Program Operations Director Jobs in Alexandria, VA

Location: Silver Spring, Maryland

Supervisor: Director of Program Operations

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas—places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.

Guided by our commitment to Waters for All, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation connects people to the ocean and Great Lakes through education, conservation, and community engagement.

As the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we support 18 marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. We help protect these iconic places, care for marine wildlife and habitats, honor our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote the enjoyment of public waters by all Americans.

Through public fundraising and partnerships, we invest in community stewardship, conservation and restoration, education and outreach in visitor centers and gateway communities, and cutting-edge scientific exploration.

For more than 25 years, we’ve strengthened people’s connections to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes—along with the history, culture, and maritime heritage they represent—and built partnerships with coastal communities and businesses connected to more than 629,000 square miles of public waters that belong to all Americans.

About the National Marine Sanctuaries

America’s national marine sanctuaries are living classrooms, laboratories, and community assets that protect the waters shaping our shared future. Managed by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), this network of 18 marine protected areas is multi-use by nature and spans more than 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes—from coral reefs and kelp forests to historic shipwrecks and whale migration routes.

In partnership with marine research institutions, universities, and public-private partners, activities in each sanctuary help develop solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Sanctuaries safeguard marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, support coastal economies, and inspire stewardship through science, education and outreach, and outdoor recreation—from boating to fishing.

Many sanctuary gateway communities include visitor centers and partnerships with zoos, aquariums, and museums that extend this impact, serving as hubs for conservation, innovation, commerce, and tourism where people engage directly with the ocean and Great Lakes.

Together, these sites demonstrate how healthy waters and thriving communities are inseparable—and why protecting them is essential.

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is seeking a Program Operations Coordinator to support our mission-focused programs that help create a thriving and healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Program Operations Coordinator is an integral team member for the daily coordination of operational needs. The position is within the Program Operations team, which includes workforce development, compliance management, grants and contracts, and funding award management, including work related to a cooperative agreement with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. We need a team member who will work closely across departments and with partners to provide administrative and operational support for our federally and privately funded programs related to the Foundation’s three core mission areas: conservation and restoration, science and technology, and education and outreach, specifically focused on advancing the public value of the National Marine Sanctuary System.

You will join a Program Operations team that is part of a larger Programs Department – with team members all working collaboratively to ensure the development and support of mission-based programs.

What You'll Do

Working at the crossroads of the Foundation's mission programs and the people and funding sources that support those programs, the Program Operations Coordinator will support the operational planning, establishment, execution, and evaluation of multifaceted programs that consist of a set of closely related sub-projects funded through federal, state, and non-federal private grants and cooperative agreements.

You'll work on the Program Operations team that monitors the responsible and appropriate use of programmatic funds within the parameters of awards, providing consistent access for employees to organization systems and resources. Other important tasks include:

• Provide a high level of customer service for staff and partners by prioritizing and expediting tasks and requests from partners, Sanctuary sites, and others across the Sanctuary system;
• Assist the Director of Program Operations and team members with staff database access, data entry, and troubleshooting;
• Attend and take notes during meetings, providing follow-up on action items and decisions;
• Maintain compliant inbound and outbound grant, contract, and award files;
• Pull reports from the Foundation's online project management database to support the needs of Foundation departments;
• Draft outgoing contracts, grants, and amendments through the Foundation's online system and coordinate approvals and signatures;
• Coordinate travel requests related to your assigned projects and other award documentation that requires funder approval;
• Process applications for grant and contract RFPs, liaise with applicants, prepare materials for reviewers and coordinate with the selected awardees for agreements and reports;
• Collaborate with others on the team to prepare and distribute monthly summaries of awards and grant projects and distribute them to Senior Staff;
• Assist in digital file organization for the projects in your portfolio;
• Draft documents and spreadsheets to help analyze project progress;
• Work with other team members on meeting and event support and cross-department coordination;
• Support purchasing and invoicing needs;
• Perform other duties, as requested; and
• Regular attendance is required.

Who You Are

As the Program Operations Coordinator, you're a mission-driven, highly productive individual who is committed to supporting the efficient and impactful delivery of programs. You are driven to get the job done well, a quick learner who has an eye for the small details and enjoys making connections with staff and partners.

Required Qualifications

• Entry-level/early-career position: 1-5 years of experience;
• A flexible team member with an ability to prioritize multiple projects;
• A self-starter who will suggest process improvements;
• A team player who also works well independently;
• Excellent at providing quality customer service;
• Highly organized, with the ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results with attention to detail;
• Excellent verbal and written communication;
• Able to recall information, people, and projects, and able to develop trusted relationships with staff and partners;
• Experienced using office productivity programs, including Microsoft Office Suite and Asana (or a quick learner on similar platforms); and
• Capable and adept with virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams or other platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in grants management and administration, program operations support and administration, and/or nonprofit administration support.

Why You Will Love Us

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to advance stewardship through on-the-water conservation projects, and education and public outreach activities, and support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home and while supporting coastal communities and economies.

• Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes conservation;
• Generous leave policy, plus paid time off between December 25 and January 1 and 12 paid holidays;
• Health benefits: medical (with an FSA option), dental, and vision;
• Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance; and
• Preparing for the future: 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after one year of service.
• Commuter benefits

Compensation and Benefits: $58,000 - $63,000/year based on experience. The Foundation offers a competitive benefits package.

Apply through the Foundation’s online portal. A resume, cover letter, and three professional references are required. Applications must be received by July 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to equal opportunity and a collaborative work environment. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.