Summary

The Director of Transactions is responsible for leading CCALT’s Transactions Division of its Conservation Department, the primary focus of which is the acquisition of conservation easements. Furthermore, the Director of Transactions works cooperatively with the Directors of Conservation, Stewardship, and Additive Conservation, as well as the Staff Attorney, to lead CCALT’s overall conservation work and deliver conservation services to the membership of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and ag

Description

Summary of Position:

The Director of Transactions is responsible for leading CCALT’s Transactions Division of its Conservation Department, the primary focus of which is the acquisition of conservation easements. Furthermore, the Director of Transactions works cooperatively with the Directors of Conservation, Stewardship, and Additive Conservation, as well as the Staff Attorney, to lead CCALT’s overall conservation work and deliver conservation services to the membership of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and agricultural producers across Colorado. Innovation, creativity, and analytical skills are essential. CCALT is an organization that embraces change and strives to create innovative solutions to the work we do. We are looking for someone willing to improve existing programs, develop new tools, challenge the status quo, and work cooperatively with our team to grow our presence throughout Colorado. This position requires an individual who can work independently with initiative, motivation, and flexibility. It also demands an ability to manage a workload with multiple, often competing, priorities and deadlines. Effective leadership and management of the Transactions team is also crucial—this position will manage multiple manager-level positions to achieve individual and organizational goals.

It is anticipated that the time breakouts for this position will be 45% focused on individual transaction-related responsibilities, 40% focused on Division management and management of transactions staff, which may include additional transaction-related work/guidance, and 15% on stewardship responsibilities. The position requires regular contact with CCALT staff, board members, donors, landowners, and other key stakeholders. It will also require regular travel across the state, including overnight and multi-day trips.

Basic Duties:

Management:

  • Manage a transactions team of multiple Conservation Managers, including development of team and individual execution plans, conducting annual reviews, supporting individual projects, and training and development of Conservation Managers;
  • Manage the active and potential transaction portfolio, ensuring CCALT meets annual project-related goals;
  • Work with the Controller to develop the organizational budget;
  • Manage updates to the organizational fee schedule, conservation easement information packet, and transaction-related policies and procedures;
  • Maintain relationships with funder and other partner organizations;

Document Drafting:

  • Oversee the Conservation Team to ensure that the team is adequately and consistently drafting transaction-related documents.
  • Coordinate with the staff attorney to update template conservation easement(s), notice documents, and option agreements.

Due Diligence Review:

  • Oversee the Conservation Team’s review and creation of project-related due diligence documents.

Document Retention:

  • Oversee the Conservation Department's file management (electronic and permanent).

Specific Duties:

Transactions Team Management:

Manage a team of Conservation Managers to accurately and efficiently complete conservation easement transactions while supporting the professional development of managers. Coordinate transactions with other staff managing transactions.

  • Support Conservation Managers in completing conservation easement transactions efficiently and accurately.
  • Track CCALT’s portfolio of easement transactions, assigning project managers and balancing Conservation Manager responsibilities.
  • Lead in the training of new Conservation Managers and encourage their further professional development.

Conservation Easement Transactions:

Management and implementation of all aspects of CCALT’s conservation easement acquisition program. Primary responsibilities include:

  • Diversify project funding opportunities and create new tools to further agricultural conservation.
  • Coordinate with the Director of Conservation, Director of Stewardship, Staff Attorney, and Director of Additive Conservation on the execution of the Conservation Department’s annual goals and quarterly priorities.
  • Manage multiple conservation easement transactions, and ensure Conservation Managers’ competence and excellence in conservation easement transaction management, including (but not limited to):
  • Conducting property site visits;
  • Developing projects and maintaining strong landowner relationships;
  • Drafting project-related memos, board materials, etc.;
  • Drafting and negotiating deeds of conservation easement and other transactional documents;
  • Coordinating the completion, generally by outside contractors, of all required property due diligence;
  • Obtaining and reviewing title commitments and associated vesting deeds, legal descriptions, and encumbrances on title;
  • Securing funding to support bargain sale conservation easement acquisitions and to offset associated transaction expenses, and managing all aspects related to funders’ due diligence and reporting requirements;
  • Managing closings and post-closing follow-up;
  • Research and documentation of water rights associated with each conservation easement transaction, as applicable;
  • Thorough and organized record keeping throughout the life of any conservation project;
  • Adherence to CCALT’s established project procedures and policies.
  • Develop and update policies and procedures relating to conservation easement transactions.
  • Prepare and present workshops or similar events to connect with new landowners and educated professionals.
  • Stay up to date on all conservation easement policies, regulations, and emerging issues.

Stewardship:

Assist the Director of Stewardship in the management and implementation of certain aspects of CCALT’s conservation easement stewardship program. Primary responsibilities include:

  • Ensure conservation easement transactions are completed in a manner that minimizes stewardship risks and allows a smooth transition into ongoing stewardship.
  • Support CCALT’s annual conservation easement monitoring obligations.
  • Assist with the resolution of stewardship issues and conservation easement violations. Ensure that the conservation values are upheld when resolving stewardship issues or when amending conservation easements.

Minimum Requirements:

  • 5 years’ experience managing conservation easement transactions.
  • Demonstrated experience managing and supporting a high-performing team.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
  • Written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Salesforce, Adobe, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. ArcOnline proficiency preferred.
  • Able to travel regularly, including overnight and multi-day travel.
  • Tactful, possessing the ability to work with a high degree of personal and professional initiative and maintain confidentiality. Personal reliability and regular attendance are essential.
  • Able to work independently, under deadlines, and produce accurate work.
  • The ability to effectively lead a team towards individual and organizational goals while fostering the professional development of team members.
  • Demonstrated ability to accurately manage multiple complex conservation transactions and stewardship projects at a time while maintaining the highest level of attention to detail.
  • The ability to develop new tools and processes for creating consistent terms within documents, increasing the accuracy, efficiency, and documentation of due diligence review, and decreasing the time it takes to resolve issues.
  • Willingness to embrace, support, and advance the organizational culture of CCALT as defined through its Social Contract. The RISE Principles are the foundation of CCALT’s culture, which includes the values of Responsibility, Integrity, Synergy, and Empowerment. The position will also require someone willing to invest in understanding the culture of the community we serve.
  • Knowledge, appreciation, and respect for the people and values of rural Colorado; familiarity and/or interest in agricultural issues with a conservation context is preferred. Most important is a sincere interest and commitment to private land conservation, with sensitivity and appreciation for the diverse interests and values of others.

Salary and Benefits: Range: $85,000-$95,000 (based on experience); this position is eligible to participate in CCALT’s annual incentive pay plan, where the amount of incentive pay varies and is subject to the standard terms and conditions of the incentive program; flexible work environment; paid time off; retirement plan, employee health insurance (dental and vision insurance available at a cost to the employee).

Reporting:

This position will report to the Director of Conservation.

Location: This position may be based out of any of CCALT’s four office locations: Lakewood (headquarters), Del Norte, Carbondale, or Steamboat Springs. There is a preference for the position to be based at the Lakewood office. Remote work arrangements based in Colorado may be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Employment Classification: Exempt

Interested parties should email a cover letter, resume, preferred office location, and two references to Haden Cunningham (haden@ccalt.org) by 5:00 pm MT on Monday, May 26, 2025.

This position has a desired start date of Monday, July 14, 2025

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.

Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on FacebookShare on Google+Share on RedditEmail this to someonePrint this page