Community Programs & Engagement Coordinator

Description

Santa Maria Valley, CA

Full Time, Tuesday–Saturday

Do you love connecting people to the outdoors? Are you energized by community programs, bilingual engagement, and building relationships across cultures? Does creating inclusive outdoor experiences light you up? If so, keep reading.

We are The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, a 501(c) (3) tax exempt California nonprofit who has spent over 40 years conserving natural resources, agricultural land, and open spaces for the benefit of present and future generations. Several years of tremendous growth and achievement have resulted in the successful conservation of more than 58,000 acres, 61 conservation easements, and thousands of residents enjoying the outdoors across the county.

And now, we’re expanding our work in a big way in the Santa Maria Valley.

Build community programs from the ground up. Plan and execute guided hikes, educational programs, promotional events, and manage logistics and coordination. Help shape outreach for the possible development of a new preserve in Santa Maria.

Run bilingual hikes and outdoor events, coordinate volunteers, partner with local organizations, build relationships with Tribes and BIPOC communities, and bring people into nature.

You’ll help shape outreach for the possible development of a new preserve in Santa Maria and truly be the face of the Land Trust in Northern Santa Barbara County.

You’ll help prepare grant materials, support donor tours, assist with event logistics, and make sure programs stay on track and on budget.

A few things we’d like to see on your resume…

We find that the most successful people in this role have experience with project management or program support in community programs, engagement, or outreach. This role requires someone who is fluent in Spanish, confident connecting across cultures, and passionate about equity and community access to open spaces. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills along with the ability to listen to and discuss problems and complaints with tact.

A college degree is helpful but not required, relevant experience matters to us.

If you’ve led outdoor programs, worked in recreation or environmental education, served as a park ranger, guided community groups, or run engagement initiatives, you’re likely a great fit. If you enjoy solving problems on the fly, staying organized, managing multiple moving parts, and doing work that genuinely impacts people, we’d love to talk.

Hiking up to 5 miles over uneven terrain, lifting up to 40 pounds, maintaining CPR/first aid certifications, and traveling throughout Santa Barbara County. What’s essential is your ability to build trust, communicate clearly, work independently, and care deeply about the Land Trust’s mission.

This position offers a salary of $70,304–$75,000
, which includes consideration for the bilingual requirements of the role. We also provide generous vacation, sick, holiday pay along with paid health and dental premiums, and a retirement plan with company match, all within a supportive, mission-driven team culture.

This is an opportunity for someone who doesn’t mind a non-traditional schedule, this role works Tuesday through Saturday
, with occasional evenings.

If what you’ve read so far feels like you, you can apply with us directly. We will review your resume and let you know one way or the other what we think about how your qualifications may fit for this role.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. We make employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any protected characteristic.