Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape Partnership Coordinator Position
The leadership of the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape Partnership (ENMSL Partnership) seeks a highly motivated and qualified individual to become the Coordinator for this newly-designated landscape. The ENMSL Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that work with willing landowners and land managers to advance sustainable land use practices around military installations and ranges. Landscape partners from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Defense (DOD), the State of New Mexico, and a number of private conservation organizations have identified approximately 2.4 million acres within the Landscape’s boundary as critically important to natural resources, working economies, and military readiness and mission sustainment. The Coordinator will have the opportunity to work with a broad array of partners to advance diverse natural resource conservation goals, promote climate resilience, and foster the already strong military-community partnerships within the project’s geographic boundaries. This individual will also collaborate with Coordinators from the other Sentinel Landscapes (currently 17 others) across the country. This is an exceptional opportunity to help advance an extraordinary land and natural resources conservation partnership and “move the needle” for projects that benefit Eastern New Mexico’s economy, culture, and natural environment, all with the goal of maintaining long-term military readiness/mission sustainment and climate resilience across the landscape.
The Coordinator is expected to be a “force multiplier” who will work with ENMSL Partnership members to help them achieve project goals. The Coordinator’s role will entail implementation of three main tasks:
Advance strategies to achieve the goals outlined in the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape Implementation Plan and other strategic objectives most critical to DOD and partners;
Ensure local, state, regional, and federal coordination and communication among partners inside and outside the landscape; and
Secure funding and other support required to help implement goals.
This Coordinator position is new. Broad goals have been established for the Partnership but they require project management, refinement, communication, and coordination with the partners to advance the ENMSL Partnership’s objectives and secure funding for implementation. The Coordinator will therefore be responsible for shaping the ENMSL Partnership in collaboration with the partners. This person will work largely independently but will have access to the people and resources of some of the leading public and private natural resource institutions in Eastern New Mexico and the surrounding areas. This person will also work directly with Cannon Air Force Base and Melrose Air Force Range staff and interact with high-ranking military and government officials. This individual should have superior people and organizational skills and be committed to helping the partners achieve the on-the-ground projects necessary for the program to prosper. The Coordinator is not however anticipated to engage directly in field work. A general understanding of military and other government systems, policies, and processes, and experience working with governmental and non-governmental organizations, is strongly desired.
The Coordinator will report to a 6-person Executive Committee representing the broader partnership. The Coordinator will work with partners to refine conservation objectives in the areas described below and may seek funding for the partners to implement those actions. The Coordinator will work with partners for assistance with grant writing and administration.
A full-time position of 40 hours per week is preferred. The Coordinator will serve as a salaried employee at LegacyWorks Group with benefits (see below), taxes, and other expenses included.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Coordinator will be expected to work closely with partners to:
Serve as the primary point of contact and representative for the ENMSL Partnership;
Communicate defense and natural resource concerns to audiences most critical to the ENMSL Partnership;
Define success for the ENMSL Partnership and refine a blueprint or strategic plan to achieve this defined goal;
Help achieve the four broad goals below and help prioritize appropriate short- and long-term actions and strategies;
Coordinate with partners, and work independently as necessary, to secure public and/or private funding for priority projects;
Coordinate with relevant ongoing initiatives that align with the Landscape goals and objectives;
Establish and create a system for tracking project metrics to be used for reporting purposes;
Develop a strategic communications plan for both internal Landscape partners and for external outreach and engagement that targets key audiences, including local, state, and federal partners;
Collaborate with coordinators and staff from other Sentinel Landscapes to enhance learnings across partnerships;
Take responsibility for all reporting to the Federal Coordinating Committee and donors;
Host in-person meetings of the ENMSL Partnership on an annual basis or as needed; provide brief, electronic updates to this group on a regular basis; and interact with the Executive Committee frequently.
