Columbia Basin Program Manager

Title: Columbia Basin Program Manager

Background

Salmon-Safe, a leading regional environmental certification nonprofit, seeks a full-time Columbia Basin Program Manager to guide the expansion of Salmon-Safe’s work in the interior Columbia River watershed. This role includes oversight of $6.4 million in EPA funding and $2.1 million in match grants over a 5.5-year grant period. For this EPA funding and other potential future federal grants, the candidate will be required to manage funds, program activities, metrics, and reporting in line with federal regulations and grant agreement guidelines. Skills relating to sustainable agriculture, environmental science and project management are required for this position. This position will be based in the Inland Northwest (eastern Washington, Idaho, or central/eastern Oregon). The program manager will work from home and collaborate remotely with the Salmon-Safe team and regularly travel within the Inland Northwest to visit certification partners and projects.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management (70%)

• Lead implementation of project plans and systems, including managing budgets, partner subawards, workplans, timelines, quality control, and milestone tracking
• Manage regional farm project activity in collaboration with Farm Program Manager to ensure timely and effective program delivery
• Support regional urban project activity in collaboration with Certification Director to ensure timely and effective program delivery
• Conduct targeted direct grower outreach & recruitment based on sector-based and grant priorities
• Manage grant deliverables including consolidated reporting of program activity, further development of performance metrics, and quantification of outcomes for funders
• Collaborate closely with Portland-based staff and Farm Program Manager to manage outreach and assessment contractors including onboarding, documentation, reporting, etc.
• Act as primary point-of-contact for day-to-day Inland Northwest program delivery

Regional Leadership (15%)

• Cultivate and co-manage relationships with nonprofit, Tribal, government, and other strategic alliances in the Inland Northwest
• Develop new regional program initiatives and business plans
• Plan and co-manage Salmon-Safe events in Inland Northwest
• Represent Salmon-Safe to Inland Northwest media and in forums to enhance the organization’s brand

Market Connection (15%)

• Conduct agricultural market connection outreach to build certification value for landowners
• Coordinate with Farm Program Manager and regional place-based partners to create marketing opportunities for certified growers (such as retail promotion) and coordinate with urban certification program to build relationships between growers and certified urban institutions

EDUCATION, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS

The ideal candidate will have a background and track record that includes:

• Experience or familiarity with natural resource management, preferably in the PNW, and associated with some or all of: agriculture, fish and wildlife, Tribal nations.
• Bachelor’s degree is required. One of the following specialties or fields of study is preferred:

              Agriculture

              Environmental science (ecology, biology, environmental management)

              Business (sustainability focus)

• Minimum 5 years progressively responsible and successful project management and program delivery experience is required
• Proficiency in web-based project management tools preferred
• Ability to work independently in a self-directed, entrepreneurial environment required
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to Salmon-Safe conservation mission required
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion principles and practice is required