Lands Project Manager

Lands Project Manager

Location: Remote (but able to travel within the Santa Cruz region weekly)

Reports To: Director of Programs

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary Range: $80k - $90k

About Amah Mutsun Land Trust:

Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded by Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to protect Tribal sacred sites and to promote Indigenous stewardship of lands within Amah Mutsun traditional territory and the adjacent Awaswas stewardship area through research, conservation, restoration, and education.

Amah Mutsun Tribal Band is comprised of the descendants of Indigenous people who survived Missions San Juan Bautista and Santa Cruz. Today, Tribal descendants are working to revitalize their Indigenous culture and heal from the legacy of historic trauma. In pursuit of these goals, AMLT supports the Tribe’s work to renew their sacred obligation to care for Mother Earth and all beings; to reconnect Tribe members with Indigenous culture, history, and territory; and to teach non-Indigenous allies about and involve them in actively caring for our living world.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Lands Project Manager will play a central role in advancing AMLT’s work to return to and steward ancestral lands. This position will manage a range of projects, including fee title acquisitions, conservation and cultural easements, access and co-stewardship agreements, and diverse property management tasks. The successful candidate will ensure that all projects reflect Tribal priorities and are approached with deep cultural sensitivity and respect.

This role reports to the Director of Programs and collaborates closely with the Tribal Stewardship Strategic Advisor to integrate Tribal perspectives, uphold cultural protocols, and support AMLT’s vision of integrated stewardship and healing through returning to the land. In this role, you will have the opportunity to not only make a significant impact but also to expand your professional horizons, as the position offers growth potential within our dynamic and evolving organization.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tribal Land Return

• Manage conservation transactions and mechanisms, including fee title acquisitions, conservation easements, cultural easements, and various types of partnership and access agreements.
• Support negotiation and implementation of access and co-stewardship agreements.
• Work with legal counsel, landowners, and partners to finalize agreements that align with AMLT values and Tribal priorities.
• Develop and track project budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
• Prepare correspondence and documentation for Board, Lands Committee, Tribal leadership, and funders.
• In coordination with Grants Manager, prepare and manage public agency conservation grant applications and agreements.
• Draft conservation documents, including letters of intent, options to purchase, conservation easements and amendments, etc.
• Coordinate due diligence (e.g., title review, environmental assessments, appraisals, surveys).
• Collaborate with AMLT programs, including the Native Stewardship Corps, to transition acquired lands into Tribal care and develop interim and long-term stewardship plans.

Cross-functional & Partner Collaboration

• Work in partnership with Tribal members, AMLT staff, legal advisors, landowners, funders, and partner organizations.
• Coordinate closely with land trusts, public agencies, and other conservation partners to develop, structure, and implement land protection and stewardship agreements.
• Coordinate closely with the AMLT fundraising team and external partners on funding for land acquisition and stewardship.
• Represent AMLT in external meetings and collaborative planning processes with partner organizations.
• Ensure Tribal input is incorporated meaningfully and respectfully at all stages of project planning and implementation.
• Coordinate with the Strategic Advisor to align land return efforts with strategic goals and cultural priorities.

Property Management

• Support planning and oversight of basic land management needs (e.g., site access, signage, fencing, invasive species).
• Help coordinate caretaker agreements, leases, stewardship volunteers, or contractor support where appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in project management and/or conservation real estate transactions.
• Excellent judgment, problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution abilities.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; able to effectively interface with staff, board members, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Results-oriented, self-motivated, and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and alignment with the vision and values of AMLT.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with community members and partners.

Physical qualifications

• Regularly sit, talk, and hear
• Be able to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs
• Attend site visits that sometimes involve walking on uneven ground
• Regularly use close and distance vision
• Work at a desk and a computer screen

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, permanent, exempt position that includes the following benefits:

• Option to enroll in employer-supported medical, dental, and vision insurance,
• 15 days personal time off (PTO),
• 11 paid holidays per year,
• Reimbursement for work-related travel using a personal vehicle at the federal rate.

The salary is $80,000 to $90,000 a year, depending on experience.

Work Location and Travel

This is a remote position, but you must be able to travel weekly throughout Amah Mutsun Land Trust’s stewardship area, encompassing southern Santa Clara County, northern San Benito County, southern San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, and northern Monterey County.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Amah Mutsun Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against people of different genders, races, religions, or creeds. AMLT is a drug- and alcohol-free workplace that prohibits the use of drugs and alcohol on the job or at any of our work sites. Members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

To Apply

Please complete the application, submit a resume, and a cover letter. AMLT actively seeks those with strong tribal connections, preferably with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band (AMTB) or another indigenous organization to fill this role. Please share your experience with the AMTB or other indigenous organizations, how this connection will help you succeed in this role, and why you are drawn to the mission of AMLT.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Tribal members and Indigenous candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.