Conservation Program Manager

Organizational Background

The Lake County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is dedicated to the locally-led, long term sustainable conservation and stewardship of natural resources and agriculture in Lake County, California. The Lake County Fire Safe Council (LCFSC) is a subsidiary of Lake County RCD, with a mission to empower Lake County residents and businesses with the information, knowledge, and support to protect their family and property from wildfire. Lake County RCD is a non-regulatory, Special District of the State of California that provides conservation assistance to private landowners across Lake County. Originally formed by Congress for soil conservation, the expanded mandate today includes forest and watershed health, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration, invasive species management, conservation planning, and education. RCDs combine the accountability and transparency of a public agency with the flexibility and non-regulatory approach of a non-profit organization. This nimbleness allows RCDs to adapt to the ever-changing needs of our communities, build trusted relationships, and act as the crucial bridge that connects individuals with state and federal partners and programs. Both Lake County RCD and the LCFSC work collaboratively with the Lake County governmental bodies, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

Check out www.lakercd.org for more information.

Position Summary

The Program Manager will work closely with Lake County RCD’s project staff to ensure the successful delivery of programming and completion of grant deliverables across Lake County RCD’s four program areas: Watersheds, Forest Health, Agriculture, and LCFSC. Additionally, the Program Manager will serve as the liaison between the organization and the grantor agencies. The immediate focus is on grant and project and grant management activities. The Program Manager will report to the Executive Director and will be supported by the Finance Manager and Bookkeeper.

GRANT MANAGEMENT

The Program Manager will assist with critical grant and project management activities, including the following: developing systems to reliably track progress on grant deliverables; ensuring compliance with County, state, and federal grant reporting and invoicing requirements, e.g., preparing quarterly reports; managing planning, implementation, and capacity-building projects at a variety of scales; providing oversight of activities carried out by consultants and subcontractors.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Program Manager will work with project staff to ensure the successful delivery of programming and individual projects on an as needed basis. This could include: collaboratively developing grant and project specific work plans; coordinating workshops and outreach events; developing Requests for Proposals for contractors; creating a technical assistance application process; and additional support for the project staff with project management activities.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

>Motivated self-starter passionate about the mission of Lake County RCD and LCFSC.

>Experience at a non-profit or public agency.

>Experience with grant management and reporting, particularly state and federal grants.

>Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Executive Director, project staff, and partners.

>Proficiency in a variety of workplace software programs, including Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Sheets, etc.) and Zoom.

>Skilled at creative, collaborative problem solving.

>Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

>Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend community meetings and events (virtually and in-person) as needed.

>Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

>Desire to embrace the mission of Lake County RCD, including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

>Experience working with low-income and/or under-resourced communities.

>Experience integrating equity, inclusion, diversity, and justice into organizational values and operations.

>Bachelor’s degree or coursework in environmental science, natural resources management, conservation agriculture, environmental planning, business or non-profit management, or related field, or work experience that provided similar foundational knowledge.

BENEFITS

>This is a non-exempt, full-time position (32-40 hours/week), at a pay rate of $35-$40/hour. Benefits include $500 monthly health insurance stipend and 40 hours of sick leave.

>After an initial three-month probationary period, benefits will include 13.5 paid holidays plus up to 120 hours vacation (accrual based on hours worked).

>This at-will position is fully funded for one year, and continued employment is contingent on additional funding, expected through the actions of all staff.

LOCATION

Remote work with regular attendance to in-person meetings in Lake County.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit a cover letter and resume to lakecountyrcdjobs@gmail.com with the subject “Program Manager Application”. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with the first review on August 12, 2024.