• Assist the Land Protection Director, Project Manager and Operations and Data Manager in identifying and addressing potential easement compliance issues and other concerns, as well as opportunities for further collaborative stewardship projects and relationship building
• Implement and maintain appropriate procedures and documentation for easement monitoring and data storage according to LTA and SRT policies
• Assist in providing data management and mapping support for conservation plans, funding proposals, project reports, and outreach materials
• Assist with creating and maintaining data tracking systems for land acquisitions, conservation easements, stewardship obligations, mitigation requirements, and reporting deadlines
• Assist in the preparation of baseline documentation reports (BDRs) and management plans for new conservation easements and fee acquisitions
• Attend meetings and maintain communication with regional landowners, stakeholders, and partnering agencies and organizations regarding current and future conservation projects
• Collaborate with the Land Protection Director and Land Protection Operations and Data Manager to ensure that land transaction and stewardship records and data are maintained and stored according to LTA policies, in virtual and physical formats
• Carry out other duties as needed to support SRT’s conservation planning, mitigation and acquisition programs
• Assist with Land Protection Department grant administration and budget tracking as necessary
• Assist the conservation staff with Fee Title and Mitigation property management duties as necessary

SUPERVISION

The Land Protection Associate reports to the Director of Land Protection and works closely with other Land Protection Department and Conservation Department staff.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

College Degree in natural resource management, environmental studies, conservation or a related field, or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.

• Ability to interact with a variety of personalities among SRT staff, landowners, contractors, volunteers and other partners
• Ability to clearly communicate organizational priorities
• Ability to manage multiple projects with deadlines
• Ability to work with Esri ArcGIS software (e.g. create and edit shapefiles and feature classes, produce clear and attractive maps, conduct basic spatial analyses, and organize data effectively)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel)
• Ability to quickly learn SRT’s land conservation software applications for online record keeping regarding land transactions and stewardship work
• Ability to synthesize and effectively communicate concepts and data, including excellent writing skills
• Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills
• Familiarity with agriculture and ecology of Tulare County
• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends
• Ability to hike and work under physical strain on sometimes difficult terrain in a variety of environmental conditions and driving on rough roads
• Driver’s license and willingness to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel (with mileage reimbursement)

DESIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Experience working with a conservation organization or agency
• Community outreach & engagement experience

WORK SETTING AND CONDITIONS

The position is based at SRT’s headquarters in Visalia, California, a city of about 140,000 residents in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The region has a Mediterranean climate, with cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. SRT’s preserves and conservation easements are distributed over nine counties, including lands in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley and in the Carrizo Plain. The specific work conditions of this position are as follows:

• Well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned indoor office with moderate noise
• Option for hybrid home-office schedule at Executive Director’s discretion
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds
• Manual dexterity sufficient to reach and handle items, work with fingers and perceive attributes of objects and materials; ability to stand, walk, sit, and reach
• Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature, using close vision
• At times, to be outdoors in all weather conditions and in remote locations
• Ability to visually assess landscape features and to inspect, identify, observe, and assess safety situations in all work environments
• Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some

COMPENSATION

This is a non-exempt hourly position with a compensation rate of $21.00-26.00 an hour.

Benefits include an employer matched retirement, health insurance program, and generous paid time off.

OTHER NOTES

Candidates MUST be able to pass a background check.

• Top candidates may be asked to provide samples of their work that demonstrate their ability to fulfill the requirements of this position
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
• Staff members are expected to consciously and continuously promote the mission, values, programs, and impact of the organization when presented with opportunities for participating in membership development and reaching out to personal connections on behalf of SRT.