planning manager

The Land Conservancy seeks a full-time Senior Land Use Planner with at least 5 years of experience who shares our passion for land preservation, creativity, and planning. The Planning Manager will oversee, manage, and collaborate on a variety of planning projects for municipalities, counties, and other public and private partners. Projects include Open Space and Recreation Plans, Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plans, Environmental Resource Inventories, and similar land conservation initiatives. Ideal candidates will have an interest in planning, education, land conservation, public policy, and public engagement.

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The ideal candidate is both an educator and a writer. The Planning Manager will work closely with graduate students hired by The Land Conservancy through our one-year Planning Fellowship program, teaching them planning principles and carefully editing their work as part of our municipal planning services. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a hybrid remote work opportunity.

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Key Responsibilities

• Plan Development, Writing, and Management

• Community Outreach and Public Engagement

• Research and Analysis

• Marketing and Project-Management

• Oversee Planning Fellows and Internship Program

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Job Summary
This full-time position is 40 hours per week. General availability is from 9 am-5 pm Monday through Friday, or staff can work a compressed four-day work week. There is flexibility in the time of day for the work to be completed. Attendance at in-person meetings (including evening meetings) is required when requested by the towns and/or counties we work with and occasionally in The Conservancy’s Boonton office. Most of our work is in northern New Jersey.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Community, Regional, Urban or City Planning (Masters preferred)

• 5 years or more of relevant planning experience

• Experience with the NJDEP Green Acres and NJDA SADC programs

• Experience covering client and municipal meetings independently, including demonstrated proficiency in providing professional presentations and answering questions during meetings

• AICP Certification / New Jersey Professional Planner License

 

Skills Needed

• Excellent presentation and communication skills (verbal and written)

• Strong writing skills

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex planning projects

• Strong interpersonal skills and staff management

• Ability to analyze, organize, and present data in a clear and understandable manner

• Strong organizational skills and personal initiative

• Knowledge of state and local land conservation programs and funding requirements

• Programs: Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Knowledge of ArcGIS a plus

• Ability to review and manage the work of other team members

 

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Marketing and public relations for planning program.

• Development and communication of 

  • Project scopes, schedules, and tasks.

  • Public outreach materials.

  • Plan outcomes and recommendations.

• Researching and analyzing documents and materials related to planning projects.

• Writing and assembling reports and documents using text and graphics accessible to the general public.

• Organizing, participating and leading meetings with clients, stakeholders, and the general public.

• Completion of grant applications related to planning, conservation, and land preservation.

• Management of the organization’s one-year planning fellowship program and overseeing seasonal interns. Work directly with the planning fellows and GIS staff.

• Work with the staff bookkeeper to manage the billing and contracts for the Conservancy’s municipal services program.

• Maintain and complete the Conservancy’s application for land trust accreditation.

 

Why Join Us?
We support our staff with a comprehensive benefits package—including a starting salary of $80,000, a 3% Simple IRA match, medical health, vision, and dental insurance, and generous paid time off—and a hybrid work environment with flexible scheduling to promote work-life balance. We invest in our people, including paid opportunities to attend the national Land Rally Conference. This is an opportunity to do work that matters for New Jersey families today and for generations to come.

How to Apply
This position is open immediately with a target start date of April 1. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in a single PDF document to hr@tlc-nj.org with the subject line: Planning Manager – [Your Name].

 

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Land Stewardship Interns

 

The Land Steward Intern(s) primary activities consist of field work like control of invasive species, fence repair, trail maintenance, property inspections, baseline inspections, debris removal, community garden maintenance, preserve boundary posting, mowing and weed trimming as well as other various tasks to assist the Stewardship Manager in the upkeep of our preserves. Work is located on various preserves scattered throughout northern New Jersey from Blairstown in Warren County to Mahwah in Bergen County, although most will be at South Branch Preserves in Mount Olive. 

 

Duties:

1. Perform invasive species control activities on emerging and widespread species that pose severe threats to our preserves, including mechanical removal and application of herbicides (training will be provided).

2. Maintain forest and meadow restoration projects.

3. Assist with community garden.

4. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Stewardship Manager.

 

Ideal candidate requirements:

1. Enrollment in or completion of bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related fields is preferred, but not required.

