Lands Program Coordinator

Posted by Alaska Farmland Trust

Type: Jobs
Job Type: Part Time
Location: Palmer
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025

We are seeking a part-time Lands Program Coordinator who is mission-driven, personable, and self-motivated to support our conservation efforts. This position plays a critical role in engaging landowners, federal and state partners, and community stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of conservation easement projects.  The current workload can be completed in approximately 10-15 hours per week with future potential for growth, if desired.  Some remote work and schedule flexibility is available.

Key Responsibilities:

Land Protection:

• Manage all aspects of agricultural conservation easement and related real estate transactions.
• Collaborate with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to apply for federal funding that aims to support landowners looking to create conservation easements on their property
• Pursue grants and funding opportunities to support land protection efforts.
• Build and sustain partnerships to promote agricultural conservation on a regional scale.
• Coordinate consultants to meet mapping, data collection, and funding application requirements.
• Collaborate with AFT’s Lands Committee and provide regular updates to the Board of Directors.

Landowner Engagement:

• Proactively identify and prioritize conservation prospects based on organizational objectives.
• Cultivate relationships with priority landowners and respond to inquiries strategically.
• Act as the primary liaison during project cultivation and management phases.

Stewardship & Enforcement:

• Conduct annual monitoring visits to protected properties.
• Review conservation easements to ensure compliance and address any violations.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to resolve emerging issues on protected properties.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications:

• Project management or relevant experience.
• Strategic thinking, task management, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities, both written and verbal.
• Independent, self-motivated, and able to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Familiarity with real estate transactions, conservation easements, and agricultural systems.
• Experience in non-profit organizations
• Experience in the agricultural industry

Scope of Work:

• Serve as the primary contact for NRCS AK and landowners.
• Facilitate closing processes for landowners and finalize deeds with their attorneys.
• Coordinate appraisals, surveys, and required documentation for conservation easements.
• Report bi-weekly updates to the AFT Board of Directors on project status and progress.

Position Details:

Type: Part-time, some flexibility in hours

Location: Primarily based in Palmer, Alaska, with occasional travel required.

Compensation: $30-$40/hr. DOE

Email resume to info@akfarmland.com