Pacific Program Manager

LightHawk is a nonprofit environmental aviation organization. As such, we are an unusual hybrid: our mission is environmental but our specialty is using aviation to catalyze positive change. Founded in 1979, we are the largest and oldest volunteer-based environmental aviation organization in North America. We have completed thousands of flight missions involving over 1000 donated flights each year for hundreds of Conservation Partner organizations.

Although our logistical headquarters is in Lander, Wyoming, we are a virtual organization and employ field staff throughout our areas of operation:

• Rocky Mountains: UT, AZ, NV, NM, CO, ID, MT, WY, limited operations in AB and BC
• Pacific: CA, OR, WA, limited operations: AK, coastal BC, Baja California
• Eastern: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, portions of VA and FL, and the Bahamas
• Latin America: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

LightHawk is seeking a Pacific Program Manager to support our conservation efforts in California, Oregon and Washington, with limited operations in coastal British Columbia, Alaska, and Baja California.

Primary Responsibilities:

Mission Support

Coordinating flight missions from beginning to end is the heart of this job. You will screen flight requests, designate volunteer pilots to fly the missions, handle the on-the-ground logistical support, and conduct post-mission follow-up and reporting. You will also train and assist our conservation partner groups to make the best use of flights, including passenger selection, scheduling and communications, and pre- and post-flight briefings and materials.

Program Development and Partner Outreach

You will serve as the primary LightHawk representative to the regional environmental community. This includes developing strategies for our "place-based" conservation initiatives, reaching out to prospective environmental partner organizations, and pro-actively initiating opportunities for LightHawk to provide collaborative flight projects and campaigns.

Volunteer Pilot Support and Outreach

Every LightHawk mission is flown by a qualified pilot who donates his or her time, and in most cases, the airplane and fuel needed to conduct a flight. You will need to continually and enthusiastically "market" LightHawk to our volunteers, since you will be their primary point of contact with the organization. This requires that you maintain regular contact with the volunteer pilots in your region, respond to their inquiries, keep track of their availability and plans, and pro-actively seek their help recruiting new volunteer pilots.

Fundraising and Communications

While others have responsibility for fundraising and preparing written communications, we look to our program managers to help us build on existing relationships and identify and cultivate new sources of funding. We will call on you to help review and develop funding proposals and reports, and to assist with regional donor events as needed. You will also contribute content for internal and external publications, and serve as a resource for reporters, filmmakers and others working on LightHawk-related stories.

Qualifications: 

We are looking for an experienced conservation professional with a strong understanding of regional and national environmental issues, and connections within the environmental and funding communities. This is a challenging, but extremely rewarding position which requires a high degree of self-motivation, teamwork, a sense of humor, and attention to details.

The right person for this job will have a "can-do" attitude, a professional and friendly presence in person and over the phone, a passion for getting the details right, and good follow-through on commitments.  If you are that person, you have already demonstrated the ability to work independently with minimum supervision, and set priorities when faced with multiple deadlines. You are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, including occasional work during evenings and weekends, as needed. You have the writing skills of an investigative journalist, and a passion for protecting our planet.

If you have these qualifications, also having a pilot's license or related experience with flight operations and general aviation will be a strong plus.

Requirements:

• Residency in California, Oregon or Washington
• A minimum of three years experience working with environmental issues and organizations in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, or coastal British Columbia. We will give preference to those with the broadest geographical experience within the region.
• Demonstrated success in outreach work and program building.
• Project management experience, including complex event planning, and/or logistics management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (communications/publications experience a plus).
• Experience recruiting and working with volunteers.
• Experience with collaborations and/or coalitions.
• A strong interest in LightHawk's mission and methods.
• Minimum of a B.A / B.S. degree, or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal and "team player" skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, and work with high degree of accuracy.
• Because weather often dictates flight scheduling, you need to be flexible and willing to be on call or work weekends, as needed.
• Ability to travel for 2-4 days at a time, several times per year.
• Computer competency, including use of word processing, email, spreadsheets and databases.
• Ability to work from a home-based office environment. You will need to supply your own personal computer, internet connection, phone, and cellphone; however, LightHawk does reimburse specified office expenses.

Where is the Job Located?

This is a full-time, salaried position for applicants living within our core Pacific region (CA, OR, or WA). It is a home-based position, so a home office is required. This position reports to the Director of U.S. and Canada Programs, located in Boulder, Colorado.

The Rewards of this Job

This job is not for everyone, but the right person will be rewarded with variety, some travel opportunities, and the chance to work with an extraordinary group of volunteer pilots, co-workers, dedicated colleagues in the environmental field, and occasional celebrities. Because we offer the potent tool of flight to our conservation partners, you will be promoting some of the most important conservation initiatives regionally and nationally with grateful partners.

Compensation

This is a full-time salaried position. The starting pay range for this position is $35,000 to $38,000 annually, depending on both location and experience. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability coverage, annual vacation and sick leave, 401K plan, and reasonable scheduling flexibility.

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references. The mail subject line should say: Pacific Program Manager -- plus your last name.

We expect to fill this position as soon as we find a suitable candidate. We will conduct one or more initial interviews for qualified candidates by phone, and will invite finalists to in-person interviews. Due to the volume of interested applicants, we ask that you not telephone our offices about the position unless specifically invited to do so for an interview.

LightHawk is an equal opportunity employer. For more information about LightHawk, including a downloadable copy of the annual report, visit our website.