The Waší·šiw Land Trust (WLT) is a new non-profit corporation created in 2025 by the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California to reacquire and care for lands within our traditional territories. In February 2026, we acquired 10,274 acres of undeveloped land and established the WélmeltiɁ Preserve (located in Sierra County and Lassen County, California). Our work is guided by our elders and is rooted in a strong desire to enhance the lands that we are a part of. We aim to restore, conserve, and promote resilient ecosystems across Wá·šiw traditional territories for future generations. We are looking for a skilled and experienced leader to serve as our inaugural Executive Director (ED). The ED will lead our organization through the initial start-up phase to a fully-operational entity focused on land return, ecological stewardship, and cultural revitalization. An ideal candidate is someone with proven fundraising and organizational advancement skills who can lead with their heart and carry our purpose at the center of their work.
Reports to: Waší·šiw Land Trust Board of Directors
Location: Hybrid (95% remote and 5% on location at the WélmeltiɁ Preserve near Loyalton, CA)
Type: Full-time, Exempt
Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000 salary dependent on education and experience. Benefits to include health insurance, retirement match, paid time off, and holidays ($96,000 - $120,000 total compensation).
Qualifications: 7+ years of proven leadership experience in nonprofits, tribal governance, business, land conservation, and/or land trust setting with a bachelor’s degree or higher in related fields (environmental science, law, business, or Indigenous studies)
To Apply: Open until filled. For full consideration, please apply by July 1, 2026. Send your resume, a cover letter, and three professional references to [email protected]
Key Responsibilities
1. Organizational Strategy & Launch
- Advance our organization from a volunteer board-led start-up to a professionally staffed organization.
- Develop organizational policies and operating procedures that are in compliance with all applicable laws, accreditation standards, and grant agreements to ensure the long-term health of our organization.
- Ensure all activities align with the purpose of WLT and for the benefit of Washoe people.
2. Fundraising & Resource Development
- Design and execute a fundraising strategy that not only ensures financial stability of core staff and baseline programs but also promotes growth towards long-term land acquisition and stewardship goals.
- Cultivate relationships with philanthropic partners and donors, as well as with public funding agencies.
- Secure capital for land acquisitions and long-term stewardship endowments such as major gifts, foundations, and government grants.
3. Land Conservation & Stewardship
- Actively manage the WélmeltiɁ Preserve and all additionally-acquired lands.
- Oversee land transactions, including fee-simple acquisitions and conservation easements.
- Develop stewardship plans integrating Wá·šiw traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation science.
- Engage with adjacent landowners, including neighboring public agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to collaborate and facilitated land management objectives.
- Navigate complex legal and real estate landscapes unique to Nevada and California
- Manage projects and contracts to implement land management objectives.
4. Community & Tribal Relations
- Serve as the primary spokesperson of WLT and build trust with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, local community, public agencies, and private entities.
- Advocate for Indigenous land rights and policy changes at state and local levels.
- Foster collaborative partnerships with existing Indigenous land trusts, non-Native land trusts, and environmental groups.
- Organize community events and outreach initiatives.
5. Operations & Governance
- Manage the annual budget, financial reporting, and legal compliance.
- Recruit, mentor, and lead a growing team of staff and contractors.
- Support the Board of Directors in governance and strategic oversight including assisting with and participating in regular, quarterly, and annual WLT Board of Director meetings.
Qualifications
Work Experience: 7+ years of proven leadership experience in nonprofits, tribal governance, land conservation, and/or land trust setting that includes experience raising public and private funds.
Cultural Competency: Lived experience or deep professional engagement with Indigenous communities and tribal sovereignty.
Technical Skills: Familiarity with real estate transactions, Land Trust Alliance standards, and conservation finance.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher in related fields (environmental science, law, business, or Indigenous studies). A Master’s Degree in a related field can substitute a year of required work experience.
Working Conditions
Periodically required to travel to the WélmeltiɁ Preserve and other properties, hike through a variety of habitat types and terrain, walk over uneven ground, climb over obstacles, move through thick vegetation, and access remote locations. Regularly sits or stands at a desk or computer workstation. Frequently involves working alone: in the field, as the sole WLT representative at meetings, and at a home or in-person office. Some evening and weekend responsibilities required, including travel. May be required to lift, position, or otherwise move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Waší·šiw Land Trust Board of Directors
The Executive Director (ED) reports to the Board of Directors. Our Board is composed of a diverse group Washoe Tribal Members with experience in environmental science, natural resource management, governance, planning, leadership, communications, education, and cultural knowledge. We see ourselves as a team working to support the ED in pursuit of our goals and purpose.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Waší·šiw Land Trust Board of Directors reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.
The working conditions described here are representative in part of those that will be encountered by an employee in this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to successfully function in these working conditions.
Waší·šiw Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. Background check will be completed prior to candidate appointment.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Loyalton, CA 96118
