Business Operations Manager

Orleans County Conservation District Position Description

Position Title:  Business Operations Manager  

Who we are The Orleans County NRCD (OCNRCD) was established in 1947, after Vermont passed the Soil Conservation Act, with the original purpose of driving locally-led voluntary conservation through contacts with farmers. In 1968, the Vermont State Legislature amended the Soil Conservation Act broadening our scope to conserve all natural resources. The mission of the Orleans County NRCD is to protect and enhance the waters of Orleans County by providing leadership, education and services for implementation of sound land stewardship practices i to improve the quality of the county’s soils and waters.

We are seeking to fill a part-time Business Operations Manager position to serve the Orleans County NRCD in meeting our strategic goals. Orleans County is home to about 200 dairy farms and is the state’s third largest livestock and milk producing county, has the most lakes of any county in Vermont and our two main watersheds have TMDL plans. We are non-regulatory subdivision of Vermont state government that functions much like a non-profit, which means that landowner engagement with the district is voluntary and incentive-based. Our work is done by developing long term relationships and coordinating available resources to promote the conservation of natural resources through education, conservation programs and technical services.

Job summary: Join our growing team! Orleans County NRCD is looking for an organized, positive professional with strong communications skills, financial management and administration experience to strengthen our highly functioning mission driven team. The tasks of this position have been the responsibility of the district manager. As we plan for sustainable scaling up our staffing capacity, we are creating this new OCNRCD position. The basic function is to assist the Board of Supervisors, District Manager and staff with delivering OCNRCD internal business management needs. This internally focused position will help staff to best complete the soil & water conservation practices and fulfil their responsibilities to protect natural resources within Orleans County.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide operational and administrative tasks and clerical office assistance to staff.
• Lead financial operations.
• Meet open meeting laws for board meetings.
• Work on special projects.

The ideal candidate can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution, brings connection to the local community, shared passion for stewardship of natural resources and has knowledge and/or practical working landscape experiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree is ideal but not required in the accounting, business management field. Or related degree with a minimum of three (3) years of experience, including demonstrated success of similar work. The ideal candidate will have strong and consistent communication skills in a variety of settings, a professional demeanor, the desire to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with OCNRCD team members, landowners, and partners to improve natural resource management in Orleans County. Also, the ability to understand the work of OCNRCD and effectively internally support that work.

Qualified applicants will be highly motivated, flexible, able to independently to set workload priorities and meet workload requirements. This is an administrative support position requires expert knowledge of human resources, database management, financial management, bookkeeping and accounting software, and detailed organization, administrative skills.

The person occupying this position will be required to pass a federal background check in order to use the NRCS provided workstation, computers, network and maintain confidentially.

WAGE AND BENEFITS

This is a non-salaried part time position with a competitive wage ranging from $24,960 – $27,040 based on experience. Based on OCNRCD personal policy, and part-time employees are provided with benefits.

Work schedule: 20 hours a week.

Office Location: USDA office at 59 Waterfront Plaza in Newport VT with some remote work possible. This position will have a “hoteling” shared workstation with our part-time community engagement staff.

Duties and Performance Requirements

• Following Orleans County NRCD policies and producers to conduct internal business functions to improve overall business operations.
• Conduct financial analysis processes including update and maintain tracking spreadsheets and provide grant and services agreement budgeting support, tracking and reporting and working with the district manager on fiscal budget procedures. Identify opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation.
• Manage OCNRCD QuickBooks online practices and processes including processing invoices, expenses, financial data entry and administering bi-weekly payroll.
• Provide clerical human resources support and maintaining organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintain OCNRCD insurance policy.
• Manage and pay the organizations quarterly taxes.
• Maintain supplies for the office in consultation with the District Manager by following procurement procedures as set forth by the District Internal Controls policy.
• Oversee the district equipment catalog and vehicle maintenance requirements.
• Oversee and work with staff to maintain OCNRCD’s grant management Trello software and OCNRCD workload deadlines and event etc calendars to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
• Attend monthly board meetings, take minutes, and complete needed tasks for OCNRCD to meet Vermont open meeting law.
• Work alongside the District Manager on special projects like assessing workflow systems, implementing improved systems and tools, preserving and accessing institutional knowledge, improved file naming SOP structures, creating contingency plans for staff transitions, creating a project catalog, and on board a customer management software.
• Working with the District Manager and other staff to secure additional grant funds to boost our core program and services and maintain OCNRCDs capacity.
• Provide administrative day to day support to staff as needed for delivery of District Programs, such as, clean water project management administration needs, the annual tree sale, and tours, informational, and educational events, etc.

Skills Needed for Success

• Positive and professional attitude in the performance of duties.
• Detail orientated and highly organized.
• Possess an interest and passion for OCNRCD’s mission.
• Experienced, comfortable, and skilled in the use of online technology and tools like the use of Google Drive, QuickBooks online and Trello (or similar) grant management software.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced work environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and guide others effectively.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Operations and organizational management experience and skill set is required.
• Ability to make decisions in the light of established precedents, district policies and to show resourcefulness in meeting new problems.
• Demonstrate good judgment, tact, diplomacy, and ability to guard confidentiality.
• Maintain and keep records of some complexity and prepare important reports and tabulations from these records.
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Maintains professionalism through appearance and conduct presenting the best image on behalf of self and district.
• Deadline-oriented, able to prioritize multiple complex responsibilities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and performance.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills are required and the ability to work with a wide variety of people within multi-stakeholder communications and priorities and working within a team.
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised.
• Experience grant writing, working on grant funded programs and grant management success is a plus.

Helpful Skills but Not Required

• Experience in the environmental conservation field.
• Experience working with and or knowledge of state and federal conservation programs.
• Knowledge of Conservation Districts.
• Experience with mission driven grant funded organizations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work will be office based administrative OCNRCD duties with some opportunities to join staff in the field. While in the office the employee frequently is required to sit or stand at a workstation typing and reading from a computer screen for an entire workday. While working the employee will be required to walk, stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, and kneel, crouch or crawl.

You will have an assigned desk, telephone, and computer at the OCNRCD office.