POSITION SUMMARY:

The Landowner Partnerships Lead is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of landowner engagement, including the origination, development, and enrollment of prairie acres into Roeslein’s platform.  This role provides both strategic direction and operational leadership, ensuring the acquisition of high-quality acres that support environmental, energy, and market objectives.

This position oversees a cross-functional team and aligns land development efforts with downstream market opportunities, including environmental credits and RNG production.  This role plays a critical part in building a scalable, multi-revenue system by ensuring that landowner participation, acreage quality, and program execution meet the organization’s commercial and environmental goals.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office and uncontrolled atmosphere.  Exposure to harsh conditions—such as:  dust, fumes, chemicals, hazardous materials, noise, and varying weather and temperatures—for long periods of time is possible.  All employees are required to follow safety standards and wear all personal protective equipment in designated areas. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.   While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, use hands and fingers, grip, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and talk and hear.  Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs. on a regular basis is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Acreage Strategy & Platform Growth

• Define and execute strategy to enroll 10,000 acres in year one, scaling to 30,000+ annually
• Prioritize the right acres in the right geographies, optimizing for environmental impact, market value, and long-term durability
• Build a repeatable model for scaling prairie adoption across target regions

Landowner Origination & Advisory

• Lead development of a high-quality landowner pipeline through your team and network
• Serve as a senior advisor on complex or strategic landowner relationships
• Shape and refine how Roeslein engages with producers and strategic partners, balancing credibility, economics, and practicality
• Support closing of key opportunities while enabling the team to execute at scale

Program Design & Value Creation

• Drive development of prairie systems that maximize stacked monetization (carbon, water, RNG, grazing, biodiversity), creating a durable, long-term business
• Influence key decisions on seed sourcing, suppliers, and implementation strategies
• Continuously refine the program to improve landowner adoption and economic outcomes

Market Intelligence & Commercial Feedback Loop

• Own the feedback loop between landowners, the field team, and leadership
• Provide actionable insights on:
  • producer economics and expectations
  • competitive programs and pricing
  • barriers to adoption and scaling
• Directly inform program structure, pricing, and go-to-market strategy

Risk, Integrity & Market Readiness

• Ensure acres meet requirements for high-integrity environmental markets and long-term commitment to prairie ecosystems
• Oversee landowner qualification and long-term participation viability
• Partner with MRV leadership to ensure readiness for monitoring, reporting, and verification
• Protect the credibility of RAE’s environmental outcomes with rigor and discipline

Leadership in a High-Ownership Environment

• Lead a team operating across regions and disciplines
• Navigate a highly engaged leadership environment with strong perspectives
• Translate strategy into execution while balancing speed, quality, and alignment
• Build systems and processes that enable scalable growth
• Cross-Platform Collaboration: Partner closely with the Environmental Markets + Prairie RNG Director and Nutrients Director to align land origination with downstream revenue pathways, ensuring prairie acres are developed to maximize value across carbon, water, RNG, and nutrient markets.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote a positive working environment that supports the organization’s mission and goals
• Support internal collaboration across business development, landowner enrollment, and environmental markets teams
• Contribute insights to improve program design and scalability
• Perform other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE / SKILL / ABILITY / EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Business, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience. MBA or MS preferred.
• 7–12+ years working directly with farmers, landowners, or agricultural systems
• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver against growth targets
• Strong commercial instincts, understanding how land translates into economic value
• Experience building or scaling programs in ambiguous environments
• Ability to influence both external stakeholders (landowners) and internal leadership
• Comfort operating with high autonomy and accountability
• Familiarity with prairie systems, regenerative agriculture, or conservation programs
• Ability to travel frequently and work in field environments
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean MVR
• Must comply with Roeslein Alternative Energy’s core values for the safe and efficient operation of the business and maintain sound relationships among and with employees