Athens Land Trust is an innovative and adaptive community and conservation land trust in Georgia. We look for team members who are creative, deeply committed to advancing equity, and excited about embracing an evolving set of responsibilities and opportunities as the organization grows.
Athens Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Director of Operations
The Director of Operations will implement a strategic alignment of our operations and messaging to produce an enhanced organizational structure that will yield more effective external partnerships and community impact. The Director of Operations will create systems for major stages in organizational processes from hiring, on-boarding, training, program implementation, and evaluation. They will provide tactical and strategic co-leadership to the team through a lens of equity and inclusion.
Specific duties are as follows:
- Collaborate with organizational and program leadership to establish and implement strategies and procedures for onboarding, training, and supporting staff.
- Collaborate with organizational and program leadership to design practical and meaningful monitoring and evaluation strategies that advance program and organizational goals using Salesforce as a platform.
- Lead efforts to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity, retention, and strengthen leadership pathways for staff.
- Partner with program directors to recruit top talent that aligns with workforce plans that support the overall business and growth goals.
- Establish and implement a strategy for monitoring, retaining, and supporting applicants and employees at all levels of the organization.
- Identify and implement HR optimizing technology and approaches to develop a more uniform system of recruiting and tracking applicants that also addresses the goals of building a diverse and inclusive organization.
- Be an advocate for our core values and ensure all decisions, programs, and processes are aligned with our culture and core beliefs.
- Collaborate with organization leadership and development staff to build on strategic realignment and enhanced messaging to grow the organization’s funding sources.
- Provide and lead strategic alignment across programs to meet Strategic Plan goals and provide a meaningful experience for employees.
- Create and implement policies to reflect organizational values such as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy, and other needed policies as identified by Board and Staff.
- Create and manage financial and budget tracking systems in concert with Finance Director and Program Directors.
- Serve as a backup check and payroll processor.
All ALT Employees:
- Be in the office according to a predetermined schedule to answer email and messages, prepare detailed timesheets, coordinate with fellow staff
- Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting
- Write newsletter articles, brochures, and educational materials related to ALT’s programs and activities
- Attend weekly staff meetings
- Be part of a team – provide support for all staff members in their respective duties
Qualifications:
- Understanding of grants, federal funding, and grant writing.
- Data entry and proficiency in computer skills.
- Understanding of how to create systems that enhance rather than hinder the work of the organization.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and administrative skills. The candidate must show meticulous attention to detail and demonstrate accuracy and timeliness in record keeping, problem-solving, and tracking.
- Vision and creativity
- Ability to successfully manage multiple assignments without close supervision. They must be able to prioritize and meet deadlines.
- Communicate effectively with diverse populations.
- Show flexibility, and comfortable with being part of a team effort.
- Proficiency in Excel, Word, Quickbooks, cloud software (e.g., Salesforce), and interest to learn new technological systems.
- Experience supporting and managing employees
Education:
Any combination of experience and education, Nonprofit Administration, Human Services, or Public Administration experience preferred.
Compensation:
This is a full-time position with benefits. Pay will be commensurate with experience.
To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest to the Executive Director, Heather Benham, at heather@athenslandtrust.org.
Director of Strategic Initiatives
The Director of Strategic Initiatives will work with Athens Land Trust’s program staff to articulate program directional growth through strategic fundraising while strengthening key partnerships, enhancing organizational culture, and solidifying internal evaluation practices.
Specific duties are as follows:
Internal Capacity Building (10-15hrs/ wk)
- Facilitate collective process around organizational stated policies for equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Support a culture of learning and evaluation that connects ongoing work to a shared strategic vision
- Facilitate engaging staff meetings
- Support new employee and board member onboarding process
Development & Evaluation (10-15 hrs/ wk)
- Support ED with donor outreach and match funding streams to organizational and programmatic needs
- Support Program Directors in structuring meaningful evaluation measures and serve as the conduit to Salesforce professionals to set up the tracking for those measurements
- Assist program staff with evaluation tools and metrics
Strategic Partnerships & Field Building (10-15 hrs/ wk)
- Build internal and external consensus and shared understanding about the work of the organization
- Participate in key stakeholder meetings
- Establish and support partnerships that advance the broader strategic vision of Athens Land Trust and the needs of the communities we serve
- Assist in the development of strategic organizational initiatives
All ALT Employees:
- Be in the office according to a predetermined schedule to answer email and messages, prepare detailed timesheets, coordinate with fellow staff
- Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting
- Write newsletter articles, and brochure and educational materials related to ALT’s programs and activities
- Attend weekly staff meetings
- Be part of a team-provide support for all staff members in their respective duties
Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and to work effectively with partners and staff. Demonstrated excellence in organizational, managerial, and communication skills are also required.
