Employment

Founded in 1985, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt California non-profit Corporation that conserves natural resources, agricultural land, and open spaces for the benefit of present and future generations. With a community-centered approach to conservation and an inclusive team environment, we prioritize professional development, collaboration, and innovation.

 

Interested? Check out our current openings to learn more and apply.

Donor Relations Analyst

Location: Hybrid/Remote, based in Santa Barbara, CA

Salary Range: $50,000 – $65,000

Position Summary

This is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Director of Development and Communications. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is seeking a highly organized and analytical Donor Relations Analyst to support our fundraising efforts by managing donor data, conducting prospect research, and providing actionable insights to optimize fundraising strategies. This position is critical to our development team’s success, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our donor database and enhancing our ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with current and prospective supporters.

The Analyst will be responsible for maintaining an accurate donor database using Donor Perfect software, producing reports for fundraising activities, and conducting research utilizing a wide range of resources, including publications, online databases, community resources, existing files, and public records to provide valuable insights into prospective major donors. In addition, the Analyst will assist with project management for special fundraising initiatives, providing research and strategic support to align donor priorities with the organization’s development activities.

Responsibilities

Database Management

• Maintain and update donor data using DonorPerfect, ensuring accuracy and integrity.
• Generate reports for fundraising activities, including invitations, appeals, and communications.
• Correct database inconsistencies and update contact information from outreach events.
• Implement improvements to database processes as needed.

Prospect Research

• Conduct detailed research on prospective major donors, including financial and biographical data.
• Assess wealth indicators and provide financial capacity ratings for prospects.
• Prepare reports, profiles, and recommendations to support fundraising efforts.
• Maintain an organized, up-to-date database of prospect records.

Project Support

• Assist with special fundraising initiatives by providing research and strategic support.
• Contribute to proposals, programs, and strategies with research-driven insights.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in database management and prospect research, preferably in a non-profit environment.
• Proficient with DonorPerfect or similar databases, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and data accuracy.
• Ability to handle sensitive donor information with discretion.
• Self-starter with a collaborative work ethic and strong communication skills.
• Commitment to the Land Trust’s mission of conservation and land preservation.

Essential Requirements

• Ability to sit at a desk, type, bend, twist
• Ability to lift or move up to 15 pounds
• This role is hybrid/remote in California. Candidates must be located within California to be considered. 

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Land Programs Associate

Location: Remote, based in Santa Maria, CA

Job Type: Full-time, non-exempt (hourly) position

Work Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday

Salary Range: $55,000 – $64,000

The Opportunity

The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is looking for a Land Programs Associate to join our dynamic team. This is a new, non-exempt (hourly) position based in the Santa Maria Valley with a remote connection to the Land Trust’s office in Santa Barbara. This position reports to the Land Programs Director. The Land Programs Associate will connect our community to the work of the Land Trust through building collaborative partnerships with individuals and groups that bring different ways of knowing, stewarding, and engaging with nature. This position is responsible for conducting meaningful programs such as a bilingual public hiking series, guided outdoor experiences, volunteer events, and other community activities and learning opportunities. The ideal candidate will be a creative thinker and thoughtful communicator, who enjoys being outdoors and is passionate about nature and serving the Santa Barbara County community.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning, organizing, and implementing a variety of community programs, such as the Land Trust Treks public hiking program, promotional events, and other opportunities to connect the Santa Barbara County community with nature and the other work of the Land Trust
• Support the work of departmental management staff by conducting day-to-day administrative support activities and by providing a professional-level resource for organization, coordination, scheduling, and communications
• Create bi-lingual (Spanish) digital and printed materials and presentations including program advertisements, information guides, and other tools for communication with a variety of audiences and purposes
• Represent the Land Trust in various collaborations and working groups, public meetings, and events
• Support relationship-building with Tribes and BIPOC communities to meaningfully integrate the perspectives and priorities of historically marginalized communities into the Land Trust’s work
• Support efforts to develop a possible new public preserve in the Santa Maria Valley
• Support fundraising as appropriate including grant applications, donor tours, and special events
• Support program and grant budget development and reporting as appropriate

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• College degree in relevant field or commensurate experience
• 2+ years progressive project management or program support in the areas of community programs, engagement or outreach working with diverse stakeholders
• Spanish language fluency required
• Ability to work independently and oversee a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner with accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to listen to and discuss problems and complaints tactfully
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout Santa Barbara County and to work weekends and some evenings. This is a Tuesday to Saturday position.
• Ability to operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software application programs. Proficient with presentation software, Microsoft Office, or an ability to quickly learn new software programs
• Commitment to working with the community to advance the Land Trust’s mission
• Willingness to learn and maintain CPR/wilderness first aid certifications
• Informed passion, commitment, and sense of urgency for the mission of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Essential Requirements

• Access to reliable transportation
• Ability to frequently hike 5 miles over rugged terrain off established trails
• Ability to sit at a desk, type, bend, and twist
• Ability to lift or move up to 40 pounds

Compensation and Benefits

Annual compensation range is $55,000 – $64,000. Benefits include generous vacation, paid health and dental premiums, and a supportive team culture. Employees also have the opportunity to join an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This is a full-time, non-exempt, remote position. Candidates must be located within the Santa Maria Valley, California area.

