Become our next

Director of Conservation Land Strategy

About Mojave Desert Land Trust

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  Our mission is to protect the Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems and their natural, scenic, and cultural resource values.  Our service area spans nearly 26 million acres.  Since 2006 we have secured permanent and lasting protection for over 120,000 acres. 

MDLT is at an important inflection point. We are striving to meet significant environmental challenges in the desert with bold action to protect and restore land for the wildlife and people who call it home.

About our Team

We are a team of highly motivated and passionate people who care deeply about our mission and one another.  At MDLT, we believe in and support workplace diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It is our belief that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.  If you have the skills, the passion to make an impact, and enjoy an enthusiastic work environment where differences of opinion and diverse backgrounds are respected and welcomed, then we want to hear from you!

Job Summary

The Director of Conservation Land Strategy will oversee MDLT’s pursuit of direct protection for desert areas with the highest conservation impact. As an integral part of the organization’s three-pronged, science-driven focus on ecosystem health, conservation strategy, and community engagement, the Director will lead a team focused on land protection via acquisition, co-management, and public policy. Land protection will be guided by a dynamic Desert Conservation Priorities Map tool to be finalized and managed by the Conservation Land Strategy team under the leadership of the Director. The Director is expected to work closely with MDLT Chief Conservation Officer and fellow Directors to pursue funding opportunities, engage in pertinent public policy, and help develop a comprehensive, landscape-scale conservation strategy for priority areas in the desert. At the core of this position is the willingness and ability to engage in high-level, complex land transactions with savvy, respect and good judgement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategic plans for land protection and acquisition in alignment with the organization’s conservation vision. Director of Conservation Land Strategy will help craft, refine and execute MDLT’s conservation strategy for the desert by utilizing available data, tools and analysis to determine regional focus areas for optimum impact on ecosystem connectivity and resilience.
• Lead a team of professionals, providing guidance, mentorship, and support in executing conservation strategies.  The Conservation Land Strategy team consists of approximately four staff.  The Director has two direct reports.
• Oversee the establishment and utilization of MDLT’s conservation priorities mapping tool.
• Land Identification and Evaluation: Identify and evaluate potential land acquisition and protection opportunities based on ecological significance, biodiversity, connectivity, and community priorities.
• Conduct proper due diligence, including property assessments, environmental reviews, title research, and financial analyses.
• Negotiation, Transaction, Mitigation, and Conveyance Management: Provide oversight on purchase agreements, conservation easements, land donations, and other acquisition instruments with landowners, developers, government agencies, and conservation partners.
• Monitor acquisition transactions from initial contact through closing, ensuring compliance with legal, financial, and organizational requirements.
• Participate or lead higher level negotiations, complex deals and mitigation projects on behalf of MDLT and in coordination with the Chief Conservation Officer.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Management Coordination: Cultivate and maintain relationships with landowners, donors, community members, governmental agencies, and conservation organizations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to secure funding, grants, and partnerships to support land protection efforts.
• Assist in supporting tribal co-management and land transfer opportunities with tribal partners.
• Policy and Advocacy: Monitor legislative and regulatory developments related to land conservation and advocate for policies supportive of the organization’s mission. Work closely with MDLT Public Policy Officer to advance conservation initiatives.
• Represent the organization in public forums, coalitions, and community meetings.
• Project Management, Reporting and Compliance: Oversee the execution of a variety of complex projects, grants and transactions. The overall impact of MDLT’s conservation work relies on the successful fulfillment of these commitments.
• Prepare reports, proposals, and presentations for board meetings, funders, and other stakeholders to demonstrate progress and impact.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, conservation easements, funding agreements, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resource management, land use planning, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• A minimum of 5 years of.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating and closing complex land transactions, including acquisitions, easements, or land swaps.
• Strong leadership and management skills with experience leading teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of land conservation principles, practices, and strategies, including conservation easements, mitigation banking, and land stewardship. Experience or demonstrated potential to develop conservation strategy plans for new focus areas.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to engage and inspire stakeholders through public speaking, writing, and interpersonal interactions.
• High-level proficiency in GIS software, and other relevant analysis tools.

Why our employees love working at MDLT

MDLT is the type of organization where you can balance great work with great life.  Every day we go to work filled with passion to be excellent, to creatively problem solve and to innovate. 

We offer a competitive salary ($70 to $80K) along with an excellent benefit package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a generous company match
• Generous paid time off – extensive vacation, holidays, administrative time, personal time, and sick time - (additional paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day)
• Flexible work schedule
• Teleworking/Cell Phone Stipend
• Flexible Savings Account (FSA) Pre-tax savings for medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Dependent Care Savings Account Pre-tax savings for childcare services

Employment Status and Location

This is a Regular Full-Time position normally scheduled to work 40 hours per week.  The work schedule is generally Monday – Friday, eight hours per day with flex scheduling for occasional weekends or evenings. Must reside in southern California.  This position is eligible for remote work; but must be available to work in-person for meetings and events at our Joshua Tree headquarters a minimum of four to ten days per month.  Additionally, this position may require travel throughout the MDLT service area in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.  Some out-of-state travel will be required to attend events and meetings.