Conservation Transactions Manager

About Us

At the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT), we're a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to serving agricultural landowners and conserving Colorado's working landscapes. These lands are more than beautiful places. They're family-run businesses, sources of food and fiber, vital wildlife habitat, and an essential part of Colorado's heritage.

Two Opportunities to Join Our Conservation Team

CCALT is hiring a Conservation Transactions Coordinator and a Conservation Transactions Manager. Both roles help agricultural landowners conserve their properties, but they differ in their level of responsibility.

The Manager independently leads conservation easement projects from development through closing and takes on more complex stewardship responsibilities. We're looking for someone with experience working with conservation easements and/or real estate transactions who is comfortable with legal language and familiar with the due diligence involved in these projects.

The Coordinator supports conservation easement projects, learns the transaction process, and takes ownership of assigned work. It's a great opportunity for someone looking to build a career in conservation, even without previous experience in the field.

How You'll Make an Impact

As a Conservation Transactions Manager, you'll lead conservation easement projects from development through closing, build trusted relationships with agricultural landowners, and coordinate the legal, technical, and financial details needed to complete projects.

You'll also manage conservation easement monitoring and help resolve stewardship issues, protecting Colorado's working lands for the long term.

What You'll Do 

You'll manage multiple conservation easement projects, balancing technical details, deadlines, and relationships to move transactions forward. Approximately 75% of the role will focus on conservation transactions and 25% on stewardship.

(1) Lead Conservation Easement Transactions

• Independently manage conservation easement projects from initial development through closing and post-closing follow-up.
• Conduct property visits, develop projects, and build strong relationships with agricultural landowners.
• Draft project memos, board materials, and other transaction documents.
• Draft and negotiate conservation easement deeds and related transactional documents.
• Coordinate due diligence with outside contractors, including appraisals, surveys, baseline inventory reports, and mineral assessments.
• Obtain and review title commitments, vesting deeds, ownership records, legal descriptions, encumbrances, and other due diligence materials, including environmental and water reports.
• Research and document water rights associated with conservation easement projects, as applicable.
• Prepare property and project maps using ArcGIS Pro.
• Secure funding for bargain sale conservation easement acquisitions and transaction expenses, including preparing grant applications and managing funder due diligence and reporting.
• Manage project closings and ensure timely post-closing follow-up.
• Maintain accurate project records and follow CCALT's established policies and procedures.

(2) Manage Conservation Stewardship & Resolve Easement Issues

• Manage an assigned portfolio of annual conservation easement monitoring responsibilities, including property visits, landowner interviews, inspections, record updates, and monitoring reports.
• Work with landowners and CCALT's Stewardship team to identify, assess, and resolve conservation easement issues and violations.
• Coordinate site assessments, documentation, negotiations, and follow-up related to stewardship issues, maintaining thorough records throughout the process.
• Draft and negotiate conservation easement modifications, including amendments, corrections, and supplements, as appropriate.
• Support the Director of Stewardship with landowner requests for approval of proposed activities, letters of interpretation, and baseline inventory reports, including fieldwork and report preparation.

(3) Strengthen CCALT's Conservation Programs & Partnerships

• Represent CCALT and our landowner partners in stakeholder meetings, working groups, and conservation-related initiatives, as appropriate.
• Help identify and facilitate additional conservation opportunities, including restoration, habitat enhancement, and ecosystem service projects.
• Contribute ideas, develop tools, and improve processes that strengthen CCALT's conservation work.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with conservation partners and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other CCALT departments on regional events, fundraising efforts, and organizational priorities as needed.
• Assist with occasional organizational and operational needs as appropriate.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who can take ownership of complex projects, build trusted relationships, and navigate the legal and technical details involved in conserving land.

We're looking for someone with experience working with conservation easements and/or real estate transactions. Candidates should be comfortable working with legal language and documents and have familiarity with at least some of the due diligence involved in these projects. We're interested in someone who brings this foundation, along with strong project management and relationship-building skills and is ready to take responsibility for moving conservation easement transactions forward.

