Conservation Program Manager Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

We're protecting and enhancing America's National Park System for present and future generations.

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the nation’s oldest and largest national parks nonprofit advocacy organization. NPCA has an exciting opportunity for a Northeast Program Manager to join our Northeast Regional Office.                     

Grade: M

Job Status: Full-time                                                           FLSA:  Exempt

Department:  Northeast Regional Office (NERO), Regional Programs                                     

Location: New York, NY (hybrid)

Immediate Supervisor: Northeast Campaign Director

Supervisor’s Supervisor: Northeast Regional Director

Incumbent/Newly Created Position: Incumbent

Salary: $69k– 80k (based on experience)

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for this role including a four day, 32-hour work week, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and paid sabbaticals for staff after seven years of service. Learn more about our benefits at npca.org/jobs.

Primary Purpose of the Position:

NPCA’s Northeast Region includes New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The Northeast Program Manager will build support for national parks and develop park champions throughout the region, with a specific focus on national park sites in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The Northeast Program Manager will develop relationships, educate, and mobilize communities surrounding national parks to advance strategic regional park campaigns and contribute to NPCA’s program team goals.

Guided by the Northeast Campaign Director and in collaboration with the broader NPCA team, the Program Manager will advance strategies to ensure that natural and cultural resources in our Northeast national parks are protected, preserved, restored and resilient for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

While mainly focused on the protection and expansion of cultural resources and inclusive story telling in Northeast national parks, the Program Manager will also work to protect key Northeast landscapes, enhance park visitors’ experience and provide operational support for the regional office, based in New York City.

Build Support for Northeast Historic and Cultural National Parks (40%)

• Build a community of new and diverse advocates to advance established and emerging regional and national campaigns that enhance historic and cultural resource management and expand narratives in Northeast national parks.
• Lead the campaign to ensure the protection and promotion of Stonewall National Monument and evaluate and develop proposals and creative thinking for the monument and the full inclusive stories the park represents.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen cultural resource protection and interpretation and leverage innovative partnerships in parks to ensure Northeast national parks reflect different perspectives and true, honest history.
• Facilitate direct advocacy to local, state and federal decision makers to build champions for Northeast cultural resource parks.
• Develop and manage authentic and reciprocal relationships with allies, including National Park Service staff, local businesses, elected officials, universities, social justice organizations and other cultural heritage and conservation organizations.
• Serve as a member of relevant internal NPCA program teams, such as Welcoming and Inclusive Parks Working Group, New Parks team, Visitation team, and others as relevant to the Program Manager’s regional campaigns.

Tri-State Advocacy for National Parks (25%)

• Build a coalition of park advocates to increase park funding, staffing, and engage federal, state and local decision-makers in support of regional and national priorities. 
• Identify opportunities to educate the media, public, decision-makers, advisors and fellow advocates about the Northeast national parks through the creation of digital and print communications tools.
• Work with Northeast team to engage New York, New Jersey and Connecticut local, state and federal decision makers and influencers to grow support for increasing the NPS workforce, federal budget and seek additional opportunities for dedicated, supplemental funding on an as-needed basis.
• Attend community meetings, conduct informational public forums, organize outdoor group experiences, and carry out other forms of community education that promote and advance park funding and staffing campaign goals.
• Facilitate opportunities for allies and supporters to engage in park advocacy actions that advance regional and national programmatic goals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Communications and Outreach (15%):

• Create supporting campaign materials (talking points, fact sheets, public comments, newsletters, presentations, website content, etc.), and host in-person and hybrid events to engage elected officials, stakeholders, NPCA members, the National Park Service and other federal agencies in our regional campaigns.
• Support the Northeast Young Leaders Council by helping to facilitate meetings, mentor Young Leaders in advocacy and outreach to decision makers, and organize park visits, events, and tabling opportunities in the tri-state area.
• Assist in the coordination and execution of regional administrative activities and provide logistical support for activities of the Northeast Regional Office including Regional Council and other in-person and hybrid events and meetings as requested. Maintain event supply inventory and support a regional office in New York City.
• Produce email newsletters, summaries of program work and campaign milestones/achievements and calls to action for NPCA supporters, Northeast partners and internal stakeholders.
• Leverage tabling opportunities and digital campaigning tools to broaden advocacy and member engagement in priority Northeast Park campaigns. This includes helping prepare and execute the bi-monthly Park Partners Advocacy Hour webinar.
• Maintain a high level of responsiveness and execute quick and efficient follow-up after meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities to increase advocacy actions and expand NPCA’s members, supporters and Northeast Park partners network.

