FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROJECT MANAGER

Organizational Description

The New York Agricultural Land Trust (NYALT) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2006, with the mission to conserve working farmland and promote a greater appreciation for the agricultural and forested lands and their associated natural resources that enrich our communities and connect future generations to the land, locally and statewide.

NYALT works with landowners, at their request, to protect the working landscapes important to Upstate New York’s rural agricultural economy and quality of life. NYALT’s conservation projects conserve high-quality farmland and supporting woodlands, with projects ranging from dairy farms to diversified farming operations. In all cases, the farmers and landowners want to conserve their land for the next generation. They know that once good land is lost to development, it will never come back into agriculture. These farmers are creating a legacy, ensuring that their land will be available for agriculture in the future.

Brief Job Description

The position of Farmland Preservation Project Manager consists of managing and tracking up to 5-7 conservation projects per year. This includes, but is not limited to, creating and maintaining project records, drafting baseline documents, communicating with land owners and interested parties, and monitoring up to 28 existing conservation easements. 

Job Duties

• Manage and track conservation projects, including creating and maintaining records for each project.
• Work directly with the Executive Director, conduct project due diligence, review and negotiate easements, and draft and review baseline documentation.
• Draft correspondence, memoranda and reports for landowners, partners, committees, board, and follow up from site and monitoring visits.
• Support annual monitoring of NYALT conservation easements to ensure compliance of the stewardship program with Land Trust Standards and Practices and Accreditation requirements.
• Participate in the communications efforts and community engagement related to conservation protection projects.
• Assist with social media posts that are current and relevant as many times per day/week as needed and appropriate.
• Write and edit articles to promote NYALT events and projects, including contributing to the monthly newsletter and website content.
• Attend local outreach events as needed
• Complete any tasks assigned by the Executive Director

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree preferred in natural resources, agriculture, real-estate law, land management, other fields related to conservation, or relevant work experience
• Scientific knowledge of, and field experience with, the landscapes and agriculture of the State of New York
• Demonstrated experience in record keeping and data management
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a wide variety of individuals, including landowners, partners, staff, board members, and volunteers
• Well organized and self-directed, with attention to detail
• Proficiency with PC computer systems, Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Adobe, and knowledge of GIS programs
• A demonstrated passion for agriculture and/or conservation

Part-time Position: The successful applicant will be a part-time employee of NYALT. The position is temporary (1 year) with the possibility of becoming permanent.   The position entails 20-30 hours a week at an hourly rate of $23/hr.

Location: This is a remote position with some travel within the Central New York area.

To Apply: Please send a current resume and cover letter to Brandy Colebrook, bcolebrook@nyalt.org by August 25, 2023.

New York Agricultural Land Trust is a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization and your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by the IRS.