We're looking for someone who:
• Can independently lead complex projects, manage competing priorities, and deliver results.
• Builds trusted relationships with landowners, partners, and colleagues.
• Exercises sound judgment, anticipates challenges, and takes responsibility for outcomes.
• Navigates difficult conversations and negotiations with professionalism and confidence.
• Can evaluate complex information and communicate it clearly and accurately.
• Identifies problems, develops solutions, and makes progress with appropriate collaboration.
• Brings creativity, adaptability, and ideas for improving programs and processes.
• Can adjust quickly when plans change, stay focused under pressure, and help the team navigate unexpected challenges.
• Respects Colorado agriculture, rural communities, and the landowners we serve.

CCALT values professional growth and developing talent from within. We're looking for someone who is ready to lead projects now while continuing to expand their expertise and take on new challenges over time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Professional experience working with conservation easements and/or with real estate transactions.
• Comfort reading, understanding, and working with legal language and documents, including deeds, title commitments, legal descriptions, property records, or similar materials.
• Familiarity with components of conservation easement or real estate due diligence, such as title review, appraisals, surveys, environmental assessments, or other property-related documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience building and maintaining professional relationships and working through complex issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to work with databases, mapping tools, and other technology.
• Experience with Salesforce, Adobe, GIS, ArcGIS Pro, or similar systems is preferred.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and collaborate effectively with others.
• Knowledge of, appreciation for, and respect for the people and values of rural Colorado.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout Colorado, including overnight and multi-day trips.
• Must be able to pass a standard background check and have a valid driver's license.

Why Join CCALT?

At CCALT, we're passionate about conserving Colorado's working lands and serving the agricultural families who care for them. We work hard because we believe deeply in our mission, take pride in what we accomplish, and know that the work we do makes a lasting difference.

Some days feel a little like a rodeo. Priorities shift, unexpected challenges come up, and plans don't always go as expected. We work hard, adapt, and pitch in to help each other get things done. But we also genuinely enjoy what we do and the people we work with. We're looking for someone who can roll with the unexpected, keep a sense of humor, and be part of a team that works hard and has fun along the way.

As a Conservation Transactions Manager, you'll be trusted to lead meaningful projects, solve challenging problems, and contribute ideas that strengthen our conservation work. You'll have the support of experienced colleagues while taking responsibility for delivering results.

You'll also visit farms and ranches across Colorado, build relationships with the families we serve, and see firsthand the landscapes you're helping conserve. It's challenging, rewarding work with a team that cares about doing it well.

Position Description

• Title: Conservation Transactions Manager
• Employment Status: Full-time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Reports to: Staff Attorney
• Location: CCALT's Lakewood office is the preferred location (hybrid).
  • Qualified candidates based near our Steamboat Springs or Carbondale offices will also be considered on a case-by-case basis, with hybrid work arrangements available at all three locations.
• Anticipated Start Date: Monday, January 11, 2027
• Annual Salary: $65,000-$75,000 (based on demonstrated experience and relevant skills)

Benefits

• Flexible work schedule with a hybrid work environment.
• Medical and accident insurance with 100% of the employee-only premium paid by CCALT.
• Dental insurance with 40% of the employee premium paid by CCALT.
• Vision insurance available, with 100% of the premium paid by the employee.
• 403(b) retirement plan eligibility upon hire, with employer matching currently up to 4% after one year of service.
• Three weeks (15 days) of paid vacation during the first year, increasing with tenure to a maximum of five weeks (25 days).
• Up to ten (10) paid sick days annually.
• Sixteen (16) paid holidays annually, including week-long office closures around the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving holidays.

How to Apply

If you're passionate about Colorado's working lands and excited about leading meaningful conservation projects, we'd love to hear from you.

We recognize that strong candidates bring different professional experiences. If you've worked with conservation easements or real estate transactions, are comfortable with legal documents and due diligence, and are excited about applying those skills to land conservation, we encourage you to apply.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through CCALT's online application by Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

Working Conditions & Travel 

This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with CCALT's Lakewood office as the preferred location. Candidates based near CCALT's Steamboat Springs or Carbondale offices may also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Regular travel throughout Colorado is required for property visits, conservation monitoring, landowner meetings, and other activities, including overnight and multi-day trips. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

CCALT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are evaluated for the positions they apply for without discrimination based on gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, or other characteristics protected by law. 

 

CCALT will provide accommodation for individuals with disabilities during the interview process. For assistance, please call (303)-225-8677 or email Haden Cunningham at haden@ccalt.org.