Seasonal Land Steward

Colorado Open Lands is pleased to announce the hiring of our 2025 Seasonal Land Stewards, based in our Lakewood, Colorado office. These positions are 3-6 months, temporary, full-time positions that support the Land Stewardship Program. Colorado Open Lands holds almost 800 conservation easements across the entire state and is responsible for stewarding each one annually. As a member of this team, you will get to visit a wide variety of Colorado landscapes and habitats, learn from and observe land management in action, and participate in the continued preservation of Colorado’s land and water resources. The Seasonal Land Steward’s primary responsibilities will be conservation easement monitoring, including both on-the-ground site visits and reviewing satellite imagery, and providing land management resources to landowners.

DUTIES

Conservation Easement Monitoring (75%)

• Site Visits
• Contact landowners (via email and phone) to schedule on-the-ground site visits for properties assigned to you.
• Independently conduct site visits on conservation easement properties across Colorado, ranging in size from 10 to 10,000 acres. Monitoring site visits include hiking or driving around a conserved property using GPS to navigate and collect data, photographing and documenting any changes or land management concerns on the property, identifying noxious weeds, and monitoring for compliance with easement terms.
• Meet with landowners to build relationships and discuss the conservation easement.
• Prepare detailed reports documenting observations from the field.
• Update GIS maps as needed to incorporate GPS field data.
• Monitor conservation easements using satellite imagery. Monitoring includes using COL’s online platform to review changes over time to each property.
• Prepare detailed reports documenting observations from the satellite imagery.
• Satellite Imagery

Conservation Easement Management (20%)

• Provide landowners with land management information or resources as requested.
• Perform other stewardship tasks as assigned, such as verification of property ownership and identification of potential violations.

Organizational Participation (5%)

• Participate in staff and project meetings and other organization-wide meetings and events.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in natural or environmental sciences, land use planning, geography, or a related field; OR 2 years relevant experience.
• Willingness and ability to independently travel across Colorado, including multi-night trips – vehicle provided, and all travel expenses paid (travel comprises approximately 50% of time in peak months).
• Ability to work outdoors and independently navigate large farms and ranches, often in remote settings.
• Basic skills with ESRI ArcGIS Pro computer mapping software.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• A valid driver’s license and good driving record (vehicle provided). Motor vehicle record will be checked as part of the hiring process. 
• A positive attitude, sense of humor, and commitment to conservation.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $25/hour commensurate with experience, 40 hours per week for 3-6 months.
• Eligible for vacation and sick time. Not eligible for health insurances, but employer will pay all required taxes and workers’ comp insurance.
• Housing is not provided.

START DATE 

• Start date is flexible, ideally May 19, 2025.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• Please send a résumé and cover letter to Hannah Brown, Stewardship Monitoring Program Manager, at jobs@coloradoopenlands.org. Please note where you saw the job posting.
• The subject line should be in this format: “Last name, First name: Seasonal Land Steward”
• Application deadline: February 28, 2025