The Northern Arizona Land and Water Protection Manager coordinates and implements a comprehensive program to protect natural areas and terrestrial and aquatic habitat for rare and endangered plants, animals and natural communities using the full range of protection tools, including gift, conservation easement, purchase, lease, conservation brokerage and cooperative projects with federal, state, and local government, conservation organizations, tribal nations, and other partners as appropriate. Position is remote from home office in Flagstaff, AZ (other northern AZ locations negotiable). 

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We’re looking for someone who is a passionate, motivated problem-solver. Come join TNC and apply today!

The Northern Arizona Land and Water Protection Manager is responsible for implementing and achieving the Conservancy’s conservation priorities by initiating and completing property acquisitions, transfers, and assists in priority areas in Central and Northern Arizona; supporting conservation asset management and stewardship; building support and capacity for conservation partners; and developing and managing programmatic funding sources and opportunities. This position represents the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with landowners, government agencies, public and private funders, land trust partners, tribal nations, and community-based organizations. They assist in securing public and private funds for land protection and in creatively structuring individual transactions. The Northern Arizona Land and Water Protection Manager acquires and maintains local ecological and market knowledge of real estate transactions; conducts ongoing research of land ownership information for tracts identified as potential acquisition projects; explores potential projects by contacting owners, nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, and public agency officials; and prepares project packages for internal approval.

1. Protection project management in priority areas across Northern Arizona (approximately 55%)

1. Assumes primary responsibility for documenting and closing real estate transactions (primarily conservation easements) with the assistance of legal and finance staff. Under general supervision of the staff attorney, uses templates to draft legal documents related to property acquisitions (may include legal correspondence, real estate documents, business and financial documents).
2. Maintains ongoing communication and relationships with all internal and external partners, ranging from landowners, federal and state agencies, non-profit conservation partners, public and private funders, finance and legal teams, tribal nations, and consultants.
3. Collaborates with Director of Land and Water Protection, Chapter leadership and conservation staff to periodically evaluate and revise land and water protection priorities in alignment with Chapter and Global conservation goals.
4. Collaborates with Water Program Lead, Director of Stewardship and Preserve/community-based Program Managers to develop public-private partnerships for TNC property management or transfers that will leverage landscape-scale conservation.
5. Advises on legal aspects of property and water rights transfers, agricultural and residential leases, and management agreements.
6. Responds to land protection inquiries and opportunities.

2. Conservation Asset Management and Stewardship (approximately 20%)

1. Provides project management for transactions to transfer TNC land assets and participates in prioritization process for property divestitures.
2. Conducts annual Conservation Easement and Fee Land (Conservancy-owned property) monitoring and reporting and semi-annual Trade Lands monitoring and reporting.
3. Tracks threats to Conservancy assets and priorities and coordinates and supports Chapter response as appropriate.

3. Develop and manage programmatic funding sources and opportunities (approximately 15%)

1. Maintains ongoing communication and maintains relationships with all internal and external partners, ranging from landowners, federal and state agencies, non-profit conservation partners, public and private funders, finance and legal teams, and consultants.
2. Develops funding proposals and collaborates with Conservancy staff and external partners to secure funding. Assumes primary responsibility for managing project fund sources (budgeting, contracting, reporting).

4. Support for other Conservation Programs and AZ Chapter functions (approximately 10%)

1. Supports in local collaborative conservation efforts such as the Verde Front, Greater Chino Valley Collaborative, Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition working groups, etc.
2. Participate in Arizona Chapter and Protection Learning Network meetings and planning efforts.
3. Occasional travel within Arizona and in the U.S. (both with possible over-night / weekend stays).
4. Timely and accurate completion of administrative functions such as performance reviews, expense reports, and timecards.