Land Protection Coordinator in Visalia, California at Sequoia Riverlands Trust

About Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Sequoia Riverlands Trust is a regional nonprofit land trust focused on the Tulare Basin, which comprises the southern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills of Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties, with additional conservation projects in 5 other California counties. We are accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, and our mission to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland is supported by our ambitious programs in conservation easements (habitat and farmland), land stewardship, restoration, conservation outreach, and education.

We envision a future in which a network of protected natural and working lands thrives in the region we serve, with business, agriculture, and society aligned around sustainable land and water management practices.

OVERVIEW

The Land Protection Coordinator supports SRT’s land conservation mission by

implementing assigned projects across one or more of the following functional areas:

conservation easement and fee simple acquisition transactions; mitigation-funded

conservation projects; geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, and data

management; easement monitoring and compliance; technical research and grant

documentation; and conservation planning and policy support.

The Land Protection Coordinator ensures that assigned work is completed in accordance

with Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Standards and Practices, applicable funder or service

agreement requirements, SRT policies, and approved scopes and budgets.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Transaction Support

• Support conservation easement and fee simple acquisition transactions, including

mitigation-funded projects.

• Coordinate project schedules and milestone tracking consistent with SRT Policies and

Procedures and LTA Standards and Practices.

• Support due diligence activities and coordinate consultant deliverables.

• Assist with project support and stewardship transition.

• Monitor project timelines and organizational priorities.

GIS, Mapping & Spatial Analysis

• Maintains GIS databases and produces maps and spatial analyses in support of land

protection, mitigation, monitoring, planning, and GIS support to other departments

• Contributes to board materials, project reports, and outreach products as assigned.

• Ensures spatial data integrity and consistency across SRT’s conservation records.

Baseline Documentation Reports

• Compile data, maps, and supporting documentation on property and project details

in a comprehensive format consistent with SRT Policies and Procedures and LTA

Standards and Practices.

Data Management & Recordkeeping

• Organizes and maintains land protection records, spatial data, and project files in

accordance with LTA Standards and Practices.

• Supports file architecture, data tracking systems, and documentation for accreditation

and compliance purposes.

Grant Compliance & Technical Documentation

• Supports grant compliance documentation, technical research inputs, and reporting

deliverables in accordance with award terms, LTA Standards, and funder

requirements.

• May include preliminary property research, due diligence materials, and spatial

analyses supporting pre-award and post-award grant work.

• Coordinates grant deliverables and reporting deadlines.

Easement Monitoring & Compliance

• Supports or leads annual easement monitoring activities, including field monitoring,

report preparation, and records management.

• Assists with identification, documentation, and resolution of easement violations in

coordination with legal counsel as needed.

Internal Coordination

• Coordinates across program areas to ensure smooth project handoffs, consistent

documentation, and alignment between legal instruments, spatial data, and

stewardship records.

• May provide task-level guidance to Associates, interns, or consultants.

SUPERVISION

The Land Protection Coordinator reports to the Director of Land Protection and works

closely with staff across Land Protection, Planning & Policy, Land Management, and other

program areas. This position may provide project-based direction or support to Associates,

interns, and consultants.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• College degree in natural resource management, environmental science,

environmental studies, conservation, geography, GIS, real estate, public

administration, or related field, or demonstrated equivalent professional experience

• 2–3 years of experience in land conservation, GIS, mitigation projects, real estate

transactions, grant-funded projects, or a related field

• Familiarity with agriculture and ecology of Central California

• Experience in the support of coordinating complex, multi-party projects with

regulatory and funding requirements

• Working knowledge of conservation easements and land acquisition processes

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously

• Clear written and verbal communication skills

• Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS software

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs

• Ability to quickly learn SRT’s land conservation software applications

• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends

• Ability to hike and work under physical strain on sometimes difficult terrain in a

variety of environmental conditions and drive on rough roads

• Driver’s license and willingness to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel (with

mileage reimbursement).

DESIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Experience working with a nonprofit land trust or public conservation agency

• Experience implementing state or federally funded acquisition grants

• Familiarity with California conservation funding programs (e.g., SALC, WCB, NRCS)

• Experience with ArcGIS Online or other web-based GIS platforms

• Conflict resolution experience

• California native plant identification knowledge

• Spanish language proficiency

WORK SETTING AND CONDITIONS

The position is based at SRT’s headquarters in Visalia, California, a city of about 130,000

residents in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The region has a Mediterranean climate, with

cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. SRT’s preserves and conservation easements are distributed over nine counties, including lands in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, and in the Carrizo Plain area. The specific work conditions of this position are as follows:

• Well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned indoor office with moderate noise

• Option for hybrid home-office schedule at Executive Director’s discretion

• Physical Demands

o Ability to lift up to 10 pounds

o Manual dexterity sufficient to reach and handle items, work with fingers and

perceive attributes of objects and materials; ability to stand, walk, sit, and reach

o Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an

administrative nature, using close vision

o At times, be outdoors in all weather conditions and in remote locations

o Ability to visually assess landscape features and to inspect, identify, observe, and

assess safety situations in all work environments

• Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some additional

hours including weekends.

COMPENSATION

This is a non-exempt position and is compensated at $25.00-$29.00 an hour.

Benefits include an employer matched retirement, health insurance program, and generous

paid time off.

OTHER NOTES

Candidates MUST be able to pass a background check

• Top candidates may be asked to provide samples of their work that demonstrate

their ability to fulfill the requirements of this position

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature performed by

people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an

exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.

Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

• Staff members are expected to consciously and continuously promote the mission,

values, programs, and impact of the organization when presented with opportunities

for participating in membership development and reaching out to personal

connections on behalf of SRT.