Community Engagement Project Manager

Employer: Napa County Resource Conservation District
Work Location: Napa, California
Status: Full-Time, Exempt (1.0 FTE)
Annual Salary Range: $83,508 – $101,563 (dependent on experience)

Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) is hiring a mission-driven Community Engagement Project Manager (Project Manager) to join our team and manage our project-based community engagement activities and communications. This position will contribute to the exciting and critical growth at Napa RCD as we support and empower the Napa County community to have a voice and act on the most pressing natural resource challenges of our time, including climate change.

Organizational Background and Mission

Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) is a non-regulatory local government empowered to manage soil, water, forests, and wildlife resources for conservation. Since 1945, Napa RCD has facilitated natural resource conservation through community involvement, education, technical expertise and scientific research. Napa RCD is committed to using voluntary, cooperative and scientifically sound methods to ensure that the natural resources of our region are sustained, restored and protected. Napa RCD has a team of fourteen conservation scientists, outreach, and administrative professionals, and is co-located with the county field office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Its Board of Directors is composed of seven individuals. Napa RCD’s $5M annual operating budget is almost entirely grant and contract funded.

Learn more about us here: http://naparcd.org/.

Position Summary

The Community Engagement Project Manager designs and delivers project-based community engagement activities in our different program areas, including community forums, workshops, seminars and symposia, event tabling, writing, and more. The position also oversees communications and marketing for the organization to elevate awareness of our programming and impacts. The ideal candidate is a talented project manager and communicator who is passionate about creating opportunities for all community members to learn from and inspire each other to actively participate in stewarding our shared resources. The Project Manager will work closely with other Napa RCD staff and collaborate with many local and regional partners to support a healthy natural environment and thriving communities. This position reports to the Program Director. 

Although this role will support marketing and communications, training in digital marketing and communications will be provided. This is a 32-40-hour per week exempt, onsite position. For those electing a 40-hour per week schedule, a 9/80 schedule option is available upon request. There may be the possibility of a hybrid working schedule in the future. The application period opens November 9, 2023 and will remain open until filled.

Responsibilities

Project-Based Community Outreach and Engagement: (~75%)

• Work directly with program staff to support all aspects of community outreach and engagement for specific projects.
• Plan, implement, and maintain strategies to incorporate community input into conservation and sustainability planning processes.
• Plan and implement events and work products (e.g., presentations, graphics) that effectively convey project goals, progress, and outcomes.
• Develop and implement community outreach and engagement plans, including conducting socio-demographic data analysis.
• Maintain positive relationships with partners, funders, and the Napa County community.
• Represent Napa RCD and engage with public at community meetings and events.
• Manage community outreach and engagement projects, including developing and managing project schedules, scopes, and budgets.
• Assist and lead on proposals for future projects.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Napa RCD Communications and Marketing: (~25%)

• Create and maintain organizational communication plans, processes, guidelines, and systems.
• Manage Napa RCD’s online presence and execute digital communications strategy via websites, social media, and email marketing.
• Bring Napa RCD’s work to life by creating and curating compelling content, including articles, blog posts, graphics, videos, social media posts, and other multimedia content.
• Develop marketing collateral, events, and press releases to facilitate community awareness of Napa RCD and donor engagement.
• Develop and sustain strong partnerships with local stakeholders, communities, and agencies that support a robust communications network.
• Collaborate with other Napa RCD staff to ensure Napa RCD branding consistency and alignment.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of progressive community engagement experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, natural resource management, science communications, environmental policy, or related field, or work experience that provided similar foundational knowledge.
• Ability to relate to a diverse group of individuals and to initiate, develop and maintain productive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, such as individuals, business and community organizations, as well as government agency staff, members of Boards and Commissions and other constituencies.
• Strong facilitation skills with experience effectively leading meetings, workshops, and other events.
• Experience developing and telling compelling stories about projects, services, or organizations that connect with multiple audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including developing and managing project schedules, scope, and budgets.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Proven success engaging low-income, disadvantaged, marginalized communities, especially BIPOC communities, preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Google Workspace (e.g., Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms), and video-conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom).
• High comfort level using common graphic design software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Desire to embrace the mission of the Napa RCD.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and proof of insurance at the time of hire.
• Must successfully complete a background check.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, climate action, and sustainability.
• Experience designing and implementing community engagement strategy related to community-based planning processes.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated; oral and written proficiency in Spanish is highly desirable.
• Photography and videography experience.

Work Environment

Work hours are generally 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. from Monday through Friday, however, some work on weekday nights and weekends will be required. Napa RCD employs flex time, which provides the possibility of varying daily work hours without exceeding forty hours of work per week, or eighty hours of work every two weeks on a 9/8s schedule. The Napa RCD office is in Napa, California. Work location for office duties is flexible pending supervisor approval after initial orientation period. Local travel within Napa County will be required, with occasional regional travel as needed. Work is performed in indoor and outdoor settings including:

• A professional office environment that includes operation of standard office equipment such as computers, tablet devices, phones, copiers and printers, calculators, and filing cabinets.
• Field settings that include various terrains, and hot, cold, and wet conditions.

Napa RCD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We strongly encourage employment applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations and communities.

Physical Requirements

The work requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, and use repetitive motions. The visual capacity to review and edit documents, and the ability to frequently remain in a stationary position, operate a computer and other standard office equipment, and converse by telephone and in person. Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Ability to work outside on uneven terrain in all weather conditions. Driving required for local travel.

Compensation and Benefits

Position Title: Community Engagement Project Manager
Status: 100% FTE, Exempt. This at-will position is fully funded for one year, and continued employment is contingent on additional funding. Continued funding is expected.
Reports to: Program Director
Salary Range: $83,508 – $101,563 annually commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications.
Benefits: Napa RCD’s full-time employees receive paid holiday, sick, and vacation leave, CalPERS retirement benefits, fully employer-paid health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance plans, cell phone stipend, and access to a voluntary deferred compensation program.