Protect the Natural Landscape of Our National Parks (10%):

• Track and respond to natural resource threats in Northeast national parks by crafting creative, proactive strategies and tactics that engage decision makers and partners to ensure the long-term protection of irreplaceable ecosystems and plant and wildlife species. This work is supported by NPCA’s Program Teams, including but not limited to the Clean Air team, Water team, Wildlife team, Science Advisory Leadership Team, Energy team, etc.
• Support and implement programs to increase support for the Delaware River, including water protection, funding, and community engagement. Attend public meetings, submit public comments, lobby decisionmakers, and develop fact sheets.

Development (10%):

• Collaborate with the Northeast team and Development staff to identify and steward major donors, foundation representatives and prospects, Board members, Regional Council and Young Leader Council members, and Next Generation Advisory members.
• Assist in preparation of funding proposals by writing and editing grant proposals and reports. Support fundraising events, park tours, VIP tours, speaking programs, and other activities as needed.
• Assess and identify resource and budgetary needs to effectively execute regional campaigns.

Total 100%

Other: Respect employees regardless of their position or background. Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. Participates in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, quarterly regional planning sessions, staff committee meetings, training programs, and attend external meetings and seminars as necessary to advance regional campaign goals. Assists in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. 

Minimum Work Schedule:  Monday through Thursday, 32-hour work week; flexible depending on office needs, some Fridays and weekend and evening work required. Regional travel is required for meetings, site visits to Northeast national parks and events as determined by business needs. National travel required approximately two to three times a year for meetings, events, and staff retreats.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

• Four to five years of relevant lived or worked experience; BS/BA preferred.
• Background or experience in cultural resources preferred but not required.
• Knowledge and experience navigating local, state and/or federal legislative processes, basic understanding of New York City politics, and comfortability participating in public hearings, providing testimony a plus.
• Proven ability to manage time effectively, coordinate multiple projects, handle details, work effectively under pressure with minimum to moderate supervision.
• Capacity to respond to requests and complete tasks in a timely, professional manner, manage and meet deadlines, and produce high-quality work.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, reliably and as part of a team in a virtual setting. Must be comfortable working collaboratively on a daily basis as part of a closely-knit team of professional colleagues.
• Professional presentation and excellent writing and oral communications skills are essential.
• Confidence in groups and comfort with community engagement and public speaking.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Zoom, the internet for research and other basic computer skills is required.
• Experience with digital organizing platforms such as Eventbrite, Canva, and the creation of QR codes a plus.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Commitment to NPCA’s mission, core values and NPCA’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Statement of Intentions.

Core Values

Live, honor, and own the organization’s Core Values:

Commitment. We are passionate about NPCA and dedicated to achieving excellence through our work and mission. We seek to improve our performance by taking opportunities for professional and personal development and encouraging reasonable risk-taking and innovation.

Inclusion. We value diversity of thought, background, experience, and opinion. We create a culture of empowerment by welcoming and encouraging meaningful participation from all people and promoting an environment that embraces different perspectives.

Integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to each other, our members and partners, and our mission. We evaluate the impact of our work and strive for honesty and transparency across the organization. We operate ethically in the organization’s best interests.

Respect. We collaborate in results-oriented teams based on trust and consideration for each other. We promote harmony between our work and our personal lives. We foster a healthy and positive workplace culture and work collaboratively with external partners.

Physical Effort and Dexterity: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is typically required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Physical Environment: Typical office setting with open desk areas; occasional remote work; field visits in national parks and on-site meetings with stakeholders.

Employer’s Rights: NPCA reserves the right to revise this position description at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the NPCA and employee and is subject to change by the NPCA as the needs of the NPCA and requirements of the job change. The above is in no way an exhaustive list of the requirements for the position.