Land Acquisitions Project Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: California;
Requires maintaining a home office

Position Type: Permanent Full-time (1.0 FTE);
Exempt (Salaried)

Compensation: $105,000 - $115,000

Additional Stipends: Approximately $6,000 annually for home office and phone stipends

Benefits: Includes, but is not limited to, 11 paid holidays annually; three weeks of vacation annually (progressive); sick leave; substantial employer contribution to health insurance plan; dental and vision plans; employer contribution to retirement plan

The Land Acquisitions Project Manager (Acquisitions Manager) is responsible for coordinating and implementing the Center for Natural Lands Management's (CNLM) conservation land acquisitions program. Working closely with CNLM's acquisitions team (including the Executive Director, Director of Administration, General Counsel, and preserve managers), the Acquisitions Manager coordinates the team, manages the acquisitions process, and ensures acquisitions projects are fully vetted, kept on schedule, and are well documented.

They will ensure that sound and ethical real estate practices are observed, that CNLM's Acquisitions Policy is adhered to, and that other guidelines, such as those provided by the National Land Trust Alliance, are followed as appropriate. As CNLM's property acquisitions (in fee and conservation easements) are typically the result of mitigation requirements, the Acquisitions Manager will work with regulatory agencies and permit tees to ensure all parties understand the project structure and CNLM's role(s).

CNLM's mitigation-related acquisitions are characterized by properties that are high in conservation value, include perpetual responsibilities, and well documented. While other members of the CNLM acquisitions team typically visit the property, conduct the perpetual cost analysis, and prepare templates for legal documents, the Acquisitions Manager will populate document templates appropriately for each project, determine the budget for transactional activities, and serve as the main point of contact with the landowner/permittee.

The Acquisitions Manager should be prepared to conduct title reviews, coordinate the recording of documents, and record the progress of each project and its associated decisions and decisions. When not managing current acquisition projects, the Acquisitions Manager will also be involved in pursuing more strategic partnerships towards increasing acquisitions opportunities and working with CNLM staff and partners towards resolving extrinsic threats to our land trust's role in perpetual conservation.

The Center for Natural Lands Management was founded in 1990 to serve a specific niche in the conservation community: a land trust that could professionally manage sensitive habitats and endangered species in the wild, determine the long-term costs of this service, and provide responsible management of both the natural and financial resources in perpetuity. This mission focus brought us into relationship with both the regulatory and regulated communities.

Currently with a staff of 60 conservation-committed professionals representing natural resource management, legal, financial, and administrative skills, CNLM has permanently protected 80,000 acres of important conservation lands in California, Washington, and Oregon.

• Manage and coordinate all stages of acquisitions from initial landowner contact through escrow closing, coordinating closely with other CNLM legal, financial, stewardship, and administrative staff.
• Serve as main point of contact for landowners and permit tees and support the acquisition process through appropriate communications.
• Initiate and schedule meetings and other communications as appropriate with external parties (such as permit tees, regulatory agencies, landowners, conservation bankers) and CNLM acquisition team.
• Quality control and risk management:
  Ensure CNLM's acquisition policies and practices are implemented through appropriate screening and documentation of acquisition opportunities, risk assessment, and preparation of contracts and proposals.
• Prepare acquisitions-related documents (e.g., consulting services agreements, endowment management agreements, purchase and sale agreements, conservation easements, escrow instructions, etc.) using CNLM templates and modifying as needed.
• Conduct specific…