Conservation Program Manager Jobs in Arlington, VA

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 350,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide. These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 20 offices across the country. Our mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams, so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.

Position Summary

TU seeks to hire a self-motivated and highly capable person to lead development and implementation of a multi-year strategic vision for Trout Unlimited’s Virginia conservation program, including Priority Waters expansion, partner engagement strategies, funding sustainability, and organizational growth opportunities. The Program Manager manages a team of TU staff working with private landowners and state and federal agencies to re-establish brook trout to extirpated spring creeks and to strengthen existing populations across Priority Waters by restoring and reconnecting habitat. The Program Manager will carry-forth ongoing restoration initiatives and develop new projects and programs in collaboration with the team.

Competitive candidates for this position will need to demonstrate ability to manage every aspect of project and program management including project identification, development, and monitoring to achieve on the ground conservation of aquatic resources as well as strategic planning, partnership development, fundraising, and coordination of cross-functional teams and initiatives within TU. Success in this role will require not only excellent restoration program management, but also the ability to develop and execute a long-term strategic vision for Trout Unlimited’s conservation investments, partnerships, funding model, and Priority Waters.

The Program Manager will serve as a recognized fisheries and coldwater conservation leader within Virginia, providing technical guidance to agency partners, stakeholders, funders, and Trout Unlimited staff. Position will represent TU in strategic discussions regarding conservation priorities, fisheries management, and restoration investments. Work requires frequent local and occasional overnight travel. The position will be based remotely but ideally within 1 hour of one of TU’s Virginia Priority Waters (PW) TU VA Priority Waters.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead long-range planning and implementation for Priority Waters initiatives, including Upper James/Shenandoah, Grayson Highlands and Blue Ridge watersheds.
• Develop and execute strategies for renewal and expansion of major landscape-scale conservation partnerships and agreements.
• Coordinate development of watershed-scale conservation plans that integrate restoration, science, volunteer engagement, communications, and public funding opportunities.
• Evaluate and recommend organizational staffing and capacity models for future Priority Waters growth.
• Identify and develop strategies to diversify and sustain program funding sources in response to changing philanthropic and public funding landscapes
• Identify, develop, initiate, and manage specific assessment, protection, restoration, and research projects.
• Coordinate multiple conservation projects simultaneously across Virginia’s Priority Waters including USFS, NRCS, NFWF and other agreements
• Manage a staff of 2-4 TU employees.
• Develop and manage an annual budget for the TU projects and programs in Virginia.
• Provide leadership to staff, partners, agency officials, contractors and others involved in the activities of the Home Rivers Initiatives and Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Build a network of community, TU volunteers, business, and agency partners in Virginia
• Coordinate and implement communications and outreach efforts.
• Manage and maintain grassroots engagement and support for TU volunteers.
• Work with TU’s development staff on fundraising, including identifying potential sources of funding, drafting and submitting grant proposals, and developing relationships with funders.
• Collaborate with TU’s government affairs and policy team to contribute to TU’s advocacy and policy activities at the state level in Virginia and federal level to advance support and protection for wild trout watersheds, and the landscapes that support them.
• Manage staff workloads and schedules to efficiently meet the objectives and goals of the Home Rivers Initiatives and Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Use TU contract standards for all contracted work, overseeing work and assuring work done in accordance with contract terms;
• Communicate with supervisors regarding progress, obstacles, operational challenges, and performance of the program work in Virginia.
• Ensure contractors, staff, volunteers, and partners are compliant with safety procedures, operational and maintenance procedures and workplace rules and regulations.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required, Master’s degree a plus.
• 10 years of experience coordinating or managing restoration projects or initiatives.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of fisheries, aquatic resource management, geomorphology, or restoration design and engineering
• Demonstrated success developing and executing multi-year program strategies.
• Experience building and sustaining large partnership networks across agencies, NGOs, private landowners, and funding organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing major federal, state, or philanthropic funding programs.
• Experience evaluating program growth opportunities and aligning staffing, budgets, and resources to strategic priorities.
• Ability to integrate science, policy, communications, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement into comprehensive conservation strategies.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills to communicate with and direct staff to accomplish the goals of the Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work constructively with a wide range of partners. Prior experience with local communities in the watershed is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Previous experience with media, outreach, or education helpful.
• Ability to work with multiple and diverse partners in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner, even on contentious issues.
• Good organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative to coordinate numerous partners.
• Willingness to travel within the watershed and region as necessary.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office computer programs.
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout habitat and their watersheds.

· Requires a valid driver’s license.