Our Mission

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (“Institute”) seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. With locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix; and Beijing, we organize our work around three thematic areas: Land and Water; Land and Fiscal Systems; and Land and Communities.

The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, a center of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, seeks to advance the integration of land and water management to meet the current and future water needs of communities, economies, and the environment. We develop tools and best practices to guide decisions through research, training, and partnerships for sustainable management of land and water resources in the Colorado Basin and beyond.

Position Overview

You will help advance the team’s policy work addressing the sustainability of water and land resources and helping communities implement meaningful policies and practical solutions that recognize their connection. You will work closely with our Lincoln Institute land and water team evaluating resilient futures for water, food, and agriculture through scenario planning and adaptive management approaches, building cross-disciplinary partnerships and networks, and advancing innovative approaches to effectively address smart land and water integration in planning, decision making, and land and water management through research, education, training, and demonstration projects.

This is a full-time position in our Phoenix office at 37.5 hours/week reporting to the Associate Director, Land and Water Program Implementation. This position requires up to 10% travel, primarily throughout the western U.S. with occasional national and international travel.

What You Will Do

• Analyze important issues, policies, and data to lead the design and dissemination of educational training and technical assistance tools to help communities and practitioners respond to challenges in sustainable land and water management.

• Drive Babbitt’s keystone programs working on the ground to build capacity in communities and look for opportunities to distill evidenced-based best practices and action-oriented solutions into new innovative educational resources.

• Coordinate the development of curricula, courses, training and education for community leaders and practitioners focused on the Lincoln Institute Land and Water portfolio, including related-issue briefs and tools, online training modules, cohort learning and other peer learning exchanges.

• Contribute to opportunities to model and share potential outcomes with other climate and drought stressed regions of the world beyond the Colorado basin region.

• Focus on the evaluation and implementation of policy-related programs to assess program effectiveness, suggest improvements, and develop new educational opportunities that advance strategic Land and Water objectives.

• Run expert and practitioner advisory groups and meetings and facilitate multi-day community workshops and regional dialogues to collaborate across watersheds.

• Contribute to the development of policy-relevant research on timely issues and topics captured through practice-based learning and knowledge exchange with partners and networks.

• Assist in developing a range of high-quality written and digital materials, including policy reports, memos, case studies, newsletter articles, public information documents, webinars, and other tools.

• Discern and communicate important policy, practice, and research knowledge to a variety of audiences in useful formats, including federal, state, and local government officials and policymakers and specialists and nonspecialists

• Present at conferences and workshops the lessons learned.

• Represent the team in regional and national groups.

• Manage contracts and assist in the review and follow-up of deliverables from partners, including publications from research, training, and demonstration projects.

• Help track and report on relevant program budgets.

• Prepare and complete deliverables and reports to funders.

• Work effectively and cooperatively on routine administrative and operational matters.

• Participate in relevant Institute committees and initiatives as appropriate.

• Undertake special projects and other duties as assigned.

 What You Will Need

• Undergraduate degree required. Graduate degree in natural resources management, planning, geography, environmental science, sustainability, public policy, or related field preferred.

• Approximately 3 years or more experience working in land or water policy and management or related fields. Additional experience can substitute for undergraduate and/or graduate degrees. Public agency/practitioner experience preferred.

• Strong familiarity with the field of land and water management in the public, private and non-profit sectors

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to the advancement of key concepts in water policy and land use integration.

• Knowledge of the institutional environment in which public policy decisions are made and implemented through political systems, programs, organizations and activities.

• Articulate writer and speaker with techniques to organize ideas and present findings in a logical manner with supporting evidence for specific issues

• Positive professional with a collaborative mindset who has ability to work well autonomously and as a member of a team.

• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, monitor responsibilities, and achieve goals

• Efficient, able to prioritize and multi-task.

• Able and willing to travel both within and outside the US.

• Legal authorization to work in the United States

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Mission

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. With locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix; and Beijing, we organize our work around six goals: low-carbon, climate-resilient communities and regions; efficient and equitable tax systems; reduced poverty and spatial inequality; fiscally healthy communities and regions; sustainably managed land and water resources; and functional land markets and reduced informality. 

Our Values

We support a culture of forthright feedback, initiative, cooperation and teamwork, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and accepting responsibility.

Our Benefits

Benefits highlights include but are not limited to (a) 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%, (b) health insurance, (c) dental insurance, (d) vision insurance, (e) 100% reimbursement of the health care deductible through a health reimbursement account, (f) short-term disability coverage, (g) long term disability coverage, (h) paid parental leave, (i) voluntary insurances such as accident insurance, (j) health care flexible spending, (k) dependent care flexible spending, (l) paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty, (m) office closure between December 24 Jan 1 each calendar year, (n) flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek, (o) tuition and staff development reimbursement, (p) pet insurance, and (q) Employee Assistance Program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), ancestry, citizenship status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Compensation Overview

The salary market range for this role is posted above and dependent on level of education and years of experience. We value internal and external equity and encourage those who may be missing qualifications to submit their materials still.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Non-Smoking Organization

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a Non-Smoking organization. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy at all times, including, but not limited to indoor and outdoor grounds, walkways and sidewalks, parking lots, company vehicles, and private vehicles parked on Lincoln Institute of Land Policy property.