Backyard Habitat Certification Program Operations Manager

Columbia Land Trust is seeking a Backyard Habitat Certification Program Operations Manager to join its team!   

About Us

Columbia Land Trust is dedicated to conserving and caring for the vital lands, waters, and wildlife of the Columbia River region through sound science and strong relationships. In our first 30 years, Columbia Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 60,000 acres and restored thousands of acres across our ecologically diverse region, for the benefit of both wildlife and communities. Today, the Land Trust is nationally recognized as a leader in conservation and locally appreciated as part of the communities where we live and work.

 The Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) has been a collaborative effort between Columbia Land Trust and Bird Alliance of Oregon since 2009. The program provides technical assistance, incentives, resources, and recognition to urban and suburban residents and community sites seeking to restore native plant communities and wildlife habitat features, manage stormwater, and garden sustainably. We strive to reduce barriers to this work by partnering with culturally specific and community-based groups, develop funding partners, and engage in ongoing programmatic reflection, resource development, and staff training. Through our collective efforts to revitalize urban landscapes, we make our region healthier for people and for wildlife. Our Backyard Habitats community has more than 15,000 participants and continues to grow. For more information, visit backyardhabitats.org.  

Columbia Land Trust’s headquarters are located on the historic Fort Vancouver campus near downtown Vancouver, Washington. Additional Land Trust offices are located in Astoria, Oregon, and White Salmon, Washington. This position will be primarily based out of our Vancouver, Washington office with frequent travel throughout the region for site work and partner meetings. For more information, please visit www.columbialandtrust.org.

Summary

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program is a collaboration between Columbia Land Trust and Bird Alliance of Oregon.  We share responsibility in the delivery of an ecologically sound, community connected program that meets the expectations of several partnering municipalities, funders, and community organizations in the Portland and Vancouver Metro areas.  The program additionally supports conservation outcomes and outreach goals of the partnership organizations’ independent strategic plans.  Each organization serves unique roles in ensuring the success of the program.  Columbia Land Trust is the fiscal sponsor of the program and is the primary lead on the delivery of initial site visits, program budget management, and municipal grants and contract management, among other things.  The Operations Manager will be tasked with the operational execution of the Land Trust’s role as well as leading day-to-day program management and collaboration with Bird Alliance of Oregon.

The primary functions of the position are as follows:

Program Development and Management

• Supports program strategy development in close collaboration with the BAO Program Manager, as managing members of the Backyard Habitat Certification Program team and provides implementation of that strategy by serving as the operational arm of the program’s partnership agreement and the Land Trust’s conservation strategy.
• Coordinates with Stewardship Director to ensure operations of the program deliver the effective outcomes from the Partnership Agreement and are consistent with Land Trust policy and procedures.
• Supports the funding plan for the program by maintaining strong community partner relationships, providing transparency into the program and writing funding proposals.
• Leads development of program budget in collaboration with Bird Alliance’s BHCP Project Manager which includes projecting expected revenue from participant fees and municipal contracts and expected expenses for staff and other resources required for the operation of the program.
• Manages the post award program grant cycle by tracking progress of contract deliverables, evaluating metrics and monitoring the effectiveness and satisfaction of site visits in relationship to grant commitments.
• Manages contracting cycle from requests for proposals to contract compliance. Manages sub-contractors as needed to support core program functions.

Team Support and Supervision

• Supports program staff by providing operational direction, program meeting agenda development and general team coordination, in close collaboration with BAO Co-manager — meetings, retreats, and training opportunities.
• Invests proactively in a productive, welcoming, and growth-oriented team culture through facilitation, training, and open communication.
• This position has two direct reports with whom they will work closely on a day-to-day basis:
• the Program Technician Supervisor, who is responsible for managing the technician team  workflow and processes and who supports outreach to increase enrollments in targeted areas, and;
• the Program Coordinator, who processes expenses, compiles reports for funders and manages financial- and deliverables-based data for the program.

As a supervisor, this position:

• Provides weekly informal check-ins, semi-annual formal reviews, and culturally responsive mentorship to ensure direct reports have the resources and support needed to complete tasks and contribute to the program with their full potential;
• Identifies professional development and training opportunities to help direct reports meet their performance and growth goals;
• Elevates identified needed investments to the Stewardship Director and human resource team as needed;
• Reviews monthly timesheets, reimbursement requests, and other materials as needed.

Outreach

• Develops strategy to increase funder and partner engagement in coordination with Bird Alliance Program Manager, the program team, and Land Trust’s management team.
• Participates in and provides direction to the program team on outreach priority implementation in response to short-term contract deliverables and long-term program sustainability. Outreach may include hosting and/or attending in-person events, giving formal and informal presentations, writing, reviewing, and approving print and digital media outreach pieces, and supporting website maintenance.
• Manage and solicit a portfolio of program participants to support the program as donors.

Organizational Support

• Participates in stewardship team meetings and represents the program as needed at Board of Directors meetings or other internal team meetings.
• Contributes to fundraising, donor relations, and communication efforts of Columbia Land Trust.
• Engages in internal organizational committees and initiatives.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Columbia Land Trust seeks applicants with skills and experience in the tasks described above. Training will be provided to ensure qualified candidates can safely and effectively perform the job. Accommodations may be available for individuals with disabilities to enable them to fulfill essential job functions.

Required Skills & Experience

The following are representatives of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the duties of the job. Some experience with one or more of the following is preferred, with some training available to help build existing skills to reach the skill level needed. Both professional and personal life experience will be considered.

• A background in land stewardship, urban conservation, forestry, biology, ecology, or indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, equivalent to 3-5 years either through related experience and/or education/training.
• High attention to relationship building and partner feedback, ability to absorb multiple perspectives and discern direction in service to program goals in cooperation with organizational leadership.
• Competency with reviewing and drafting contract terms and budget sheets.
• Ability to assimilate details from dozens of contract and grant agreements into an operational work plan for multiple staff and track performance on deliverables and budgets.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, to represent the program to funders, partners, participants, and community members.
• Understanding of conservation practices and underlying systems that affect how people experience or have access to conservation resources and benefits.
• Understanding of settlement history of the Portland metro area, as well as legacy and current impacts on the people who live here.
• Ability to cultivate a productive working environment for a diverse team spanning two partner organizations with different norms and practices.
• Effective problem-solving skills, adaptability, and strong interpersonal abilities.
• Demonstrated commitment to deepening cultural humility and community responsiveness across our service area.
• Ability to work respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds, embrace and model self- and team- reflection, and pursue personal and professional growth.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or related programs.
• Proficiency in data management systems and workflows.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience managing multi-partner programs or initiatives.
• Working knowledge of local native flora and fauna, regionally specific Indigenous science, stormwater management, sustainable gardening practices or similar urban conservation and restoration strategies.
• Ability to communicate in multiple languages.