Arizona Land and Water Trust
Position Description
Project Manager – Desert Rivers Initiative

General Role:
The Project Manager works in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Arizona Land and Water Trust and its Desert Rivers Initiative Program to implement water transactions as part of the Trust’s land and water conservation work.  He/She works with the Executive Director to support the Trust’s efforts to integrate these agreements into its conservation planning and acquisitions by performing the key responsibilities listed below.  He/She coordinates identified projects to completion consistent with the Trust’s conservation strategy and in concert with other Trust team members.  More specifically the Project Manager for the Desert Rivers Initiative will lead water transaction projects and conduct extensive water rights due diligence, planning, and outreach to secure water for riparian and aquatic habitat protection and sustainable farming and ranching.  The Project Manager’s other primary area of responsibility will be to assist in all other areas of the Trust’s land and water conservation work which will include developing and strengthening partnerships with landowners, government agencies, and other conservation organizations. These partnerships will further the Trust’s mission to plan, develop, and implement conservation acquisitions involving significant water resource or riparian habitat benefits and to assist the Trust in developing appropriate policy tools for land and water conservation.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement water transactions program
• Extensive water rights due diligence and planning
• Strengthen and develop partnerships with landowners, government agencies, other conservation organizations
• Complete water resource and riparian habitat conservation acquisition projects
• Develop appropriate materials for community meetings, workshops, and conferences
• Coordinate and make presentations at stakeholder outreach and education meetings and workshops
• Draft grant proposals, reports to foundation and agency grant administrators
• Assist with all other areas of the Trust’s land and water program

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Water Resources, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Geography or related field
• A Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 10 years experience in a related field
• Experience with real estate transactions preferred
• An interest in land and water conservation

• Superior project management skills;
• Knowledge of Arizona water policy;
• Knowledge of Arizona landscape, ecology, and conservation history a plus;
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively on complex and fast-paced projects involving multiple stakeholders including land owners, public land managers, academic institutions, and conservation and community based organizations;
• Strong group and meeting facilitation experience;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to effectively converse with rural and urban land owners, agency staff, academic, elected officials, and local leaders;
• Proven ability to write, secure, and administer grants, especially with partners and contracts with consultants;
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, primarily throughout Arizona;
• Proven ability to work both independently and within a strong team-oriented environment; and
• A commitment to the mission of the Arizona Land and Water Trust.

• Must be able to meet with landowners off-site, travel, work at a desk, and operate a computer

• The majority of the work hours will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays but some evening and weekend meetings may be required.

Salary and Employee Benefits
The Project Manager is full-time, exempt, position (40 hours/week).
Salary: commensurate with experience and qualifications.  Benefits available.

About the Arizona Land and Water Trust
The Arizona Land and Water Trust was established in 1978.  The Trust is committed to protecting southern Arizona’s western landscapes, its heritage of working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat and the water resources that sustain them. The Trust partners with rural landowners and state and local government agencies to develop regional conservation plans and to permanently protect land and water through donation and acquisition.  To date the Trust has permanently protected over 36,000 acres in southern Arizona.  The Trust’s Desert Rivers Initiative preserves and enhances Arizona’s rivers, aquifers, and sensitive riparian habitat by incorporating water conservation into its protection programs.

Send cover letter, resume, and three references to:
Liz Petterson, Executive Director
Arizona Land and Water Trust
3127 North Cherry Avenue

Tucson, AZ  85719

Or email to:
lpetterson@alwt.org

Open Until Filled
The Arizona Land and Water Trust is an equal opportunity employer.