Project Manager II – Southern California

At TPL, we’re a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We’re committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That’s why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we’re working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we’re an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don’t have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We’re determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We’re inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us! 

Position Summary:  

TPL’s California Land Protection team is looking for a dynamic and dedicated Project Manager to join us in permanently protecting lands to ensure climate resilient communities and ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and improve equitable access to parks and open space. Through this work, TPL will help deliver cleaner air and water, healthier communities, equitable and connected neighborhoods, and a more resilient and livable environment for all.

The Southern California Project Manager is a key position for delivering TPL’s mission of conserving land for people by utilizing well-established nonprofit land acquisition techniques and sound business practices, in order to advance landscape-scale conservation in southern California. The geographic region of focus includes the Transverse Ranges and greater Los Angeles area. TPL’s conservation priorities in this region include working with community partners to protect climate-resilient lands and waters that support wildlife habitat, recreational access, working lands (farms and ranches), water resources, and historical and Indigenous cultural values, as well as other open space and environmentally important lands. Successful development and implementation of strategic priorities, including completion of real estate transactions, are critical elements that advance these goals for TPL. This position will be located in TPL’s Pasadena office unless otherwise approved.

Essential Functions:

Creating and Advancing Productive Strategic Partnerships:

• Develops trust-based relationships with conservation partners representing a diversity of interests including local and regional land trusts, Indigenous, rural, agricultural and working forests community members, public and private funders, public and private property owners, and philanthropists.
• In consultation with TPL’s leadership and key partners, identifies areas in which TPL’s protection strategy is needed for the preservation of open space lands of critical local, regional, or national importance; develops and maintains a portfolio of potential projects; responds to inquiries by individuals, groups, etc.
• Explores potential projects by contacting landowners, nonprofit organizations and public agency officials.
• Maintains current awareness of land conservation techniques, opportunities and issues by reading periodicals and other related documents, attending public forums and identifying and participating in training opportunities.

Leading Land Protection Efforts:

• With team support, holds the lead responsibility for identifying, negotiating, documenting and closing real estate transactions in coordination with legal, finance and other staff.
• Identifies and advances conservation opportunities and priorities within Southern California.
• With team support, takes a leadership role in securing interim financing and permanent funding for land acquisitions through existing or new public and private funding sources.
• Responsible for project management including researching and executing all phases of projects from initial outreach and landowner negotiation through coordination with attorneys and supervision of appraisers, surveyors, and other consultants; conducting necessary due diligence for transactions; managing project budgets and timelines; and seeking internal TPL approvals.
• Supporting and advancing policies in support of land conservation, climate resilience, and public access, including for Tribal and historically underserved communities.

Public Relations and Fundraising:

• In partnership with TPL philanthropy staff, seeks philanthropic support of TPL’s transactions and broader conservation work, and in concert with other TPL staff, supports TPL’s fundraising in the public and private sectors.
• Assists in overall public relations by presenting TPL’s work to public agencies, conservation organizations, politicians, philanthropists and the public as opportunities arise. Responsible for ensuring TPL conservation projects are structured to receive favorable press coverage and sustain and advance key partnerships.
• Writes or assists with competitive grant applications and budgets for project funding.

Team Engagement:

• Participates as a valued contributor in staff meetings, strategic planning sessions, budget preparation, development and fundraising efforts and project strategy discussions.
• Builds public awareness and understanding of TPL through outreach events, occasional public speaking engagements, fundraising efforts and creating a public presence for TPL in the community.
• Completes assorted administrative tasks required for a well-managed organization.
• Other relevant duties as necessary.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Able to combine sound business sense and judgment with commitment to land conservation.
• Articulate and effective listener and communicator, with both written and oral communication skills.
• Organized, innovative, positive and self-motivated.
• Able to develop and maintain trust and effectively negotiate successful conservation transactions.
• Able to work on multiple complex projects on deadline, with moderate level of supervision.
• Able to help initiate fundraising efforts.
• Computer proficiency using Windows-based software.

Interaction with Others:

• Works well in a team environment as well as independently.
• Interacts effectively with external professionals who are involved with buying and selling land: surveyors, attorneys, consultants, appraisers, landowners and elected officials.
• Should be comfortable with public speaking and with representing TPL to the public at outreach events.
• Brings a respectful and professional approach to engagements across the political spectrum.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, or minimum of 4 years of directly relevant professional experience in land conservation.
• Minimum of 3-4 years additional project-related or equivalent land trust or non-profit experience desirable.
• Real estate transaction experience highly preferred.
• This position requires travel. Evening and weekend work can be expected on occasion.

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $85,000-$95,000 per year.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.