Senior Land Project Manager

Reports to: Senior Vice President of Land, Southeast

Department: Land

Location: Charleston, SC

Work Arrangement: Hybrid; in office at least 3 days per week with flexibility to work from home 1-2 days, and in accordance with business needs

Work Hours: Full-time, M-F, 9am-5pm

Pay Range: $105,000-$110,000

FLSA Status: Exempt

About the Open Space Institute

The Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. and Canada. OSI’s land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather.

Position Overview

The Senior Project Manager has significant experience in conservation real estate transactions, focusing on preserving critical open spaces and sensitive lands using various acquisition techniques. This role involves developing and advancing regional and local conservation program priorities through real estate transactions (primarily fee simple) and securing local, federal and state grants. The Senior Project Manager works under the supervision of the Senior Vice President of the Southeast Land program and works closely with the Land and Legal Department. This position will focus primarily on land transactions in South Carolina. Additionally, they assist in managing the OSILT Land property portfolio in the Southeast as needed. Coordination with the stewardship department, strategic planning, program development, and fundraising support are also key responsibilities.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

Project management of real estate transactions:

• Manages land transactions, under the direction of the SVP and in coordination with OSI legal personnel. This includes negotiating business terms of purchase and sale agreements, reviewing appraisals and environmental assessments; managing public review processes and public agency relationships.
• Assists on land stewardship tasks as needed including hunt lease coordination, timber agreements, site monitoring, and property security.
• Reviews and prepares project term sheets and board submissions, assists in budgeting and project portfolio tracking.
• Works with project team to identify and develop sources of funding for land acquisition and OSI operating support.
• Collaborates with Finance and Development departments on administration, compliance, and reporting of public and private grants once secured.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Superior written and oral communication skills;
• Sound understanding of real estate principles and economics;
• Strategically utilize relationships to further OSI’s conservation goals;
• Ability to work well as part of a team, and individually;
• Expert knowledge of real estate due diligence process and government processes;
• High-level familiarity with public agency land acquisition departments;
• Excellent working knowledge of the processes for obtaining public funding for land acquisition;
• Ability to manage multiple properties, multiple funding sources, develop programs and use resources of the organization to accomplish larger initiatives;
• Highly organized.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, advanced degree in related field preferred;
• 7-10 years of conservation real estate project-related experience;
• Existing relationships with public agencies, government officials, non-profit organizations and the business community;
• Existing relationships with philanthropic foundations and individual donor prospects.

Location & Physical Requirements

• This position is based out of our Charleston, South Carolina office
• Hybrid work arrangement with at least three days per week in office expected weekly
• Frequent regional travel, approximately 2 times per month
• Frequently sits for long periods of time
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard
• May require occasional standing, walking, lifting, stooping, bending, moving files

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply.

Application

Apply here! Attach a cover letter that includes where you learned of the job posting along with your resume. Applications without a cover letter are not likely to be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through October 3, 2025, with earlier submissions receiving priority consideration. You will receive an acknowledgment once your application has been submitted, and we will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview.

This is a full-time position requiring 37.5 hours per week within regular business hours; typically 9am-5pm. The role involves working onsite at our Charleston, SC office at least three days per week and involves frequent regional travel, approximately 2 times per month.

Pay for this position is $105,000-$110,000, commensurate with the candidate’s skill level and experience. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process.

OSI is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that our conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and cultures. We are committed to cultivating and retaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters belonging.

OSI offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to resumes@osiny.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

OSI does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.