Job Opportunities

Job Status: Full-time, Exempt

ORGANIZATION 

At the California Rangeland Trust, we work with California ranching families and future generations to preserve our Golden State’s rangeland, air and water quality, wildlife habitat, and local food supplies.  The Rangeland Trust is a non-profit organization founded by a group of innovative cattlemen and cattlewomen in 1998, to conserve the open space, natural habitat and stewardship provided by California’s ranches. We are pleased to have helped permanently protect over 371,000 acres of privately-owned rangeland.

RELATIONSHIPS

1. Finance Director, with additional direction from Conservation Director
2. Employees Directly Supervised:  None
3. Other:  Works with employees, board members, landowners, and vendors of CRT

POSITION SUMMARY

Under general supervision, the Accounting Specialist oversees all conservation easement financial activities. Prepares analysis of project budgets and endowment funding requirements for new projects in development. Manages all billable time records, invoices, and accounting for the Conservation Unit.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepares stewardship and project budgets
• Assists in the preparation of Stewardship and Transaction Unit budgets
• Coordinates contracting and billing of mitigation easement management tasks
• Manage billable time for all Conservation Unit staff
• Receive, book, and submit for payment all invoices
• Assists in the preparation of conservation easement monitoring reports
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or greater in accounting, business, finance, or related field.
• Two years related administrative or accounting experience, including project management; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above
• Outstanding organizational skills and extreme attention to detail
• Strong project management skills
• Intermediate accounting or finance skills
• Intermediate math, record keeping, and database management
• Standard office administrative practices and procedures, including the use of standard office equipment: voicemail, multi-line telephone system, copier, fax machine, and mail machine.
• Strong writing skills including English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Standard business correspondence formatting
• Excellent time management skills
• Exemplary customer service skills, including dealing effectively with the public, both in person and over the telephone
• Ability to work as a team member but also with minimal supervision
• Creative and innovative techniques for performing assignments
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, board members, landowners, the public, and others encountered in the course of work
• Proficiency in the following computer applications related to the work including:
  • Microsoft Outlook e-mail program
  • Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop a plus but not required
  • GIS and Google Earth a plus but not required

REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and an acceptable driving record
• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites; strength to lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Must be able to attend out-of-town easement monitoring visits, meetings, and other events.  Evening and weekend work required on occasion.

COMPENSATION

A competitive salary DOE and excellent benefits package available.

TO APPLY

Please send your resume with a cover letter to jobs@rangelandtrust.org. 

California Rangeland Trust is an equal opportunity employer and seeks diversity with respect to race, national origin, religion, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status and physical abilities.  All inquiries are held in strict confidence. 

Job Status: Full-time, Exempt

ORGANIZATION 

At the California Rangeland Trust, we work with California ranching families and future generations to preserve our Golden State’s rangeland, air and water quality, wildlife habitat, and local food supplies.  The Rangeland Trust is a non-profit organization founded by a group of innovative cattlemen and cattlewomen in 1998, to conserve the open space, natural habitat and stewardship provided by California’s ranches. We are pleased to have helped permanently protect over 371,000 acres of privately-owned rangeland.

RELATIONSHIPS

1. Supervised by Transaction Director
2. Assigned to Conservation Unit
3. Works with board members, landowners, funding agencies, outside consultants, conservation related organizations, and staff

POSITION SUMMARY

The Land Transaction Specialist will work with Rangeland Trust’s Conservation Unit and willing landowners to acquire conservation easements on working ranches in California.  The Land Transaction Specialist will be expected to work cooperatively with landowners, grant funders, outside consultants and Rangeland Trust staff during all stages of the conservation easement transaction process.  Equally important will be the Land Transaction Specialist’s role in building relationships with private and public funding sources.     

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Work in LANDSCAPE (conservation project database) to maintain and update project data on approved and active projects
• Identify potential public and private sources of easement funding
• Compile funding requirements for accepted applications and match those projects with appropriate funding sources
• Write and submit grant applications to various public agencies and private foundations to secure project funding
• Draft and submit periodic grant reports throughout a grant’s term
• Take the lead on due diligence tasks such as title review, ordering consulting services, and reviewing due diligence reports
• Draft escrow instructions for closing easement projects, when requested
• Work with the Transaction Director to negotiate, document, and close conservation easement transactions, including meetings with landowners and funding entities
• Support the board and staff by providing project updates as needed.
• Gather final documents and assist in preparing the Closing Binders for each closed easement project
• Work with conservation related organizations to enhance funding opportunities over the near and long term

QUALIFICATIONS

• A. degree or equivalent education required
• 4-6 years of conservation easement experience or comparable transactional real estate experience
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal skills
• Knowledge of appraisals and government appraisal review process (preferred)
• Good working knowledge of environmental assessments and title issues
• Working knowledge of the processes for obtaining public funding for land acquisition, i.e., grant writing (preferred)
• Background in, or knowledge of agriculture (preferred)
• Rudimentary understanding of California’s natural environment and the wildlife sustained by working landscapes (preferred)
• Ability to work independently and decisively on complex projects with little supervision
• Ability to maintain detailed records, spreadsheets, and files
• ARC GIS proficiency (preferred) or willingness to learn the database and its functions
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and carry out complex transaction tasks over long periods
• Ability to work on projects that may include complex financing arrangements and sensitive political issues
• Ability to combine sound business sense and judgment with commitment to conservation of working ranches
• Computer proficiency including Microsoft office suite of programs
• Experience with records management policies and procedures
• Ability to function as part of a team including willingness to assist in areas outside direct job responsibilities
• This position will require occasional travel throughout California

REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and an acceptable driving record.
• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites; strength to lift and carry materials weighing up to 40 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Must be able to attend out-of-town meetings and other events. Evening and weekend work required on occasion.

COMPENSATION

A competitive salary DOE and excellent benefits package available.

TO APPLY

Please send your resume with a cover letter to jobs@rangelandtrust.org. 

California Rangeland Trust is an equal opportunity employer and seeks diversity with respect to race, national origin, religion, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status and physical abilities.  All inquiries are held in strict confidence.