Program Director

Title: Program Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Salida, Colorado

Classification: Fulltime, Salary, Exempt

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About Us

Central Colorado Conservancy (the Conservancy) is an accredited land trust and community-based conservation organization based in Salida, Colorado. Our mission is to protect the lands, waters, and quality of life of Central Colorado as our communities experience rapid growth and increasing development pressure.

Since 2001, the Conservancy has permanently protected nearly 7,000 acres of private land through conservation easements and strategic acquisitions. We also lead landscape-scale collaborative partnerships to improve watershed health, implement stream and wetland restoration projects, and support agricultural producers to ensure working lands remain productive and resilient.  We envision a future for Central Colorado defined by thriving communities that have safeguarded their rural character, lands, waters, and wildlife for generations to come.

 

About the Position

The Program Director is an integral member of the Conservancy’s leadership team and serves on the Senior Management Team. This position plays a key role in advancing the organization’s land protection, restoration, and stewardship priorities across Central Colorado. The Program Director will assist the Executive Director with day-to-day organizational management and will ensure the organization’s compliance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices and Land Trust Accreditation requirements. Working collaboratively with program staff and the Executive Director, the Program Director builds and sustains trust-based relationships with partner organizations, local governments, agency staff, landowners, and other stakeholders. The position supports and advances open space initiatives, conservation easement projects, stream and wetland restoration efforts, and agricultural resilience initiatives. The ideal candidate brings both strategic leadership and hands-on project management experience, along with a strong commitment to conserving the landscapes and waters of Central Colorado. This role blends strategic leadership, relationship-building, fundraising, and technical project management.

 

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• Work closely with the Executive Director to implement CCC’s mission and vision, with a focus on advancing conservation strategies and objectives.

• Assist the Executive Director with programmatic oversight, Board of Directors of engagement, financial management, and day-to-day operations.

• Actively participate in the CCC’s upcoming 5-year strategic planning process and help translate strategic goals into actionable outcomes.

• Manage CCC’s accreditation renewal application process, ensuring organizational standards and best practices are met in collaboration with the Executive Director and program staff.

Grants & Financial Management

• Identify and pursue project-specific funding sources.

• Prepare grant proposals and reports; ensure deliverables are met and expenditures are accurately tracked. Manage active grants and funding contracts.

• Procure and manage professional services contracts as needed.

• Assist with broader fundraising efforts, including outreach to individual donors, businesses, and events.

Land Protection & Conservation Project Management

• Lead conservation easement and fee simple acquisition projects from initial outreach through closing. Responsibilities include:

  • Landowner outreach, relationship building, and ongoing communications

  • Conducting and coordinating transaction due diligence

  • Managing project budgets and timelines

  • Coordinating with attorneys, appraisers, project partners, agencies, and consultants

  • Raising funds from public and private sources

  • Managing files, records, and internal approval processes

• Cultivate trust-based, collaborative relationships with conservation partners, landowners, land management agencies, attorneys, funders, elected officials, and other stakeholders supporting private land conservation.

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Natural Resources Conservation Manager to advance the goals of the Arkansas River Community Preserve initiative.

• Monitor changes in federal and state tax rules, legislation, and funding requirements related to conservation easements and land acquisitions.

Community Engagement & Representation

• Represent the Conservancy at public meetings, conferences, community events, and other forums to advance the organization’s mission and promote awareness of conservation easements and watershed stewardship.

• Oversee the management of volunteer programs.
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Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and commitment to land and water conservation.

• A combination of a master’s degree or higher plus a minimum 8–10 years of professional experience in natural and/or cultural resource management, grant and contract management, and stakeholder engagement.

• Knowledge of conservation easement transactions, stewardship protocols, and the ability to interpret legal documents and maps preferred.

• Proven success of securing and managing grants or funding contracts, with the ability to think strategically and innovatively about emerging funding sources.

• Experience building trust-based relationships with private landowners preferred.

• Experience working with agricultural producers (e.g. cattle ranchers) and knowledge of regenerative grazing land management preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills; respectful, articulate communicator and active listener.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.

• Organized and capable of managing multiple concurrent projects with attention to detail and clear prioritization.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision and short-term operational needs.

• Adaptable and responsive in a fast-paced environment; open to giving and receiving constructive feedback.

• Proficiency with Windows-based systems, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office products.

• Familiarity with GIS and field data collection tools preferred.
   

Additional Requirements

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

• Willingness to travel throughout the Upper Arkansas Headwaters region, Central Colorado, and beyond using a personal vehicle; valid driver’s license required.

• Residence in Chaffee County or willingness to relocate to Chaffee County.

 

Physical Demands / Work Environment

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Ability to work in a standard office environment, including extended periods of sitting and standing, frequent computer use, and repetitive motion activities (e.g., keyboarding, mouse use, and telephone communication).

• Regular travel throughout the Conservancy’s six-county service area and beyond using a personal vehicle; valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance required.

• Ability to walk, hike, and navigate uneven or rugged terrain during site visits and fieldwork.

• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all seasons and varying weather conditions.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds of materials or project gear on an infrequent basis.

• Ability to ascend and descend stairs while carrying materials or equipment for meetings, events, and site visits.

• Experience and physical capability to safely operate basic field equipment (e.g., shovels, axes, and similar tools) when required.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and overnight travel as needed.​
   

Compensation

The salary range for this full-time, exempt position (40 hours per week) is $70,000 – $75,000 annually. Benefits include health insurance, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, and a cell phone stipend.
 

To Apply

​Submit cover letter and resume to careers@centralcoloradoconservancy.org by February 27, 2026. Please include “Program Director” in the subject line.

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Equal Opportunity & Encouragement to Apply

If you meet most of the qualifications outlined above and are enthusiastic about learning additional skills needed to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply. Professional development and continued learning are valued and supported at the Conservancy.

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(published 2/16/2026)