Conservation Program Manager

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), located in New Mexico, is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico’s youth and young adults. We are a stepping stone to new opportunities and we inspire Corpsmembers to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities.  Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover the potential for leading healthy, productive lives.

Position Type:  Year-round, full time, 8am-5pm M-F, with additional time as required by program schedule.

Salary: Exempt, salaried, $47,000 – $55,000 per year, depending on experience.

Benefits:  All benefits as provided for in RMYC staff manual, after a 60-day waiting period.

Reports to: Conservation Program Director

POSITION PURPOSE: The Upper Rio Grande (URG) Program Manager will offer organizational leadership and program management in accordance with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps’ (RMYC) guidelines and the philosophy of Positive Youth Development.  The URG Program Manager is responsible for direct oversight of program personnel, community collaboration, project acquisition, partner satisfaction, and program reporting.  Additionally, as the URG office develops programming, the Program Manager is responsible for participating in program design and evaluation, and ensuring smooth implementation of all programming.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Personnel Management

• Hiring and direct management of full time and seasonal Conservation Program Coordinators, Tribal Programs Coordinator and Training Coordinator
• Oversight and direction for the hiring and management of Crew Supervisors, Assistant Crew Leaders and Crew Members
• Reinforce human resource policies, provide direction and support to employees on scope of work and associated tasks and manage disciplinary actions as needed.  

Project Management

• Coordinate conservation crew projects, establish and manage the program calendar for the conservation crews. Make adjustments to the program calendar as needed.
• Evaluate projects to ensure deliverables are met and to maintain strong partner relationships.
• Timely and accurate project reporting for funders, partners and for internal use.
• Support the management of RMYC’s AmeriCorps program, including member management and reporting.

Budget Management

• Build and manage budget for projects implemented through the URG Office and ensure responsible fiscal controls for the expenditure of project funds.
• Management of budgets for specific projects and approval expenditures from staff.
• Participate as lead or support for the solicitation, negotiation and management of fee for service agreements with federal, state and local agencies and foundations.

Program Development

• Responsible for ensuring project agency and/or foundation partner satisfaction per project.
• Provide support to the Executive Director, Conservation Program Director, and Development Director and actively participate in the expansion of existing partnerships and the development of new partnerships.
• Primary contact and responsible for the maintenance of local partnerships.
• Oversee the URG office’s novel programming, including the Tribal Conservation Program, Pro Crew,  and individual placements with various land management agencies.
• Identify and seek out additional program opportunities unique to the URG environment.  
• Acquire and manage contractual service, grant-funded, and Fee for Service projects to engage RMYC conservation crews in projects that meet Corpsmember learning goals and organizational objectives.
• Community collaboration efforts and building community partnerships.

Risk Management

• Provide general risk management oversight for the URG office and delegate specific risk management tasks to staff.
• Collaborate with the MRG Program Manager for staffing the On Call system for active spike crews.
• Development of safety briefings and support the URG Conservation Program Coordinators with the implementation of said safety briefings.
• Collaborate with the Conservation Program Director and MRG Conservation Program Manager to create safety protocols and provide ongoing risk management.
• Responsible for ensuring URG Office wide risk management competencies and position qualifications.
• Collaborate with the Conservation Program Director to set the risk management tone and norms for the URG office.

Saw Program Management

• Oversee the URG saw program to ensure compliance with United States Forest Service saw policy, and/or the specific requirements of other land management agencies and governmental bodies.
• Oversee the maintenance, acquisition, and disposal of saws in a 30+ sized chainsaw fleet.
• Provide guidance to program coordinators with respect to saw safety, training, and organization of crew member saw certifications.
• Adapt our saw program as needed to keep up with industry best practices and safety regulations.
• Be knowledgeable about data collection methods used in forestry, including tree stand examinations, acreage counts, etc., or be able to obtain training in forestry practices.

Systems

• Implementation of data collection systems.
• Provide support to the Conservation Program Director and actively participate in design, maintenance and improvement of data collection.
• Design and implementation of the On Call system in collaboration with the MRG Conservation Program Manager.
• Provide direct oversight and direction for the Field Coordinator in the development of systems to manage vehicles, tools, spike gear, PPE, etc.

Organizational Leadership

• Maintain a strong presence and voice in organizational activities such as staff meetings, annual retreats and service days.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings for the URG Office.
• Conduct weekly individual meetings with URG Staff.
• Participate in and support the Conservation Program Director with Conservation Program wide meetings.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete paperwork with accuracy and efficiency.
• Attend conferences and training to maximize professional development.
• Provide technical training for Conservation Program in areas of expertise – trail construction and maintenance techniques, sustainable forestry, and tool use/maintenance, etc. 
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Knowledge

• Familiarity with public land managing agencies, and strong knowledge of how partnership is established.
• Knowledge of budgeting systems and fiscal oversight.
• Expert skill level in all or most of the following: chainsaw use, crosscut saw use, trail construction & maintenance, forestry, landscaping, fencing, and hand tool use & maintenance.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Youth /Conservation Corps or related Field
• Experience working with young people, preferably in an outdoor and/or experiential setting.
• Knowledge of the Taos area, local community organizations, educational and training systems, public agencies and private industry preferable.

Skills

• Exemplary organizational skills.
• Excellent managerial, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Good group facilitation skills.
• Proficient in all Google Suite applications and ability to manage information in an organizational database.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to organize tasks and prioritize to meet deadlines.

Behavioral Competencies

• Be willing to lead by example.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and independently motivated. 
• Ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds.
• The ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with the Board; all levels in the Corps organization and the external community – tailoring communication effectively for different groups and stakeholders.
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment. 
• An open, inclusive, team-oriented work style and ability to collaborate with the senior leadership team at all locations.

Education:    

• College or vocational or technical training in education, youth development or a related field required.  Four-year college preferred; relevant work experience may be substituted for all or part of the education requirement. 

Preferred Experience / Education / Certification:

• Four-year degree in a related field (land science, non-profit management, or environmental science)
• Bilingual: Spanish/English speaking preferred. 
• Four years’ experience in youth conservation corps.
• Four years of management and supervisory experience.
• Certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is preferred.  If not certified, WFR certification should be obtained within 6 months of hire.

Travel Requirements:

• Periodic overnight travel and non-traditional work hours, inclusive of weekend and evening hours. This position is primarily administrative, with an expectation that some field time is required for training, program management, crew support, and crisis response.

Physical Activities and Requirements

• To successfully perform essential functions the Conservation Program Manager is required to sit, stand, walk, speak and hear. The Conservation Program Manager may be required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl on an infrequent basis. They must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms. The Conservation Program Manager may be required to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted. The ability to drive an organizational vehicle is also required. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Considerations

• Pre-employment background check will be required which includes an FBI fingerprint screening and a national sex offender registry check.
• Must have an insurable driving record
• RMYC staff are expected to participate in regular volunteer service activities, about 4 days per year.

To apply: 

Please visit our website (www.youthcorps.org ) to submit your application which should include a resume and cover letter.  For any questions, please contact Ben Thomas,

Executive Director, at [email protected] 

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps programming is available to all and we will not discriminate or refuse services to any staff or member because of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, military service or pregnancy.

RMYC is a drug free workplace.  All RMYC positions are dependent upon funding availability.