ENR Jobs Board

Conservation Partnerships Coordinator, Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy

September 28, 2023 2:02 pm

West NC/East TN/Southwest VA, Remote

Position Title:

Organization: The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy

Location:West NC/East TN/Southwest VA, Remote

Organization Overview: The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is the conservation and restoration of amphibian and reptile populations and their habitats across the United States. ARC focuses on implementing field programs in high-priority areas for amphibians and reptiles to improve their chances of survival. The work includes inventory, monitoring, research, habitat restoration, population augmentation, and developing management plans across Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas (PARCAs). Many of their goals are supported through strategic collaborations with partners across federal and state agencies, private and non-profit sector organizations, and individual public and private land managers. Learn more at http://www.ARCprotects.org

Position Overview: ARC seeks a talented project manager to support the implementation and growth of its Working Lands for Wildlife program and other conservation partnerships. As a long-time collaborator of the USDA NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) program, ARC provides critical support in implementing specific WLFW efforts related to amphibian and reptile species on the ground. Management of established projects including the Eastern hellbender and bog turtle (southern population) programs will be a primary focus of this position, but work will also focus on growing out new WLFW programs for additional species, as well as supporting and expanding the collaborative efforts of other ARC conservation partnerships.

Duties: The role of the Conservation Partnership Coordinator will be to advance the goals of WLFW and other programs by helping to guide their vision and strategic direction; providing leadership, support, and supervision to program staff in the field; and establishing and maintaining relationships with key partners who are essential to the successful implementation of these programs. Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Develop a strategic vision for expanding the reach and impact of the WLFW hellbender, bog turtle, and aquatic framework programs.
Provide leadership for WLFW field staff in making progress toward program goals.
Provide supervision and support to field staff through developing work plans and managing workflow, addressing training and education needs of new hires, ensuring integration of geographically dispersed field staff within a cohesive team, identifying opportunities for career development, providing mentorship and guidance on employee performance, and assisting staff in obtaining tools and resources needed to accomplish work in the field, among other duties.
Enhance WLFW program impact by creating and maintaining relationships with NRCS state office leadership to foster improved communication and closer collaboration around program objectives.
As new WLFW programs are developed and rolled out, assist with strategic plan development, establish relationships with key NRCS state office staff, work closely with NRCS to ensure all concerns and objectives are addressed during project implementation, and identify and reach out to other organizations that may be interested in collaborating on program efforts. (They anticipate advancing efforts on programs for the Houston toad and Louisiana pine snake, among others, as well as contributing to the development of a region-wide WLFW effort for aquatic and wetland species.)
As needed, support ARC leadership in developing and enhancing other strategic collaborations with partners across federal and state agencies, private and non-profit sector organizations, and individual public and private land managers in support of recovery goals for other priority species.

Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent relevant work experience
At least 2 years experience in program or project management and coordination
Excellent organizational, prioritization, project management, and problem-solving skills, including a demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects
At least 2 years of experience directly supervising staff, interns, or volunteers
Exceptional team leadership skills, with demonstrated talent for unifying team members around a shared vision and nurturing a culture of collaboration and commitment.
A strong capacity for strategic thinking with the ability to envision, articulate, and execute overarching programmatic objectives leading to measurable outcomes
A demonstrated ability to foster and sustain collaborative relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders across many sectors to advance program goals
Excellent communication skills with an ability to productively engage a variety of internal and external partners and manage difficult situations.
A demonstrated self-starting ability and comfort working in a remote environment with minimal day-to-day supervision

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

CAPM or other professional project management certification
Previous experience working for or with the USDA NRCS and familiarity with NRCS programs and operations, or similar experience with other federal government agencies
Training and/or demonstrated experience with developing strategic plans
A background in wildlife research, management or conservation is not required for this position but candidates with experience in any of these fields will likely benefit from an institutional understanding of dynamics and challenges of working in the conservation arena
Writing, administering, or managing state, federal, or private grants and funding
Experience with, or commitment to, engaging and working with Historically Underserved communities or implementing DEIJ practices
A clear and present sense of emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills, including strong interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, empathy, grace, compassion, and cultural humility

Anticipated Start Date: November 1st

Salary/Pay: $55,000-$60,000 DOE

How to Apply: In a cover letter, please describe your relevant experience, including how your broader knowledge and experiences can contribute to organizational culture and values. Include the names and contact information of at least three relevant professional references, as well as your CV, and send to JJ Apodaca, Executive Director, at jobs@arcprotects.org. Your cover letter, reference list, and CV should be compiled and sent as a single PDF file.