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Project Associate Colorado and Southwest Land Protection


Job Location:

Santa Fe, NM - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 58000 - 65000
Posted: 22 August 2026 (30 days ago)
Application Deadline: 19 November 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary


Who We Are:

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public landsespecially in communities that need them mostto improve public health create social cohesion strengthen historic and cultural connection to place and increase climate resilience. Since 1972 TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land created more than 5500 parks trails schoolyards and iconic outdoor places generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more visit .

Position Summary:

The Project Associate will work in support of the Colorado and Southwest land protection program to acquire and conserve priority lands. Through this work s/he/they will expand and enhance access to the regions network of public lands; ensure local residents have close-to-home parks trails and open space; and help communities fulfill their visions for their surrounding landscapes.
This position will be based in TPLs Santa Fe NM office with the potential for hybrid work across New Mexico. This position requires travel across the state including work in the field and occasional evening and weekend work.

Essential Functions:

  • Assist land protection staff in all phases of land acquisition and conservation projects and programmatic initiatives including project research; landowner outreach; collaboration with local governments agencies non-profit partners and community groups; and coordination of real estate due diligence and closing tasks. (55%)
  • Support legal staff on land protection projects including tracking critical project dates due diligence review and preparation for real estate closings. (5%)
  • Assist philanthropy staff on fundraising and help research and prepare public and private grant requests and applications. (15%)
  • Prepare graphic and written materials for presentations and other land protection project-related needs. (5%)
  • Outreach attend community meetings build relationships with partners garner support for projects as needed. (10%)
  • Complete various administrative tasks including invoice submission and grant reporting. (10%)
  • Other duties as necessary.
Qualifications:
  • Strong commitment to TPLs shared values (Belonging Creativity Collaboration Impact and Hope) to effectively work across the organization.
  • Passion for the mission of Trust for Public Land.
  • Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience preferred; Course work or experience related to real estate environmental studies community engagement public policy or related area is a plus.
  • Strong written and oral communications skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills with the ability to take on complex projects.
  • Proficient with computers graphics and spreadsheets. Experience with GIS mapping and legal descriptions a plus.
  • Ability to work under pressure juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to work independently or as a team member as appropriate.
  • Ability to take initiative make suggestions be curious and creative and solve problems.
  • Desire to attain the knowledge skills and experience to build a career in land and water conservation.
  • Excellent people skills ease with many types of personalities.
Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment and this role will ideally be located near our Santa Fe New Mexico Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Lands comprehensive benefits program which includes medical dental and vision insurance vacation and sick pay plus holidays a year end office closure and a 403(b)-retirement plan currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $ annually.

Trust for Public Lands active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case we encourage you to apply.

Required Experience:

IC


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TPL creates parks and protects public land so that everyone will have access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors.

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