Senior Program Manager - Stewardship

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Minnesota Land Trust is seeking a Senior Program Manager to oversee the conservation easement portfolio, interpreting terms and drafting approvals while managing violations through resolution. The role strengthens stewardship systems, leads a small team, and contributes to strategic planning across the department.

The position involves cross-department collaboration, coordination with Terrafirma, and ongoing property monitoring, with opportunities to expand stewardship programs and improve

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in natural resources, land management, or a related field and 5+ years in real estate, land use, or environmental law.
• Experience supervising staff or mentoring colleagues is preferred but not required.
• Valid MN driver’s license or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Interpret easement terms for landowners and stakeholders; draft approvals or denials within delegated authority.
• Manage easement violations from identification to resolution; coordinate with legal counsel and Director.
• Support relationship with Terrafirma, including preparing claim documentation for violations.
• Assist in resolving discrepancies and legacy issues within the easement portfolio.
• Assist with amending conservation easements and preparing materials for Board approval.
• Participate in annual monitoring of properties and oversee completion for assigned portfolio portion.
• Support stewardship of lands owned in fee by the Land Trust and related land management.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Staff supervision

Process design

Systems improvement

Legal document review

Database management

Report writing

Project coordination

Conflict resolution

Education

Master’s degree in natural resources/land management/conservation

Tools

GIS/remote sensing tools

Job description

Summary

The Senior Program Manager provides advanced-level administration of the Minnesota Land Trust's conservation easement portfolio, working alongside Land Trust Stewardship and Legal staff to interpret easement terms, draft approvals and denials of proposed uses and activities, and manage violations through to resolution. This role builds and strengthens the systems, processes, and recordkeeping practices that support the Stewardship program as it grows, and supervises a small team of Stewardship staff. The Senior Program Manager contributes to departmental and organizational strategic planning, represents the department in cross-departmental initiatives, and may take on additional responsibilities as delegated.

Organization Values

All employees of the Minnesota Land Trust are expected to embrace the ideals of our organization's values and incorporate our values into their ongoing work. All employees should be familiar with the current values statement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Easement Administration, Stewardship, and Enforcement - 50%

• Interpret Conservation Easement terms for landowners and other interested parties; draft and issue approvals or denials of proposed plans within the scope of delegated authority.
• Manage easement violations from identification through resolution, coordinating with legal counsel and the Director on serious violations and disputes.
• Support the Director in managing the relationship with Terrafirma, the Land Trust's conservation defense insurance carrier, including preparing claim documentation for actual and potential violations.
• Assist in resolving discrepancies and “legacy issues” within the existing easement portfolio.
• Assist with amending conservation easements, including the preparation of materials for Board approval.
• Participate in annual monitoring of properties in person and through use of remote imagery, and oversee completion for an assigned portion of the portfolio.
• Support stewardship of the properties owned in fee by the Minnesota Land Trust, including monitoring and required land management.

Supervision and Team Development - 20%

• Hire, supervise, coach, and support a limited number of Stewardship staff and interns.
• Develop and deliver training materials for Stewardship staff and interns.
• Contribute to workforce planning and team culture within the department.

Systems, Processes, and Recordkeeping - 15%

• Design and implement systems and processes to strengthen Stewardship recordkeeping as the department and easement portfolio grows.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and consistency in easement administration and monitoring workflows, and lead implementation of improvements.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Contribution - 10%

• Contribute to the development and execution of annual work plans in the department.
• Represent the department in cross-departmental projects and organizational initiatives as assigned, including the Land Trust’s Conservation Agenda and Strategic Plan.
• Provide input to the Director on budget areas related to the Senior Program Manager's portfolio of work.

Other - 5%

• Provide stewardship-related content for the Land Trust's communication materials, including press releases, newsletters, and landowner materials.
• Contribute to workshops, presentations, and other professional development materials for local and national audiences, as assigned.
• Attend and participate in organizational functions including the annual gala, Treasured Places, and major donor events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Experience, Licenses/Certifications

• A master's degree in natural resources, land management, or a similar field related to real estate and conservation, and five (5) years of experience in real estate, land use, or environmental law, land management, conservation programs, or real‑estate transactions; and experience with record management and/or database development or use
• Experience supervising staff or mentoring colleagues is preferred but not required
• A valid MN driver's license or ability to obtain

Knowledge

• Land Trust Standards and Practices and accreditation requirements
• Conservation easement law, interpretation, and enforcement procedures
• Real estate law and property rights
• Conservation defense insurance policies and claims procedures
• Remote sensing and GIS technology for property monitoring
• Land management and stewardship best practices
• Database and recordkeeping systems design

Skills

• Advanced verbal communication
• Advanced written communication
• Staff supervision, coaching, and performance management
• Process design and systems improvement
• Legal document review and interpretation
• Database and records management
• Report writing and presentation delivery
• Project management and coordination across departments
• Conflict resolution and mediation

Abilities

• Work independently with guidance needed only in the most complex situations
• Collaborate with a wide variety of individuals, including private landowners, staff, board members, and volunteers
• Systems thinking and attention to detail while maintaining a big-picture perspective
• Emotional regulation when dealing with hostile or upset landowners during conflicts
• Composure when presenting to boards or regulatory bodies
• Drive to locations throughout Minnesota
• Work evenings and weekends and/or stay overnight on occasion

Physical Demands

• Ability to hike up to five miles on foot through uneven, rough, or wet terrain; comfortable hiking alone, with exposure to rugged terrain, dense vegetation, and biting or stinging insects
• Ability to navigate in remote areas with dense vegetation
• Ability to carry equipment while in the field, up to five pounds
• Office duties to be performed at a desk and at a computer

Mental Demands

• Sustained concentration when reviewing complex legal documents and easement terms
• High cognitive load managing simultaneous violations, disputes, and process-improvement projects
• Memory retention for numerous easement details, landowner agreements, and property specifics

The Minnesota Land Trust is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal opportunity in the performance of essential job functions, and access to benefits and privileges of employment. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the position, please make a request to your supervisor.

Minnesota Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company will not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, genetic information, sex, disability, age, or any other status protected by state or local law, for employees who fall within the jurisdiction of such law.