About The Foundation For America's Public Lands
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands is a pioneering startup on a mission to safeguard the sustainability of our public lands and waters. Chartered by Congress, we are the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management with a pivotal mission: to connect us to our public lands and waters and sustain these special places for the benefit of present and future generations.
Standing on the cusp of an exciting chapter, we are set to become a cornerstone institution, working in close partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and a strong network of local to national stakeholders who share our vision. Our work is ambitious, impactful, and essential – and we are building the inaugural team who will be critical to shaping the Foundation’s future.
With co-headquarters in Grand Junction, CO, and Washington, DC, the Foundation is poised for growth and to create a substantial impact on the future of our nation’s public lands and waters. Discover more about our mission and how you can contribute to this groundbreaking journey at www.americaslands.org.
What We’re Looking For
We are seeking a Program Officer to join our Program Team, which oversees the external initiatives of the organization. This position is ideal for those passionate about public lands with hands-on experience managing projects that restore and steward natural resources.
The role will collaborate with Program Team leadership to identify high-impact projects for investment, engage with partners and local communities, and act as a key liaison between grant recipients and the Foundation’s finance and operations teams. The Program Officer will bring considerable expertise in wildlife conservation on public lands and in assessing what makes for impactful investments. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in grantmaking, partnership development, and program management, with a deep commitment to America’s public lands and waters.
If you're eager to contribute to the health, accessibility, and sustainability of America’s public lands and waters, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible and meaningful impact.
What You’ll Do
Project and Partner Identification & Collaboration:
- Identify and pursue opportunities where investments in public land restoration and stewardship enhance wildlife outcomes, including efforts to improve connectivity and habitat for wildlife and game species.
- Identify, assess and prioritize investments in western states including, but not limited to, California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming.
- Explore and foster partnerships with state agencies to leverage collaborative opportunities and strengthen project impact.
- Ensure Foundation strategies and investments addressing drought, grazing, recreation, and fuel management positively contribute to wildlife conservation, ecosystem health, and habitat quality. Support strategic planning of Foundation initiatives to benefit wildlife populations.
- Facilitate the development of innovative partnerships and foster ongoing dialogue between the Foundation, BLM, and key stakeholders, creating avenues for collaboration on wildlife-related issues, including engaging senior program staff and leadership.
- Liaison with key wildlife and game interests critical to the Foundation’s work, including state agencies, sportsman and conservation groups, and businesses. Participate in relevant meetings and conferences.
- Collaborate with Foundation grants management staff to support the grantmaking process, including communication with grant recipients, tracking spending and reimbursements, and documenting financial and programmatic performance.
Reporting & Annual Review:
- Contribute to the development of communications materials for board members, providing updates on grant activities and key outcomes.
- Help oversee the development of reports, showcasing the impact of funding initiatives and providing insights into the progress of projects.
Requirements
Desired Qualifications:
- Over 5 years’ experience supporting or implementing restoration and stewardship practices to achieve natural resource management goals. Experience in the restoration of public lands and waters is considered a significant benefit.
- An existing network of relationships and partnerships that can deliver stewardship and restoration projects on BLM lands that are of added value to the Foundation in identified states a strong advantage.
- Master’s degree in environmental management, conservation biology, wildlife ecology, landscape ecology, or related fields strongly preferred. Bachelor’s degree considered a minimum qualification.
- Preference for applicants with previous work that provides practical experience with BLM’s management of public lands and waters.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within a small, mission-driven team, coupled with the resourcefulness and initiative to ensure goals are met and work gets done.
Benefits
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to join a pioneering team dedicated to shaping the future of one of America’s most vital and cherished resources—our public lands and waters. You'll be stepping in at the ground level of a growing organization, helping to lay the groundwork for how a new foundation can support the essential mission of the BLM. If you're inspired by purpose-driven work and want to make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Location: Washington, D.C. Area (DMV) or Western States - Hybrid / Remote Position
Compensation: $115,000-$125,000 annually
Benefits: Group medical/vision/dental benefits with 100% employer contribution for employees and 75% contribution for dependents; life insurance; 401k retirement savings plan; and generous holiday and paid time off policies.
Travel: Periodic travel required
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands is an equal opportunity employer. The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.