To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest to the Executive Director, Heather Benham, at heather@athenslandtrust.org.
Housing Director
Core responsibilities – Oversee the development of affordable housing projects, the marketing of these projects, and the preparation of eligible candidates to purchase ALT homes, while building the capacity and network of our residents.
Specific tasks include:
- Find new projects and manage all aspects of acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction for ALT’s housing projects. Develop scope of work, oversee design and specifications, write and negotiate contracts with contractors, oversee bid/procurement process as per HCD and HUD requirements
- Oversee construction of projects, monitor spending on affordable housing projects to ensure compliance with procurement policies, submit HOME reimbursement requests
- Oversee the marketing of houses being built or rehabilitated by ALT
- Oversee assistance to ALT’s homeowners or lease purchasers regarding credit repair, budgeting, and mortgage applications.
- Ensure compliance with HUD guidelines regarding clients’ income eligibility (i.e., verify initial eligibility for ALT’s homeownership program)
- Work with local banks to develop lending program to assist ALT’s clients with mortgages and supervise preparation of documents for closings for ALT Homeowners
- Prepare and submit monthly and annual CDBG & HOME reports
- Hold informational sessions and meet with local government officials, realtors, employers, builders, clergy and others to explain CLT model
- Represent ALT at community meetings
- Work with AHA, Habitat, EADC, HCDC and other housing agencies
- Convene ALT Board Housing Committee Meetings, on a regular basis as determined by the Board and staff, and participate in ALT Board meetings
- Assist in special projects needed to further the work of the housing program – ie Inclusionary Zoning, Lending programs, etc.
- Ensure the successful stewardship of ALT’s affordable units.
- Connect community members to other resources as needed.
All ALT Employees:
- Be in the office according to a predetermined schedule to answer email and messages, prepare detailed timesheets, coordinate with fellow staff, etc.;
- Write newsletter articles, and brochure and educational materials related to ALT’s housing program;
- Assist with fundraising (i.e. grant applications, special events, etc.);
- Attend weekly staff meetings;
- Be part of a team—provide support for all staff members in their respective duties and participate in efforts to further the equity work of the organization;
- Be ready to listen and learn from those we are serving.
To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest to the Executive Director, Heather Benham, at heather@athenslandtrust.org.
Youth Development Programs
Our Youth Development programs are unique. We offer three paid job skills training programs, the Young Urban Farmers the Young Urban Builders and the Young Conservation Stewards Each program provides paid training and education for high-school aged youth in Athens-Clarke County.
Our approach incorporates on-site training, exposure to new opportunities, leadership development and classroom education, that delivers both specialized and general job skills, and community involvement to help ensure that the next generation of leaders are invested in where they live. We work to create personal connections between the youth in our programs and leaders in the community and the respective industries that are vital to increased job placement and social capital once they have graduated from their program.
Young Urban Builders: 2020-2021 School Year
We are now accepting applications for the Young Urban Builders program, with a projected start date of October 15, 2020. The Young Urban Builders program was started in 2018 as a way to address youth unemployment and perform owner-occupied rehabilitation in the West Broad Neighborhood.
The program is designed to provide job training and experience while working on community projects and aiding in neighborhood revitalization. YUB students are involved at all stages in the rehabilitation process to allow for a variety of skills to be developed.
YUB duties and responsibilities include:
- learning and practicing workplace and tool safety
- proper use and maintenance of tools
- developing strong work ethics and basic job skills
- reading blueprints and interpreting written instructions
- using measurement tools and applied mathematics
Requirements:
Students must be between 16 and 25 years of age.
To apply:
Please download the application here and email it to Dr. Tawana Mattox, Education and Empowerment Director, at tawana@athenslandtrust.org or mail it to our office at 685 North. Pope Street, Athens, GA 30601. Applications can also be left in our secure dropbox at our office. We are accepting applications until all positions are filled.