Minimal Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in one or more of the following fields (or related):
Public Relations
Strategic Communications
Natural Resources Conservation
Project Management
Land Use Planning
Effective and visionary leader; keeper of the vision for change
Relationship oriented with strong interpersonal skills
Superior verbal and written communications skills
Proven capacity to coordinate diverse interests to achieve large-scale goals
Proven fundraising experience with public agencies, private foundations, and/or corporations
Broad understanding of political, cultural, economic, and environmental issues within the ENMSL Partnership boundary and within the state of New Mexico itself
Familiarity with or the desire to learn about DOD and military operations locally, DOD mission(s), and encroachment management and land use planning with respect to military bases
Desired Qualifications
Experience with DOD and military operations, preferably in New Mexico or the southwest
Strong understanding of the relationship between the DOD training and testing mission, natural resource conservation, and base encroachment challenges
Experience working with local and state government, New Mexico preferred
GIS experience
Compensation
Commensurate with experience. Salary range: $80,000 - $100,000
Location
Clovis, NM, or remote. The Coordinator may work from home or be provided office space within the Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy, depending on needs and opportunities. The Coordinator is expected to reside in New Mexico so as to be in close proximity to the partners and communities residing in or around the Sentinel Landscape, and to attend in-person events, meetings, and/or activities also within the landscape.
Benefits
As a full-time salaried employee, you are eligible to participate in the organization’s group medical and dental insurance plans if you elect (at this time, employer contribution is 50% of the cost for the employee only); and eligible for an $100/month home office equipment allocation from LegacyWorks to contribute to the costs of remote work. LegacyWorks also has a 401k plan which you will be eligible to participate in; we do not offer any match contribution at this time.
LegacyWorks has an unlimited paid time off policy that encompasses both holidays and vacation days. This is a trust-based pact between employer and employee and amongst team members, and it is up to each of us to communicate effectively about planning time off and managing this policy responsibly.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Workplace
LegacyWorks is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture. LegacyWorks Group is committed to increasing the diversity of the team, including board and staff, and continuing to improve compensation and benefits. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and value life experience and achievements. All employees and applicants for employment are not to be discriminated on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.
To Apply
Email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Ladona Clayton, ladona.clayton@ogalwc.org, with ENMSL Coordinator in the subject line. Applications are only accepted electronically. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Background: Sentinel Landscapes Program
The https://sentinellandscapes.org/landscapes page describes Sentinel Landscapes as working or natural lands important to the Nation’s defense mission – places where conserving the working and rural character of key landscapes strengthens the economies of farms, ranches, and forests; conserves habitat and natural resources; and protects vital test and training missions conducted on those military installations that anchor these landscapes.
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior and DOD established the national Sentinel Landscapes Partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013. The Partnership is a nationwide Federal, state, local, and private collaboration dedicated to promoting natural resource sustainability and the preservation of agricultural and conservation land uses in areas surrounding military installations. Agencies from the three Departments coordinate the Partnership at the national level through the Sentinel Landscapes Federal Coordination Committee.
The national Sentinel Landscapes Partnership seeks to recognize and incentivize landowners to continue maintaining these landscapes in ways that contribute to the nation’s defense. Where shared interests can be identified within a Landscape, the Partnership coordinates mutually-beneficial programs and strategies to preserve, enhance, or protect habitat and working lands near military installations to reduce, prevent, or eliminate restrictions on installation missions due to incompatible development and other encroachment threats that inhibit military testing and training.
Background: Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape Partnership
The ENMSL Partnership was designated on May 15, 2024 and was chosen through a national, competitive process.
Key goals established by the Partnership include:
Sustain installation and community resilience by mitigating the impacts of intensive agriculture, climate change, and a declining water supply.
Enhance climate-resilience and wildlife habitats by boosting groundwater recharge, promoting grasslands, and restoring playas.
Promote agricultural vibrance by protecting working lands, supporting local viability, and advancing innovation for sustainable farming.
Empower area stakeholders through comprehensive education, training, and capacity building.
Background: LegacyWorks Group
LegacyWorks Group is proud to serve as the Support Organization for the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership. In this role, we manage funding from federal agency partners and serve as the place of employment for some Sentinel Landscape Coordinators.
We seek out high-impact opportunities that often will not move forward unless we can play one or more catalytic roles, including facilitation, project management, process design, strategy development, planning, leadership development, community engagement, securing and structuring funding or financing, designing, and launching funds, data dashboard development, and more. Our team is open-hearted, entrepreneurial, and highly collaborative. Team members have a variety of leadership, facilitation, and project management experience as well as a diversity of cultural and educational backgrounds. We seek curious candidates with big hearts and sharp minds who learn fast. Our team members are comfortable with complex challenges that require collaboration, innovation, diplomacy, relationship building, empathy, open mindedness, leadership and high levels of partner and community engagement.