Land Stewardship Director – The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
Location: Santa Barbara County
Job Type: Full-time, exempt position Salary Hiring Range: $100,000-$115,000
Position Summary
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is looking for an experienced Land Stewardship Director to join our dynamic team. This is a full-time, exempt (salaried) position reporting to the Executive Director. This is a new position designed to scale a sustainable stewardship practice within the organization, working alongside a talented and dedicated team.
The Land Stewardship Director manages the conservation easement portfolio for the organization, including all aspects of conservation easement monitoring, enforcement, curing violations, landowner and successor landowner education and relationships, easement amendments, agency relationships, new project stewardship planning, restoration oversight, and department administrative and financial management. This position supports acquisitions by preparing for new land stewardship and monitoring obligations, restoration activities, and maintenance. The Land Stewardship Director supervises the Land Stewardship Manager, vendors, contractors, and interns.
The Land Stewardship Director works with the Executive Director, Land Committee, Board of Trustees, Land Trust legal counsel, and the Land Stewardship Manager to ensure our organization upholds our perpetual conservation obligations and conducts our work in a professional, expert manner. This position will represent the organization throughout the county in a variety of settings, including in the field, in community meetings, with agency and elected officials, and with supporters.
About the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
Founded in 1985, The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is a 501(c) (3) tax exempt California non-profit Corporation that conserves natural resources, agricultural land, and open spaces for the benefit of present and future generations. We have conserved more than 32,000 acres across Santa Barbara County and are a nationally- accredited member of the Land Trust Alliance and California Council of Land Trusts. Currently, the Land Trusts holds 55 conservation easements with significant additional easements in process. The Land Trust also owns and manages preserves with public visitors including Arroyo Hondo Preserve, a magnificent coastal canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park. The canyon preserve is home to thousands of plant and animal species, including several that are considered threatened or endangered. Docent-led tours for schools and community groups are scheduled throughout the year. The Land Trust is expanding our work so we can better serve everyone in this incredible county, this includes new community-based programs and creating a possible public preserve in the Santa Maria Valley.
The Opportunity
The Land Stewardship Director will arrive at a time of remarkable growth and opportunity within the organization. Our ambitious strategic plan, combined with robust conservation funding, a drive for innovation, and a bold vision for growth have positioned the Land Trust to extend its impact even further. The Land Stewardship Director will work with our Land Stewardship Manager to harness this momentum and build the stewardship program of our future. As we approach our 40th anniversary, there is much work to do to ensure that our easement portfolio remains well managed, relevant, and that we meet the commitment made to communities throughout the county to protect land forever. If you want to join our hard-working team committed to our mission we invite you to apply for the position of Land Stewardship Director.
The ideal candidate will be conversant in developing, monitoring, enforcing, and amending conservation easements, including the project and people management that easement programs require. You are comfortable meeting with a variety of stakeholders, including landowners and officials, and moving groups of people through the complex processes easements entail. You have strong management skills and experience with scaling busy departments. You are a creative-thinker and thoughtful communicator who enjoys being outdoors and is passionate about nature and serving the Santa Barbara County community. You are committed to building collaborative relationships with individuals and organizations that bring different perspectives to land stewardship. You are energized by working towards a lasting common purpose and have the relevant experience to step into a leadership role.
