Land Activation Specialist

Position Overview:

The Land Acquisition Specialist works as an essential member of the Land Activation team to advance VLT’s investments in people and places to strengthen communities and the health of our land. The Land Acquisition Specialist manages the acquisition and transfer of all properties that VLT owns (“fee lands”), including forest, community, and farmland parcels, in support of VLT’s mission and overall financial health. The Specialist also focuses on assisting partner organizations in achieving their land ownership, access, and conservation goals. The Specialist collaborates deeply across teams to advance our land conservation goals, deepen relationships with partners and communities, and expand who participates in and benefits from VLT’s fee lands programming.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages organizational activity, in collaboration with Land Protection and Land Activation team members, to plan, manage, and facilitate fee land acquisition and disposition.
• Partners with VLT Legal team to coordinate and execute pre-closing activities for acquisitions and dispositions.
• Manages each land acquisition and disposition process, creating budgets, coordinating due diligence processes, marketing property, and managing stakeholder and contractor relationships.
• Manages organizational activity, in collaboration with Land Protection and Engagement team members, to plan, identify, and cultivate opportunities for donations and bargain sales of land to VLT (“land gifts”).
• Builds and maintains strong systems to support activities across teams and program areas to advance all forms of VLT fee land transactions.
• Partners with Land Protection team members to support conservation easement outcomes on fee land transactions.
• Engages and builds relationships with a growing network of non-profit and community partners who seek access to and ownership of land, advancing VLT’s and partners’ goals for land equity and justice.
• Provides technical assistance and occasional project management to aid partner organizations' acquisition of land.
• Manages the ownership phase of short-term land gifts, serving as lead contact for these lands during VLT ownership and coordinating the activities of team members and contractors to ensure all aspects of ownership responsibilities are met.
• Participates in team prioritization and planning for activities and programming on fee lands and the vetting of new acquisition opportunities for long-term fee lands.
• Collaborates and partners in team and organizational development and assists in land activation programming and fee lands programming as requested.
• Other duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Consideration will be given to candidates demonstrating comparable qualifications acquired through a different combination of education and experience than what is outlined below.

• Understanding of and commitment to the mission and strategic objectives of the Vermont Land Trust.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at VLT.
• Three to five years of direct experience in land management, surveying, real estate, or nonprofit program management.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Forestry, Agriculture, Surveying, or a related field.
• Broad-based knowledge related to working lands (agriculture, forestry).
• Strong project management skills and experience managing budgets.
• Experience related to real estate transfers, property management, contractor management, and conservation transactions. Realtor experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong advising, consulting, coordinating, negotiating, listening, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to communicate with different personalities, diffuse anger, resolve conflicts, and ask and answer difficult questions, including ability and willingness to work across differences and to practice inquiry.
• Ability to represent VLT and interact effectively with a wide range of organizations and individuals, and to work cooperatively with all VLT staff and Board members.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and to engage in independent and group problem-solving.
• Ability to effectively operate computers, mobile devices, and assigned software, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, etc.), mapping software (i.e. ArcMap and ArcGIS), and digital photography-related software.
• Ability and willingness to learn and adapt to new technology that VLT adopts overtime.
• Ability to travel extensively around the state. Valid driver’s license and vehicle required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $67,200.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Montpelier, VT 05602 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Montpelier, VT 05602: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Montpelier, VT 05602

Salary : $67,200