Northeast Senior Program Manager

~ Since our founding in 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to strengthen and protect America's favorite places. ~

Position Overview

Minimum Scope of Position: 

• The Northeast Senior Program Manager leads campaigns and programs that aim to protect and restore national parks, and connect people to Northeast national parks.
• This is achieved by leading campaigns to protect national parks and to leverage support among members of congress, NGOs, government agencies, community groups, individuals, and experts to meet regional and national goals.

Primary Purpose of the Position:

The Northeast office of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is seeking an entrepreneurial and collaborative manager with political experience who will lead and execute advocacy campaigns and programs to protect national parks, connect people to these treasured places, and influence key political targets.

The Northeast Senior Program Manager will expand NPCA’s influence in a complex, diverse region home to highly significant natural resource-based national parks and historical national parks. The Northeast region holds some the smallest and yet some of the most iconic national parks, many of which are located in the highest population centers in the country. The widest variety of urban, cultural, historic, environmental, coastal, financial and recreational challenges are therefore inherent to most of NPCA’s Northeast campaigns and programs.

The Northeast Senior Program Manager serves as a key point of contact for much of NPCA’s work in the region. Under the guidance of the Regional Director, the Senior Program Manager helps develop and lead NPCA’s regional programs, political and legislative affairs and national programs. This includes leading campaigns and programs designed to influence key political targets, leverage parks for natural resource protection, build strong political support for park protection, and advance urban populations’ connections to national parks. Major national park initiatives include campaigns for increased national park funding, restoring and protecting natural resources, increasing access, improving visibility, attracting new advocates and enhancing visitor experience and visitor resources.

The Northeast Senior Program Manager works with colleagues to ensure that the Northeast office plays a significant role in achieving regional goals for fundraising, working closely with the Regional Director and NPCA’s Development department. She/he will maintain and expand the network of support groups and partners who work with NPCA and advocate on behalf of the national parks in the region and nationally. He/she will primarily execute programs in New Jersey, New York City, Maine, and parts of New England and New York State. This includes but is not limited to parks such as Stonewall National Monument, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Acadia National Park, General Grant National Memorial, Women’s Rights National Historical Park, and Ellis Island.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions: 

• Campaign direction and management:  Develop and manage a set of campaigns, field programs and projects in the region that aim to influence political targets, protect national parks including urban parks, revitalize historical and cultural parks, and protect natural resources. This includes initiatives to bring more federal funding to national parks, ensure members of the Northeast delegation are influenced by national parks advocates, ensure new parks evolve to meet the needs of visitors, address visitor issues such as overcrowding, execute programs to improve public access such as boating and kayaking, address increases in fossil fuel development projects, and leverage development of park features such as history trails, signage, and improved public transportation at or near national parks. The candidate will utilize a range of program and campaign tools including political strategy, project management, environmental analysis, power mapping, campaign management, recreational planning, transportation analysis, community organizing, campaign messaging, public and private events and community roundtables. Coordinate with staff in other NPCA offices to promote projects and political strategies that benefit national parks nationwide. The majority of efforts involve coordinating with large and small teams across the organization, within the regional office, and around the region. The candidate will leverage and develop volunteer opportunities including advisory roles for urban and diverse park volunteers and supporters. 
• Political and legislative affairs: Cultivate and steward strong relationships with members of congress and their staff. Employ lobbying skills to regional and national campaigns. Campaign targets will be developed strategically and cultivated with sound organizing and political tactics that include constituency building with local political officials in coordination with a wide array of urban, rural, conservative, wilderness, environmental justice, LGBT, diversity-centered community organizations, NGOs, grass- and brass-tops individuals and public agencies. Maintain and expand NPCA’s portfolio of these groups in order to strengthen a large constituency base for both NPCA and the national parks in the region. Maintain ongoing network and partner communications including furthering of relationships. Serve as the Northeast liaison with NPCA’s Government Affairs department for legislative issues. Integrate Northeast programs with national legislative and appropriations goals and when necessary with the federal budget cycle.
• Communications: Implement a communications strategy for political, public and educational outreach. Work with regional and Communications department colleagues to develop website updates, presentations and publications for public outreach and education. Help design and implement media strategies and develop and provide material and messages for NPCA communications. Maintain a visible public profile consistent with NPCA standards and program and campaign goals. Produce timely reports for internal audiences.
• Fundraising and development: Work with the Regional Director and Regional Development Director to identify potential donors and fundraising opportunities through the course of work. Work directly with Northeast regional council members regarding their input and involvement with NPCA. Assist with or lead fundraising efforts of the office including meeting with donors, writing proposals, marketing NPCA programs to existing and potential donors, and coordinating fundraising events.
• Collaborative protection of national parks: Monitor and influence, through collaboration with the National Park Service, management activities at individual park system units. Identify and creatively conceptualize short term and long term strategies to address park threats, improve resource protection and improve visitor experience.
• Budgets and performance management: Manage program and event budgets. Contribute and participate in performance management analysis for Northeast programs. Track and analyze performance. Troubleshoot and problem solve. Adjust plans and strategies when necessary. Provide analysis on performance and implement plans to improve results. Manage contacts and campaigns using database.
• Strategic planning: Work closely and collaboratively with Regional Director and Northeast staff in the design and implementation of long-term strategy for Northeast national park protection with a focus on effective advocacy to attract urban and diverse national park supporters to NPCA’s work and to Northeast national parks. Identify project needs and incorporate program and concepts for fundraising strategies. 
• Other: Participate in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. Participate in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, staff committee meetings, training programs and attend other meetings and seminars as designated by the supervisor.  Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

Qualifications

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

• Demonstrated the ability to set priorities, lead multiple projects, develop political strategies, build teams, construct campaigns, develop programs, community organize, handle details, work collaboratively and effectively with members of congress and their staff, diverse partners and work effectively under pressure with minimum supervision.
• 4 to 5 years of experience in political organizing, political influence, federal and local legislation, experience working with Congress, natural resources protection, historic preservation, urban studies, ethnic studies, recreation advocacy, infrastructure funding, political campaigns, parks advocacy, and/or community organizing, or a suitable combination is required. Master’s Degree or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
• Computer literacy is required including strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Database management experience is required.
• A solid knowledge of New Jersey, New York, New England, and Maine political, coastal and natural resources, and history is a plus. 
• Commitment to the park protection and advocacy work of NPCA. 
• Professional presentation and excellent writing, oral communication and team skills are essential.
• Proven ability to work with a wide range of constituents.
• Valid driver’s license required.  Must be available to travel within the region consisting of approximately local travel two to three days per week, regional travel four to six days per month, and national travel two to three times per year.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent recruiter and ability to build teams of partners for campaign execution, fundraising experience and team player with a sense of humor.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations. Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below for more information - and to apply for the position. 

~ NPCA is committed to diversity among its employees and hiring practices. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. ~