2. Knowledge of invasive species identification and management is preferred, but not required.

3. Knowledge of flora and fauna of New Jersey is preferred, but not required.

4. Knowledge of GPS/GIS is preferred, but not required.

5. Knowledge of the use of small power equipment such as mowers and weed trimmers.

6. Ability to conduct physically strenuous field work in rugged terrain and varied weather conditions is required.

 

• Salary and Hours: The salary for the internship is $15.92/hour with a 40-hour work week (Monday - Friday). Approximately 8:00AM to 4:00PM.

• Three interns will be needed until the end of August (approximately 4/6/26 through 8/28/26).

• Two interns will be needed until mid-November.

• Housing is not provided. Personal transportation required.

 

To apply, please send the following materials by Friday, March 6, 2026.

1. A resume (maximum of two pages).

2. A cover letter addressing how your education/experience qualifies you to accomplish the job duties listed above. Please indicate whether you are interested in summer only or the extended internship.

3. The names and email addresses or phone numbers of three references.

 

Applications missing any of these items will not be considered. Please send application materials to Dennis Briede at dbriede@tlc-nj.org.

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Donor Relations Manager

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New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, making every acre of preserved land a vital victory for our environment and our communities. At The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, we don’t just see open space; we see the future of our state’s water, wildlife, and natural heritage.

We are looking for a Donor Relations Manager who understands that fundraising is the engine of conservation. You won’t just manage a portfolio; you will be the bridge between passionate conservationists and the permanent protection of New Jersey’s natural beauty.

 

As a key member of our Development & Communications team, you will drive the growth of our Leadership Circle—the dedicated individuals giving between $1,000 and $20,000. This is a high-impact role designed for a relationship-builder who thrives on connecting a donor’s personal legacy to tangible land preservation projects. You will join a high-performing, collaborative team where your work results in the permanent protection of the landscapes we call home.

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Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Communications, the Donor Relations Manager is the strategic lead for our mid-to-major gift pipeline. You will be responsible for designing and implementing a multi-faceted donor journey—from initial research and acquisition to long-term stewardship and planned giving.

 

This role is perfect for a professional who balances people skills with a data-driven approach. You will move seamlessly between solicitations in the field and moves management within our database to ensure no opportunity for impact is missed. Your goal is simple but profound: to grow our membership base and elevate the giving capacity of those who believe in our mission.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the strategy for a portfolio of donors giving $1,000–$20,000, focusing on moves management, retention, and significant upgrades.

• Relationship Building: Act as a primary ambassador, conducting face-to-face meetings, site tours, and personalized outreach to deepen donor commitment.

• Strategic Growth: Research, qualify, and engage new prospects to build a healthy pipeline of major donors for the organization's future growth and planned giving programs.

• Collaborative Leadership: Work closely with the President and VP of Development to support their high-level solicitations and ensure a seamless experience for our most generous supporters.

• Data-Driven Stewardship: Maintain impeccable records in DonorPerfect, using data to track progress against benchmarks and report on portfolio health.

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Qualifications

• Experience: At least 3 years in fundraising, with a proven track record in donor cultivation or gift solicitation.

• Analytical Mindset: Demonstrated ability to use data to inform strategy and track results.

• Self-Starter: A proactive professional who enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives independently.

• Outgoing individual with exceptional interpersonal and storytelling skills; ability to articulate the "why" of conservation to diverse audiences.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with DonorPerfect and GiveCloud is a significant plus.

• Values: A deep-seated passion for environmental conservation and land protection.

 

Why Join Us?

When you work at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, you are joining a national leader in land preservation. As the first accredited land trust in the state and winner of the 2024 National Land Trust Excellence Award, we offer an environment where your fundraising expertise translates directly into preserved acres. We support our staff with a comprehensive benefits package—including a starting salary of $60,000, a 3% Simple IRA match, medical insurance, and generous paid time off—and a hybrid work environment with flexible scheduling to promote work-life balance. We invest in our people, including paid opportunities to attend the national Land Rally Conference. This is an opportunity to do work that matters for New Jersey families today and for generations to come.

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How to Apply

This position is open immediately with a target start date of Monday, March 2. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please send a cover letter and resume in a single PDF document to hr@tlc-nj.org with the subject line: Donor Relations Manager – [Your Name].