Greenway Trails Project Manager

 Greenway Trails Project Manager, Land Program 

About the Open Space Institute

The Open Space Institute is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. OSI’s land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather. 

Position Overview 

The Greenway Trails Project Manager manages land acquisition projects that convert former rail corridors into public greenway trails and expand regional trail networks across the Northeast and Midwest. Working under the direction of the Senior Vice President of Northeast Land and in coordination with the Legal Department, this role supports the completion of complex real estate transactions involving rail corridor acquisition, multi-party negotiations, public funding sources, and coordination with government agencies to expand regional trail networks. Projects may involve railbanking, corridor preservation, and coordination with railroads, public agencies, and trail partners to transition former rail infrastructure into public trail networks.

The Project Manager coordinates the day-to-day progress of acquisition projects, including managing due diligence, working with consultants, supporting purchase negotiations, navigating public review processes, and assisting with funding applications. The role also helps identify potential acquisition opportunities and supports efforts to secure funding for trail and conservation projects.

This position requires experience with real estate transactions, land acquisition, or conservation projects, strong project management skills, and the ability to coordinate multiple partners and processes to move projects forward.

Primary Responsibilities & Duties

Lead Rail Corridor Land Acquisition Projects

• Manage rail corridor acquisition projects that convert former rail lines into public greenway trails, including projects involving railbanking and corridor preservation. Work under the direction of the Senior Vice President, Northeast Land and in coordination with OSI legal staff.
• Coordinate all stages of acquisition projects to ensure timely progress toward closing
• Track project timelines, milestones, and deliverables across multiple active projects
• Prepare internal project summaries, fact sheets, maps, and approval documentation
• Coordinate with internal staff, consultants, and external partners to advance projects
• Identify and evaluate potential rail corridor acquisition opportunities in coordination with internal staff and external partners.
• Coordinate with railroads, public agencies, and trail organizations involved in railbanking or rail corridor conversion efforts.

Oversee Real Estate Due Diligence and Transaction Support

Manage and coordinate the technical and transactional components required to complete acquisitions.

• Coordinate project due diligence including title, survey, appraisal, and environmental assessments
• Support negotiation and execution of purchase and sale agreements
• Contract for and review appraisals, environmental assessments, survey work, and title reports
• Manage public review processes and government approvals related to land acquisition

Secure and Support Project Funding

Help identify and obtain funding necessary to support trail acquisition and conservation projects.

• Identify and develop funding sources for rail corridor acquisition capital and project costs.
• Write or assist with competitive grant applications and project budgets.
• Coordinate with internal teams and partners to align funding strategies with project timelines.

Shared Programmatic Commitments

• Use creativity and entrepreneurship to steer conservation funding to projects that serve under resourced and racially diverse communities.
• Consider real and perceived impacts a project may have on proximate communities and amend project plans to the extent practical after community feedback.
• Consider and review equity as a criterion where appropriate, for project selection.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.

Culture & Equity Responsibilities

All OSI staff are expected to contribute to a workplace culture grounded in respect, fairness, and inclusion. This includes highlighting the importance of group identity and considering how personal bias or favoritism may affect interactions or result in inequitable treatment or communication-sharing throughout the organization.

Staff are also expected to cultivate networks and candidate pipelines that include group identities currently underrepresented at OSI, and to draw from those networks when positions are open.

Required Skills/Core Competencies

• Sound understanding of real estate principles and economics.
• Experience working with Class I or Class II railroads or familiarity with railroad real estate transactions preferred.
• Familiarity with government real property acquisition review process.
• Working knowledge of the processes for obtaining public funding for land acquisition.
• Ability to manage multiple properties, multiple funding sources and processes, develop programs and use resources of the organization to accomplish larger initiatives.
• Experience with mapping and related GIS analysis is a plus. 
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with computer applications including MS Office, internet tools, and databases.
• Highly organized.
• Ability to work well as part of a team, and individually.
• High-level familiarity with public agency land acquisition departments.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in real estate transactions, land acquisition, conservation real estate, infrastructure corridor acquisition, or related project management work.
• Experience managing or supporting real estate due diligence processes (title, survey, appraisal, environmental review) preferred.
• Experience in working on railroad projects preferred.
• A track record of effective relationship management, both internally and externally.
• Bachelor's degree, advanced degree in related field preferred; or equivalent experience.
• Existing relationships with public agencies and government officials is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Valid driver’s license required.
• Moderate to heavy travel (30% or more): evening and occasional weekend work to be expected.
• Frequently sits for long periods of time.
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard.
• Requires standing, walking, stooping, bending, lifting up to 30 lbs.
• Have an appropriate home workspace for remote days.

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply. 

Working Arrangements, Pay and Benefits

This is a full-time position requiring 37.5 hours per week within regular business hours; typically 9am-5pm. The role is remote, with regular travel to project sites, generally in the Northeast and Midwest US. We will accept applicants who reside in NY, NJ, CT, PA.

Pay for this position is $90,000-$100,000, commensurate with the candidate’s skill level and experience. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process.

OSI offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package, including a choice of medical plans (both traditional and high-deductible health plans with HSA), with premiums for employees and their dependents covered up to 100% on some plans; dental and vision coverage, with premiums for employees and their dependents 100% covered by OSI; flexible spending accounts; a 403(b) plan with both an up to 4% employer match and 4% discretionary employer contribution after 2 years of service; paid time off, including paid holidays, accrued PTO and sick days, 3 “Summer Fridays”, and 2 floating holidays; life insurance; disability coverage; an employee assistance program; and more.

How To Apply

Apply using the button below! 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 actively reviewed on a rolling basis from the time of posting in late April 2026. Early submissions may receive priority consideration. If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your application as soon as possible, as the role will be unposted once a strong candidate pool has been identified. We will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview. 

Equal Opportunity Statement

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 cultivating and retaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters belonging. 

OSI offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email resumes@osiny.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line. 

OSI does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.