Easement Coordinator

Applicants are encouraged to apply early

Founded in 1978, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County brings diverse communities and organizations together to protect and connect people to the lands that define this special place. We protect and steward farmland, watersheds, wildlife habitat, and land for public access in and around Santa Cruz County to support the environment, economy, and quality of life for future generations of people and wildlife.

We understand the critical role land plays in addressing climate change and calibrate our preservation efforts through this lens. At the same time, we know that land is cherished when people connect to it directly. From that perspective, we partner with groups and individuals to preserve and steward land that people can access, enjoy, and fall in love with.

We engage the entire county in our efforts to get bikers, hikers, birders, farmers, ranchers, and everyone who cares about the local environment and our uniquely beautiful vistas to become active stewards of the land.

Department: Land Stewardship
Reports To: Director of Land Stewardship
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Santa Cruz
Salary Range: $83,000 - $88,000 / year

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, a nonprofit organization that has made substantial headway in environmental conservation by helping to protect more than
14,000 acres of important habitat and farmland over the last 45 years, is seeking a collaborative, analytical, and detail-oriented team member for the role of Easement Coordinator. The position is responsible for coordinating stewardship of more than 5,000 acres of conservation and agricultural easements, along with annual monitoring of an additional 5,000 acres of land owned by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.

Core responsibilities include overseeing and enforcing easements and mitigation agreements, addressing encroachments, preparing baseline condition and monitoring reports, and maintaining records in accordance with Land Trust Alliance standards. The Easement Coordinator works closely with staff and external partners on easement properties and supports the organization’s reaccreditation process with the Land Trust Alliance.

Work hours total approximately 40 hours per week, typically between 8am - 6pm, Monday through Friday, with occasional early, late, or weekend work as needed.

This position is a blend of office and field work, with regular travel throughout Santa Cruz County to conduct annual easement monitoring visits, meet with landowners, document site conditions, and support stewardship activities on protected properties. The position is based at our downtown Santa Cruz office.

This is a full-time/part-time, exempt position with a salary range of $83,000–$88,000 per year, depending on experience.

The Land Trust offers excellent benefits and a supportive work environment, including:

• High-quality health, dental, and vision insurance, with 100% of employee premiums covered by the Land Trust
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• A green commute stipend to encourage sustainable transportation
• An annual wellness benefit
• Inclusive and fun staff events
• A dog-friendly office
• And more

• Conduct or coordinate annual monitoring and reporting for all conservation and agricultural easements
• Maintain strong relationships with existing easement landowners and cultivate relationships with new easement landowners
• Oversee updates to the Annual Management Plan for easement properties and the Easement Monitoring Program
• Coordinate with staff and consultants to determine the nature and resolution of potential easement violations
• Coordinate the defense of easement terms with Land Trust staff, attorneys…