Working Lands & Conservation Specialist
The Working Lands & Conservation Specialist role is a part-time, hourly position within the Regional Division of LegacyWorks Group on the California (CA) Central Coast Team. This position is a hybrid role and will report to the CA Central Coast Regional Initiative Director.
About LegacyWorks Group
LegacyWorks Group (LWG) is a collective of changemakers facilitating ambitious collaborative initiatives to address today’s biggest challenges. Through community-driven, place-based initiatives and client-centered consulting programs, we advance projects and portfolios that deliver transformative impact results while building community resilience and the capacity to rise higher. Funders, impact investors, community based organizations, and government agencies engage us for strategy consulting and planning, collaborative facilitation, impact finance, data dashboarding, and initiative incubation and support. Together we build and strengthen networks, amplify and accelerate collaboration, and enable highly effective collective effort at the scale of landscapes, sectors and systems.
About the California Central Coast Team
LegacyWorks Central Coast Regional Initiative envisions a Central Coast where communities work together so ecosystems, economies, and societies thrive. We seek to increase our collective capacity to collaborate across sectors via a portfolio of projects spanning the following impact areas: community resilience, regenerative economies, disaster resilience, wildlife and biodiversity, food and agriculture systems, water and conservation. LegacyWorks Central Coast provides a suite of core services including but not limited to: collaborative facilitation & community engagement, strategy consulting & planning, impact finance, data dashboarding, and incubation & capacity support.
What You’ll Do
The Working Lands & Conservation Project Specialist will work closely with an array of partners to co-develop and implement impactful community driven projects that advance climate solutions, regenerative economies, protections for natural and working lands, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, and abundant clean water. They will build strong, trust-based relationships, foster collaboration, and elevate partner and team capacity while promoting equitable participation.
The Project Specialist’s role is integral to:
Fostering trust, connectedness, relationships, strong networks, and partnerships within the communities of the CA Central Coast
Building capacity and supporting leadership development within community partners and local leaders to support the next generation of changemakers
Facilitating authentic programs and convening spaces to foster the needs and dreams of community members, partnering organizations and philanthropic leaders
Catalyzing collective action and investment in community priorities by generating both lucrative business opportunities, and fundraising for programmatic needs
Sharing stories and clear data from the CA Central Coast team as a core element of programming and operations to drive support for the program and build a movement towards cultural change
Your Primary Responsibilities
Project Planning & Management
Define project scope, objectives, and success measures in collaboration with clients, partners and regional project teams
Develop and manage detailed project plans, including timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation
Track and manage project budgets, contracts, and compliance requirements
Monitor progress against milestones to ensure projects remain on schedule and deliver high-quality results
Drive cycles of continuous improvement and evolution across projects and processes
Ensure belonging, access, and opportunity are embedded throughout project design and delivery
Achieve progress and deliver on expectations for team and project partner goals
Relationship Stewardship
Build and maintain relationships with funders, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, practicing active listening and fostering collaboration
Foster trust and alignment through clear, strategic communication with staff, donors, and community partners
Facilitate collaboration across diverse groups, cultivating shared ownership of project outcomes
Work to transform power dynamics by elevating underrepresented perspectives and creating space for equitable participation
Build capacity in clients and partners by sharing knowledge, tools, and practices that strengthen long-term impact
Provide regular status updates and design meetings, workshops, and presentations that keep stakeholders aligned and informed
Business Development
Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that advance community priorities, strengthen regional networks, and create opportunities for impact
Support the development of project concepts, scopes of work, and proposals that align funder interests with community needs
Generate revenue opportunities by helping design services, scopes, and offerings that strengthen the sustainability of the CA Central Coast portfolio
Track emerging opportunities such as grants, philanthropic initiatives, government programs, and cross-sector collaborations and share insights with the CA Central Coast Regional Initiative Director
Contribute to stewardship of funders and partners through clear communication, timely follow-up, and authentic relationship building
Evaluation, Reporting, and Storytelling
Share the story of the CA Central Coast team by weaving data and narratives that highlight successes, lessons learned, and collective impact, inspiring cultural change and broader participation
Prepare high-quality reports and presentations for funders, and stakeholders that communicate the outcomes of CA Central Coast projects
Team Development and Culture Stewardship
Model trust, active listening, openness, vulnerability, and accountability within the CA Central Coast team, fostering a culture where everyone can bring their whole selves and diverse voices contribute meaningfully
Embrace complexity and encourage reflection in team decision-making, supporting thoughtful problem-solving
Ensure belonging, access, and opportunity internally by creating an environment where team members feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute
Continuously advance your own development across all LWG core competencies, modeling active learning and personal growth for the team
Organizational Collaboration
Contribute to the evolution of LWG’s collaborative impact model and support initiatives centered around belonging, access and opportunity
Participate actively in organization-wide communities of practice, retreats, meetings and working groups to contribute, learn, and foster a cohesive team environment
Support effective and efficient organization operations by actively utilizing and contributing to the improvement of all LPW’s systems, policies and processes
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who approaches work with curiosity, openness, and care—someone who notices possibilities others might miss and brings both courage and creativity to exploring them. You listen deeply and center the voices of others, embracing growth with honesty and vulnerability, seeing mistakes as part of the learning process. You move with intention, balancing clear direction with openness to surprise and change, and thrive in the space between steady progress and emerging possibility. Your core skills and experience include:
3-5 years of professional experience in the conservation and/or Central Coast working lands sectors, with preference given to individuals with nonprofit or social enterprise experience
Understanding of the land, natural resources, and local communities within Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County to inform effective partnership and conservation/working lands strategies
Bringing vision to life by co-creating goals and driving disciplined, focused execution
Communicating candidly and compassionately, keeping messages clear, timely, and accessible
Embracing distributed leadership, stepping up while creating space for others to contribute and collaborate
Channeling systems thinking by connecting perspectives to make sense of complexity
Harnessing technology creatively, using current and emerging tools to advance projects and organizational goals
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for the Working Lands & Conservation Specialist Specialist position is $38.00-$48.00 per hour based on relevant qualifications and experience. For part-time staff, we offer a 401(k) retirement plan, remote work stipend, and vacation and sick time.
To Apply
Apply for this position using our application form to submit a resume, cover letter and references. In your cover letter, be sure to speak to your values and skills. Please note we do not use AI to sort or review applications. Applications are only accepted via our application form. Applications will be accepted until December 5, 2025.
LegacyWorks is proud to be an affirmative action equal-opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture. LegacyWorks 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.