Project Associate

Posted Date: May 7, 2025
Position Closing Date: Open until filled
Location: Colorado Springs
Job Type: Full-time, exempt position
Salary Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000 

The Opportunity

Palmer Land Conservancy is looking to expand its dynamic team with the addition of a full-time Project Associate. Palmer’s Land and Water Conservation team is the driving force behind turning conservation goals into actionable, lasting change. They balance the technical, legal, and community aspects of land conservation while ensuring that all project phases—from initial planning to long-term stewardship—are completed successfully. Priorities are based on Palmer’s 5-year strategic plan and focus on leading a historic western water initiative; safeguarding conservation and access to critical parks, open spaces, and trails; protecting vital habitat and resilient landscapes; and ensuring Colorado maintains a strong local food supply and agricultural heritage. 

This position will provide primary support to the Land and Water Conservation Transaction team. Candidates should possess strong project management skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn and be challenged. Candidates with experience using GIS are preferred. This position will help facilitate a variety of land and water conservation projects utilizing conservation easements, fee title acquisitions, and other innovative real estate, legal, and conservation tools. The position is responsible for managing technical due diligence, communications, timelines, landowner and partner relationships, and other critical elements of the transaction process. As a member of the Palmer team, the successful applicant will regularly interact with the Stewardship, Philanthropy, and Community Engagement staff to achieve the organization's mission.

Benefits

Palmer offers full-time employees top-tier benefits including: robust employer-sponsored healthcare package, which includes medical, dental, and vision benefits; retirement plan with company contribution; short-term and long-term disability; and generous Paid Time Off.

Company Culture

Palmer has been named one of the Best Workplaces in Colorado Springs by the Gazette! Palmer leadership values a culture of generosity, trust, and dedication to conservation. The work environment is goal-based, with work plans and performance focused on identifying and achieving attainable yet ambitious objectives within a quarterly timeline. This is not a micro-managing environment—employees are trusted to complete their work with a high level of personal responsibility. 

Palmer’s employees are hardworking, high performers, and in exchange, they are supported in pursuing work-life flexibility with policies such as open paid time off, sabbatical leave, and remote work. 

About Palmer Land Conservancy

Organization Overview

Palmer Land Conservancy (Palmer) is one of Colorado’s leading nonprofit land conservation organizations and one of the country’s first 100 nationally accredited land trusts through the Land Trust Alliance. Palmer is committed to protecting land and water for the well-being of nature and people. Since 1977, the organization has permanently protected 138,000 acres, including 20 public parks and open spaces, working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and scenic views. These are the places where we all live, work, and play.

We are a team of professionals who work with private landowners, as well as local, state, and federal partners, to be a catalyst for community health, resiliency, and prosperity. Through these partnerships, we can achieve a lasting impact on our mission and begin to ignite a culture shift for conservation. We are committed to organizational excellence, valuing our people, diverse backgrounds and experiences, equitable access, and expanding the tools we need to be successful. At Palmer, we believe people ultimately make this work happen. The more a community cares about its land and water resources, the greater the willpower to preserve and protect them. Similarly, the more a community has access to the outdoors, the healthier its population is, with a higher quality of life. We believe in connecting people to nature and ensuring everyone can access this work's benefits.

Our main office is in downtown Colorado Springs, and we have a satellite office in Pueblo. For more information, visit palmerland.org.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assist in all aspects of Palmer’s real estate transactions, including conservation easements and fee acquisition—ensuring strict adherence to Palmer’s policies and internal controls, IRS rules and regulations, industry best practices, and general transactional excellence.
  • Build relationships with professional contractors, consultants, project partners, and landowners—maintaining strict confidentiality regarding sensitive and emotionally charged information.
  • Maintain effective project management processes. Ensure transaction excellence while coordinating the due diligence and closing of projects collaboratively with other staff, partners, and legal counsel.
  • Support the conservation transaction team in the planning, strategic development, and implementation of recreation, trail connectivity, and public open space projects.
  •  Participate in projects, committees, and working groups led by community partners and others as necessary to advance Palmer’s conservation goals. Participate in organization-led committees and meetings as requested.
  • Develop GIS-based project maps and files.
  • Abide by and uphold all Palmer Land Conservancy policies.
 Stewardship, Philanthropy & Community Engagement
  • Participate in project fundraising, including private, state, and federal grants as well as requests to individual donors, as needed.
  • Enter relevant project data and maintain clean project records in NeonCRM, Landscape, and other project management software as necessary.
  •  Assist with e-newsletters, print, and other outreach materials such as annual reports and newsletters.
  • Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, & Experience

  •  Ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously; establish priorities and meet deadlines; independently pursue organization objectives and solutions to complex problems.
  • Highly organized and efficient; hard-working with superb attention to detail and nuance; a good aptitude for due diligence and compliance matters.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex information clearly.
  • A critical thinker, self-directed, and strongly motivated.
  • Passion for natural resource conservation and a commitment to furthering Palmer Land Conservancy’s mission to protect southern Colorado’s lands for present and future generations.

Other Requirements

  • Valid driver’s license
  • Physical demands may involve:
    • Lifting materials and equipment – including, but not limited to, office supplies, event supplies, and boxes of swag – up to 25 pounds.
    • Working in variable weather conditions at remote locations on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

How to Apply: The position is open until filled, and interviews will be done on a rolling basis, so candidates who are interested are encouraged to apply early. Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) list of three references by email to: [email protected] with the subject line Project Associate. References will not be contacted unless you are selected for a final interview.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, Palmer Land Conservancy encourages you to apply.