Position Announcement

Program Manager for Land Conservation 

Reports to: Director of Tribal Nations Initiatives
Supervisory: No
Status: Non-Exempt
Travel: Up to 35%
Location: Remote
Application Deadline: July 30, 2026
Compensation: The full salary range for this level is $75K–$95K, with starting salaries generally set between $75K and $80K.
Application Link: https://screeningapps.insperity.com/candidate/otp/post/6a54b2c8-c42c-49f0-bb46-76e3c39caf46
Questions? If you have any questions regarding this position or the application process, please email hr@nativephilanthropy.org.

About Native Americans in Philanthropy

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) envisions a future with healthy and sustainable Native communities supported by responsive philanthropy. Our mission is to promote equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We do this by increasing engagement and funding to Native-led organizations; increasing and supporting Native professionals in philanthropy; and transforming and influencing the philanthropic sector to be in alignment with an Indigenous worldview.

About the Position

Native Americans in Philanthropy seeks an experienced and passionate Program Manager for Land Conservation to lead and manage initiatives focused on land stewardship, conservation, and land access within Native communities. This role is central to NAP's Tribal Nations Engagement work and requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in land conservation and an understanding of Tribal land rights.

The Program Manager will be instrumental in advancing NAP's land access and return strategy, managing partnerships with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA), and supporting the First Stewards Network. This position actively manages projects, timelines, and grant deliverables, ensuring all initiatives are grounded in Indigenous knowledge and aligned with NAP's mission to promote a healthy future for Native communities.

This position will also serve as a dedicated resource to the Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaborative (TBLC), working closely with Tribal leaders and organizational partners to advance buffalo restoration and the broader cultural and ecological values tied to buffalo lifeways.

The ideal candidate is growth-oriented, relationship-centered, and committed to integrating land justice and Indigenous sovereignty into policy solutions and philanthropic strategy.

Primary Responsibilities

Project Management and Strategy

• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of land conservation and land access projects, ensuring alignment with grant requirements, NAP's strategic priorities, and Tribal community goals.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and reporting across multiple simultaneous initiatives, maintaining high standards of accuracy and accountability.
• Manage regranting activities including supporting the development of funding strategies, overseeing grant distribution processes, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and fostering strong relationships with Tribal partners and subgrantees to advance land conservation and land access goals.
• Advance NAP's land access and return strategy, including partnership management and coordination of related programmatic priorities.
• Serve as a dedicated resource by leading and overseeing collaborative activities and fostering collective accountability among Tribal leaders and organizational partners.
• Conduct ongoing research to keep NAP responsive to the field and inform the organization's direction on land conservation, land return, and Tribal land rights.
• Develop and implement strategies that integrate Indigenous land stewardship practices with contemporary conservation and philanthropic frameworks.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• Foster and maintain trust-based relationships with Tribal nations, Native-led organizations, land trusts, conservation organizations, and funders.
• Collaborate with key partners on educational opportunities, materials, and events related to land conservation and Indigenous land rights.
• Expand partnerships with state and federal agencies and offices focused on land stewardship, land access, habitat restoration, and Tribal land management.
• Foster collaboration among Tribal leaders, Tribal communities, conservation organizations, and government bodies on land policy topics.
• Partner with colleagues across Tribal Nations Engagement and Native Americans in Philanthropy to align land conservation initiatives with organizational priorities, share knowledge and resources, and support cross-functional strategies, programs, and partnerships.
• Work closely with the Director of Tribal Nations Initiatives and the Program Administrator for Tribal Nations Engagement to ensure programmatic alignment and internal coordination.

Non-Essential Job Functions 

• Work with partner organizations to plan local events such as site tours, field visits, and community convenings related to program work.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill & Ability 

• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, including coordinating timelines, budgets, deliverables, and reporting across multiple priorities.
• Experience using project management, CRM, and collaboration tools such as Salesforce, Asana, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, or similar platforms.
• Understanding of Indigenous cultures, Tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous approaches to land stewardship, with experience working respectfully and effectively with Tribal communities and partners.
• Experience with land conservation, land access, land return, natural resource management, or related fields, including familiarity with land trust practices and conservation frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including Tribal leaders, funders, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
• Experience working with philanthropy, grantmaking, regranting, fundraising, or other funding and partnership development strategies.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and foster collaboration.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to manage competing priorities and achieve project goals in a dynamic environment.

Physical Requirements 

• Must be able to travel for up to 35% of the time for work.
• Must be able to lead Zoom and other video conference calls and use computer equipment.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Indigenous Studies, Public Policy, or a related field, plus at least five (5) years of experience in project management, preferably in land conservation, environmental stewardship, or nonprofit sectors. Relevant work experience managing land conservation, land access, or habitat restoration activities may be substituted for the academic requirement.
• Experience working with or within Tribal nations on land-related issues, including land access, land return, or natural resource management.
• Familiarity with buffalo restoration efforts is a plus.
• Knowledge of philanthropic systems and best practices for developing funder relationships in the conservation and Indigenous rights space.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Commitment to Equity

Native Americans in Philanthropy is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job, without regard to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship, or marital status, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.

Americans with Disability Act

Native Americans in Philanthropy complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@nativephilanthropy.org.