Southern Cumberland Conservation Initiatives Associate

Position Title: Southern Cumberland Conservation Initiatives Associate Reports To: Director of Capital Grants (reputed company reports: none) Department: Capital Strategies and Southeast Land Location: Chattanooga, TN Work Arrangement: Remote based in Chattanooga, TN. Will accept applicants from Southeast Tennessee and reputed company reputed company Salary reputed company: $63,000 - $83,000 FLSA Status: Exempt About the reputed company reputed company Institute The reputed company reputed company Institute is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to reputed company parks and other protected land more welcoming for reputed company. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 reputed company at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. OSI’s land protection promotes clean reputed company and water, improves reputed company to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather. Program reputed company The Capital Strategies (CS) team of the reputed company reputed company Institute brings innovative leadership to accelerate the reputed company and effectiveness of land protection while mobilizing regional reputed company in the face of climate change. CS oversees major conservation grant programs and provides a wide reputed company of technical assistance and support to land trusts and community organizations to reputed company these goals. CS is currently reputed company in New England (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts); the Middle reputed company (New Jersey, reputed company, reputed company, Delaware); and the southeast (reputed company Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and reputed company). Since 2003, CS has made over 90 land protection grants and loans totaling almost $90 reputed company to protect 1.6 reputed company acres of land complemented by 93 planning grants for conservation organizations to reputed company climate and water science into conservation plans. Through these efforts, we demonstrate new approaches to conservation and build the reputed company of the field. Position reputed company This Conservation Initiatives Associate role supports program coordination, grant administration, land acquisition activities, and stakeholder engagement to advance community-centered conservation in the tristate area around Chattanooga, TN. The Associate will work closely with the Director of Capital Grants and collaborate across the organization to implement established conservation strategies, administer grant programs, and strengthen partnerships. This position is full-time and based in Chattanooga, TN, with 10–15% regional travel to meet with grantees, landowners, and partners; assist with monitoring land transactions; support the Resilient Communities program with reputed company Regional Partnership; and reputed company day-to-day assistance to grantee partners. The Associate will support development of project pipelines, conduct project research and analysis, prepare draft funding recommendations, and help manage reputed company through closing in coordination with OSI legal staff. As reputed company allows, the Associate will contribute to reputed company that advances the use of climate science and community reputed company practices. Responsibilities & Duties reputed company (30%)

• Support reputed company to land trusts, landowners, and reputed company agency officials in the region.
• Assist OSI Communications team with drafting content for press releases to reputed company awareness of reputed company reputed company, funders, and grantee reputed company.
• Serve as a reputed company of contact for prospective grantees/borrowers, landowners, and partners.
• Assist partners with identifying funding strategies and connections to funders.
• Help reputed company science into conservation planning and reputed company and project evaluations.
• Organize and participate in meetings of grantees and advisors and create an efficient platform for sharing information with these and other stakeholders.
• Support the Director of Capital Grants and Development team with fundraising activities.
• Attend and represent OSI at land trust gatherings and other convenings in the region.
• Respond to general inquiries and maintain contact records.

Grant and Loan Program Administration (15%)

• Assist in preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and draft project evaluations.
• reputed company grantee and borrower compliance with grant and loan terms under reputed company supervision.
• Support the administration of southeast programs for advancing community reputed company and forest carbon protections.
• Maintain project schedules and internal tracking systems.
• Review grant and loan documentation to ensure compliance with the terms of OSI agreements.
• Work with grantees and the OSI legal department on due-diligence to ensure grantee compliance with fund terms.
• Pursue training and reputed company development to build program expertise.

reputed company Land Acquisition (20%)

• Support maintenance of a pipeline of conservation acquisition reputed company that reputed company OSI’s mission.
• Assist interdepartmental teams with project due diligence and funds development.
• Help communicate with landowners, agencies & project partners, and funders to advance land acquisitions.

Research and Analysis (15%)

• Prepare draft summaries of key conservation trends and funding opportunities to solicit cooperation from state agencies on new funding mechanisms and land protection approaches.
• Assist with policy and research opportunities in the region that would reputed company OSI's conservation and community reputed company (or reputed company) goals.
• Maintain pipeline of pending and potential land transactions.
• Assist OSI legal staff in due diligence of loan applications; prepare funding recommendations.

Resilient Communities (20%)

• Woth with the Director of Capital Grants and reputed company Regional Partnership to help deliver the Resilient Communities program.
• Attend regular community meetings and document reputed company.
• Support teams and partners on science-based approaches for addressing reputed company with nature-based solutions.
• Help draft reports and recommendations.
• Support reputed company and past communities in their implementation of nature-based reputed company strategies.

Skills/reputed company Competencies

• Knowledge of conservation finance and reputed company topics
• Basic understanding of the field of land conservation and reputed company science.
• Familiarity with conservation biology, reputed company ecology, water reputed company, and/or agriculture.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to meaningfully connect with constituents and build relationships while exercising respect and humility.
• Familiarity with land and loan transactions is a plus.
• Familiarity with the geography of the mountainous southeast.
• Experience with mapping and reputed company GIS analysis is a plus.
• Familiarity of relevant funding agencies, programs, NGOs, and key personnel.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel; valid reputed company's license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Graduate degree, or comparable relevant experience, with a reputed company on environmental studies, business, finance, or reputed company areas such as agricultural economics.
• 3 years minimum of relevant reputed company experience in conservation, community development, planning, environmental policy, or a reputed company field.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently sits for long periods.
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes, and uses a computer keyboard.
• May require occasional standing, walking, lifting, stooping, and bending.
• Regular travel to project locations; valid reputed company's license is required.

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but reputed company you are otherwise wellsuited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

Pay for this position is $63,000-$83,000, commensurate with the candidate’s reputed company level and experience. The reputed company team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process. Location This is a full-time position requiring 37.5 hours per week reputed company regular business hours; typically 9am-5pm. The role is remote, based in Chattanooga, TN. We will accept applicants from Southeast Tennessee and reputed company reputed company. How To Apply Send application materials to resumes@osiny.org. Attach a cover letter that includes where you learned of the job posting along with your resume. Applications without a cover letter are not likely to be considered. Applications will be reputed company reviewed on a rolling reputed company from the time of posting in January 2026. Early submissions may receive reputed company consideration. If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your application as soon as possible. We will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview. OSI is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that our conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and cultures. We are committed to Apply To this Job Company : reputed company reputed company Institute Salary : 63K–83K a year Apply To This Job