Easement Acquisition Manager

Job purpose
Reporting to the Director of BPS+ and Easement Acquisitions, the Easement Acquisition Manager furthers AFT’s strategic acquisition of new agricultural conservation easements within the context of AFT’s mission and broader conservation goals.

Position summary

The Easement Acquisition Manager is part of AFT’s BPS+ and Easement Acquisitions program. The goal of the BPS+ and Easement Acquisitions program is to catalyze the development and widespread adoption of BPS+ programs and agricultural conservation easement for the purpose of protecting agricultural land and making it available for the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and providing a broad range of land access and viability services and encouraging the adoption of regenerative farming practices. 

The Easement Acquisition Manager manages activities related to easement acquisitions (purchased and donated), ranging from prospecting and initial meetings with landowners, identification and selection of properties and funding sources, due diligence, document preparation, site evaluations, project budget management, coordinating real estate closings and serving as AFT’s point of contact with project stakeholders.    

Duties and responsibilities 

• Oversee all aspects of individual easement acquisition projects from inception to closing. This includes:
  • Responding to initial inquiries regarding AFT’s easement acquisition program
  • Sharing information with landowners about AFT’s easement program
  • Evaluating potential projects for alignment with AFT’s easement acquisition strategies and policies and professional best practices and recommending projects to the Director
  • Identifying grant opportunities and completing grant proposals as necessary
  • Establishing and managing budgets for individual easement projects
  • Managing effective working relationships with private landowners and potential funders
  • Drafting project-related documents, including letters of intent for landowner signature and baseline document reports
  • Conducting in-depth due diligence for easement projects, including reviewing title reports, environmental assessments, building and property inspections, and other assessments. Identifying and resolving issues necessary to complete a sound easement transaction.
  • Working with AFT’s legal counsel to draft and negotiate conservation easements with landowner, ensuring alignment with funder requirements where applicable
• Identify and pursue opportunities to advance innovative agricultural conservation easement projects
• Develop key partnerships with other land trusts, PACE programs, public and private funders and other entities interested in partnering with AFT on agricultural land protection projects
• Support active Buy, Protect, Sell plus projects, including shepherding easement transaction component of project to closing
• Advance AFT’s strategic easement acquisition efforts, helping to guide and direct future easement acquisition work
• Advise Director on updates to easement acquisition policies and procedures
• Build relationships with AFT regional and program staff and work with them to identify easement acquisition opportunities and advance AFT’s easement acquisition work
• Assist Director with annual work planning budgeting and internal policy development as these efforts relate to AFT’s easement acquisition program
• Represent AFT at conferences, meetings, workshops, and other events
• Develop educational and outreach materials to support AFT’s easement acquisition efforts
• Engage with AFT’s National Agricultural Lands Network and Farmland Information Center initiatives as appropriate to achieve goals of AFT’s
• BPS+ and Easement Acquisitions program
• Contribute to special projects on an as-needed basis

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be a reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

• Passion for protecting farm and ranchland across the country 
• Requires a commitment to AFT’s Mission
• Experience negotiating and managing conservation easement transactions
• Ability to conduct and oversee multiple, complex farm and ranch land protection transactions 
• Familiarity with federal agricultural land protection funding sources. General familiarity with local and state agricultural land protection funding programs and willingness to learn about specific programs as needed to advance specific project work.
• Experience initiating and reviewing conservation easement due diligence including surveys, appraisals and environmental assessments
• Track record of good judgment, flexibility and sensitivity in navigating difficult or challenging situations and conversations 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with careful attention to detail
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative work environment with a high degree of autonomy. Must have a high level of self-motivation and initiative and comfort in working remotely. 
• Ability to communicate clearly about permanent agricultural land protection in different formats 
• Familiarity with land use, property law, and working lands conservation concepts 
• Ability to conduct field assessments and complete baseline reports documenting existing conditions of properties to be protected with agricultural conservation easements. 
• Proficiency with ArcGIS or other mapping software and Microsoft Office
• Willingness to travel frequently and spend time in agricultural and rural areas.  Must have a valid driver’s license.  
• Able to use appropriate discretion with confidential financial and legal information. 
• Effectively communicates with agricultural landowners, their advisors, and a broad range of other professional collaborators on prospective easement projects.  
• Able to think broadly with an eye toward guiding AFT’s easement acquisition policies and future approaches to agricultural land protection issues. 

Education & Experience 

• A minimum of five years conducting agricultural conservation easement transactions 
•  Employment experience with an established agricultural land trust or a local, state or federal easement program.
• Preferred but not required: advanced degree in natural resources, environmental/land use planning, land use law or related fields; experience conducting government-funded easement transactions

Working Conditions

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, and phones. Work in the evenings or on weekends may be required to meet deadlines. This is a fully remote position. Must be able to comfortably work in rural and agricultural settings.

Travel

Requires occasional travel.

Direct reports

This position does not include personnel management responsibility.

Compensation

This position offers an annual salary of $82,000 - $87,000. 

American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package for full time employees:

• Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire. 
• Medical & Prescription Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401k Plan
• Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 13 “sick days” per year.
• Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.
• Holidays: AFT observes twelve fixed holidays and a week between Christmas and New Years off during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.

Why you should apply:

• Be a part of a purpose-driven, committed, knowledgeable, high-performing, experienced and fun team
• A diverse and inclusive work environment
• A cause and mission you can be proud of
• Competitive compensation & benefits
• Remote work opportunities
• Flexible scheduling

Timeline

To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, a cover letter explaining why they are the right fit for both AFT and this role, and complete all screener questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

We believe diversity drives innovation. We are inclusive. We embrace differences. We recognize and respect the fundamental value and dignity of all our employees. We celebrate the unique traditions, heritages, and experiences our employees bring to the workplace. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture that promotes and values diversity, and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Please see AFT’s statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.