Executive Assistant and Board Liason

Palmer Land Conservancy (Palmer) is one of the leading nonprofit land conservation organizations in Colorado and one of the country’s first 100 nationally accredited land trusts through the Land Trust Alliance. Our mission is to protect land and water for the wellbeing of nature and people. Since 1977, the organization has permanently protected 138,000 acres including 20 public parks and open spaces, working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and scenic views. These are the places where we all live, work and play.

We are a team of professionals who work with private landowners, and local, state, and federal partners to be a catalyst for community health, resiliency, and prosperity. Through these partnerships we can achieve lasting impact towards our mission and begin to ignite a culture shift for conservation. We are committed to organizational excellence and valuing our people, diverse backgrounds and experiences, equitable access and expanding the tools we need to be successful.

The Executive Assistant & Board Liaison arrives at a time of growth and opportunity within the organization. Guided by the goals of our new 5-year strategic plan, Land for Life, the organization is focused on acting now and building for future generations. Combined with fiscal strength and a drive for innovation, Palmer is projected to grow our staff by 40% over the next three years to achieve our conservation objectives. At Palmer we believe people ultimately make this work happen. The more a community cares about its land and water resources, the more willpower there is to preserve and protect them. Similarly, the more a community has access to the outdoors the healthier its population is, with a higher quality of life. We believe that connecting people to nature and ensuring the benefits of this work is accessible by everyone is a priority.

Our main office is in downtown Colorado Springs, with satellite offices in both Pueblo and Salida. Find out more at palmerland.org.

About our Trustees

Palmer is honored to have 18 community members on our Board of Trustees. These individuals represent a geographic area from Denver to Pueblo and they each bring a unique skill set that enhances our insight not only around organizational excellence but in our day-to-day work with our community partners. Our Trustees serve as advisors on long range objectives, work with us to achieve our philanthropy and project goals and ensure our legal compliance in all aspects of our work. They are an incredible benefit to our organization as they each bring a strong commitment to our organization and are invested in the longevity and integrity of Palmer.

The Opportunity

The Executive Assistant & Board Liaison’s (EA) primary focus is to provide comprehensive administrative support to the President and CEO (CEO) of Palmer as they lead the organization through the implementation of the strategic plan. The EA serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to the CEO; organizes and coordinates executive outreach and external relations efforts; and oversees special projects. Additionally, the EA will play a crucial role in supporting the organization's Board of Trustees by serving as the primary liaison, coordinating meetings, supporting board members in their commitments to the organization, and facilitating effective communication between the board and executive leadership. This person will bring a balance of strong interpersonal skills along with exceptional attention to detail.

Roles and Responsibilities

Executive Support

• Completes administrative tasks for the President & CEO, including managing and completing expense reports; composing and preparing correspondence that is sometimes confidential; arranging travel plans and travel related logistics.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages the CEO’s active calendar of appointments to ensure optimal time management.
• Communicates directly, and on behalf of the CEO, with board trustees, donors, staff, and others, on matters related to CEO's priorities. This includes drafting acknowledgement letters, personal correspondence, and other tasks that facilitate the CEO's ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders and audiences.
• Researches, prioritizes, and follows up on incoming issues and concerns addressed to and at the discretion of the CEO, including those of a sensitive or confidential nature. Determines appropriate course of action, referral, or response.
• Works closely and effectively with the CEO to keep them well informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities, following up appropriately.
• Prioritizes conflicting needs; handles matters expeditiously, proactively, and follows-through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures.
• Follows up on contacts made by the CEO and supports the cultivation of ongoing relationships.

Board of Trustees Support & Liaison

• Serves as the CEO's administrative liaison to Palmer’s Board of Trustees and Advisory Trustees.
• Provides administrative support to Trustees to allow them to fulfill their fundraising, outreach, and networking goals at the direction of the CEO and philanthropy staff.
• Manages all aspects of Palmer’s board portal, including verifying staff, committee members and ensuring Trustees are provided with the correct access for their role.
• Creates all Trustee meeting agendas and supports senior staff to create and distribute committee meeting agendas.
• Maintains all governing documents and paperwork related to the Trustees.
• Attends meetings and records minutes, ensuring timely distribution to relevant parties.
• Assists Trustees with Palmer-related meeting logistics, travel arrangements, and other support as needed.
• Maintains discretion and confidentiality in relationships with all Trustees.
• Adheres to compliance with applicable rules and regulations set in bylaws regarding Trustee and Trustee committee matters, including advance distribution of materials before meetings.

Special Projects and Initiatives

• Provides necessary capacity and support on special projects that require direct involvement from the CEO.
• Conducts research, compiles data, and prepares reports as requested.

Qualifications:

In addition to the criteria below the ideal candidate will be creative and enjoy working within a small, entrepreneurial environment that is mission-driven, results-driven, and community oriented. This individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, with strong written and verbal communication, administrative, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities. The EA will have the ability to work independently on projects and must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion.

• Proven experience of 2-3 years as an executive assistant or in a similar role.
• Bachelor's degree or related work experience preferred.
• Demonstration of exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstration of expert level written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to quickly learn and navigate a variety of technology related systems including task boards, databases, spreadsheets.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with the utmost discretion.
• Highly resourceful team player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Experience and interest in internal and external communications, partnership development, and fundraising.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many, but not all of the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, Palmer Land Conservancy encourages you to apply.

To Apply for the Position

Please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@palmerland.org prior to the position’s closing for new applications on Sunday, April 21st. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Colorado Springs, CO 80903: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Colorado Springs, CO 80903