San Luis Valley Community Outreach Fellow

What We Can Achieve Together

The Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC CO) is excited to continue the Colorado Conservation Fellowship Program focused on elevating and empowering the next generation of conservation leaders who represent the variety of backgrounds, experiences, and priorities in Colorado. This Fellowship has two main components: advancing TNC’s ambitious conservation goals focused on tackling climate change and biodiversity loss through hands‑on projects, and supporting Fellows’ career growth through networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

The Colorado Conservation Fellowship, in partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), is a 2‑year, full‑time (35 hours per week) program, starting in September 2026. These Colorado Conservation Fellowship roles are ideal for early‑career candidates interested in conservation, community engagement, stewardship, and meaningful relationship building.

This program aims to foster an environment where people from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives feel welcomed and valued. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. There are three positions available: the Tribal & Indigenous Engagement Fellow, San Luis Valley Community Outreach Fellow, and the Climate Resilient Stewardship Fellow. This job description is for the San Luis Valley Community Outreach Fellow.

The Nature Conservancy’s Zapata Ranch Preserve in the San Luis Valley aspires to be a living model of culturally grounded conservation—a unique place where people, buffalo, and an iconic landscape come together to foster resilience and reconnection. The Fellow will help advance TNC’s strategy focused on local community engagement and experiential learning efforts at the Zapata Ranch Preserve. The Fellow will support outreach and programming with a broad range of partners in the San Luis Valley, including regional coalitions, community‑based organizations, educational institutions, conservation and stewardship groups, youth‑serving organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies.

The Fellow will also assist the Zapata Preserve Manager and other team members in organizing and preparing for community events at the Zapata Ranch Preserve.

Please apply by Sunday, August 9th, to be considered for the role.

The San Luis Valley Community Outreach Fellow will support community engagement and outreach efforts at Zapata Ranch Preserve by coordinating events, meetings, learning opportunities, and partnerships. The Fellow may assist with volunteer engagement and help develop program materials and communications. The Fellow will track program data, maintain records, support reporting and administrative processes, and help manage timelines and logistics for a variety of projects and events.

They will work cooperatively with Conservancy staff, providing information necessary to make decisions and solve problems. They may communicate on behalf of their supervisor with internal and external sources, including staff, donors, partners, vendors, and businesses, other stakeholders to support successful program delivery. The Fellow will participate in networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities designed to support their career growth and expand their skills within the conservation field.

Candidates are encouraged to bring their unique voices and cultural perspectives as they relate to TNC’s mission and conservation work.

• Bachelor’s degree and 1‑year experience or equivalent combination;
• Experience coordinating multiple, simultaneous projects;
• Experience writing and speaking with a wide range of people;
• Experience working on an event team;
• Experience staying organized and completing tasks independently;
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English required.

• Bilingual English and Spanish skills are preferred;
• Experience building positive relationships with partners, customers, and other stakeholders;
• Experience supporting communications, events, and project coordination;
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills;
• Ability to analyze…