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Land Use Planner

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Salary Range: $80,000 – $110,000

The Opportunity

The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is looking for a Land Use Planner to join our dynamic team. This is a new, exempt position based in Santa Barbara County with a full-time (40-hour/week) schedule. This position reports to the Land Stewardship Director, but time is split with approximately 50% to the stewardship department and approximately 50% working on the acquisition and planning of a new Santa Maria Valley preserve. Within the stewardship department, many of our conserved properties allow for some sort of limited development and exercise of reserved rights under the conservation easement. The Land Use Planner performs a wide variety of tasks related to review of landowner projects and development plans to ensure compliance with easement requirements, as well as landowner and partner education and representing the Land Trust at meetings. The role also involves preserve planning, environmental review and permitting, coordination of meetings, and development of written materials.

Responsibilities

Time in this position will be split between stewardship tasks and preserve planning tasks.

~50% Stewardship

• Review landowner projects and proposals for consistency with conservation easements following an established process, including committee, board, or legal review as needed. Confer with landowners and their consultants to provide guidance to resolve issues and to bring projects into compliance. Prepare memos and decision letters as appropriate.
• Track and monitor exercises of reserved rights and, if applicable, easement violations on conserved properties. Participate in site visits, including annual easement monitoring as needed
• Maintain organized records of decisions following applicable requirements, including the Standards & Practices required by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
• Meet with landowners and develop and maintain relationships
• Represent the Land Trust at a variety of meetings, including public meetings, hearing, site visits, and with neighbors
• Educate stakeholders about conservation easement terms and obligations with a focus on listing agents, buyer representatives, successor landowners, and county departments
• Proactively meet with various county departments to develop awareness of conservation easements and protected properties throughout the county
• Track land use trends in county, discuss with staff and committees, assess the effect of proposed policies on conservation efforts within the county, and write comment letters as appropriate
• Provide guidance on the development of Land Trust easements and preserves and relevant land use policies

~50% Preserve Planning

• Serve as project manager for the development of a public preserve in the Santa Maria Valley, including scheduling meetings, establishing timelines, capturing task lists, and ensuring timely delivery of materials
• Manage the land use and real estate tasks needed for establishing the Santa Maria Valley preserve including navigating title encumbrances and other physical or legal site constraints
• Develop and solicit consultant requests for proposals for professional services; evaluate proposals and recommend award of contract; oversee work and administer contracts after award
• Represent the Land Trust in various collaborations and working groups, public meetings, and events. Attend site visits and meetings in the Santa Maria Valley
• Create digital and printed materials and presentations including staff reports, project information guides, and other tools for communication with a variety of audiences and purposes including the Executive Director, Land Committee, internal Land Trust discussions, and partner and public meetings
• Assist with other preserve planning & permitting tasks as needed

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• College degree in relevant field, or commensurate experience
• 4+ years of experience working in a land use capacity in California 
• Knowledge of Santa Barbara County land use policies and trends 
• Demonstrated project management abilities. Strong skills in project record-keeping, organization, and management of collaborative teams
• Ability to work independently and oversee a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner with accuracy and attention to detail
• Willingness to frequently travel throughout Santa Barbara County
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and other general office software
• Informed passion, commitment, and sense of urgency for the mission of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous professional experience working on land use issues within a conservation/protected lands context
• Previous experience reviewing title reports, title insurance, conservation easements, and other real estate documents
• Previous experience with projects involving historic and on-going oil production.
• GIS or mapping experience is helpful, but not required

Essential Requirements

• Access to reliable transportation
• Ability to sit at a desk, type, bend, and twist
• Ability to lift or move up to 15 pounds
• Ability to walk 5 miles over rugged terrain

Compensation and Benefits

The annual compensation range for this role is $80,000 – $110,000. Benefits include generous vacation, paid health and dental premiums, and a supportive team culture. Employees also have the opportunity to join an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This is a full time, exempt (salaried) position [AP1] with a flexible, hybrid work schedule and requires frequent travel throughout the county, including the Santa Maria Valley, with occasional evening or weekend work.

The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.