Chesapeake Conservation Partnership Deputy Program Manager

Chesapeake Conservancy is seeking to hire a Deputy Program Manager to join a team of dedicated professionals to advance the mission, goals and annual priorities of the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership (Partnership or CCP).

If you are a mission-driven professional with several years of progressively responsible experience in conservation, environmental restoration, sustainable policy and practices, natural resources or regional planning, or related experience; are able to thrive as a member of a collaborative team of co-workers and partners; and are keenly interested in advancing the conservation and restoration of valuable lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we are excited to meet you! Please apply.

Chesapeake Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available genetic test results, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are pro-actively seeking to advance a diverse workforce. 

ABOUT CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY AND THE CHESAPEAKE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

Chesapeake Conservancy

Chesapeake Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland, dedicated to ensuring a healthier Chesapeake Bay watershed where fish and wildlife thrive, with healthy waters and abundant forests, wetlands, shorelines, and open spaces. With the human population in the Chesapeake watershed approaching 18 million and growing, and with tens of thousands of acres of open space vanishing each year, the Conservancy works to connect people with the Chesapeake’s wildlife and history; conserve landscapes and rivers; and restore the region’s natural resources. The Conservancy works in close partnership with the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as other federal, state and local agencies, private foundations and corporations to advance conservation.

Chesapeake Conservation Partnership

CCP is a landscape collaborative led by a Steering Committee whose members represent federal and state government senior managers and many nonprofit land trusts and other nonprofits in the conservation/environmental fields. The Partnership was first co-convened in 2009 by the Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Office (NPS) and the President and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy. It has continued to grow and thrive as a large landscape collaborative for the past 13 years.

CCP is made possible in part by coordination between NPS and the Conservancy, both of which are dedicated to conserving and restoring valuable lands throughout the Bay watershed to achieve both shorter- and longer-term goals. The numerous CCP partners manage more than 9 million acres combined but seek to extend the conservation of large landscapes throughout the region to benefit multiple values, including contributing to and sustaining local economies; conserving historic, scenic, natural, and cultural heritage, including working lands; protecting species and their habitats; enhancing and restoring water quality and supply; benefiting human health and overall quality of life; and advancing environmental justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. These priorities are referred to among the partnership as Farms, Forests, Habitat, Heritage and Health. The Partnership endeavors to add value to the work and achievements of the mutually shared goals and priorities of all partners.

The Partnership’s Steering Committee meets on a quarterly basis and at other times as necessary. The Steering Committee also forms other working groups as needed. The Partnership conducts both virtual and in-person annual working meetings where many partner organizations gather to assess current progress and plan ahead.

Within the structure of the regional Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, the CCP serves as a means to achieve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement‘s Land Protection Goal and Protected Lands Outcome. The CCP Steering Committee functions dually as the Protected Lands Workgroup to set, implement, and track commitments. CCP’s work is broader than the Workgroup’s charge. A portion of each of the Steering Committee meetings is dedicated to updating the participants and seeking guidance on the Workgroup’s actions, which are specified in two-year action plans.

For more information about CCP, visit the website: chesapeakeconservation.org

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Serving as one of the principal staff to the Partnership’s Steering Committee and all the partners
  • Acting as a member of a collaborative team with other Conservancy staff and allied staff of NPS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program
  • Participating with other staff in the development of proposed strategic plans, annual budgets, and work plans for the review and approval of the Partnership’s Steering Committee
  • Facilitating and coordinating the implementation of CCP priorities, work plans, workgroups, research and policy development, and related strategies including the periodic assignment of duties among the various the staff
  • Working on collaborative engagement of all key partners and interested parties
  • Maintaining excellent and active working relationships with and engagement of the Steering Committee and its working groups
  • Participating with other staff and the co-conveners in the effective planning of the Partnership’s Steering Committee meeting agendas and advance materials
  • Ensuring effective facilitation for Steering Committee and annual meetings to achieve positive and timely outcomes
  • Participating with other staff in drafting and issuing various regular weekly and periodic forms of communications to all partners
  • Participating with other staff in recommending funding and financing resources to assist in achieving Partnership land conservation and related restoration goals in collaboration with the Steering Committee and other partners as appropriate
  • Developing and pursuing a strategy to diversify the membership of the Steering Committee and the entire CCP membership, and recommending to leadership on an ongoing basis the actions and resources needed to continually grow the partnership as a diverse, inclusive and forward-thinking collaborative

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for the CCP Deputy Manager position is $80,000 to $90,000 depending on relevant experience and education. The Conservancy offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes health, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and participation in a retirement savings plan with an employer match. Opportunities for advancement and professional development are available.  

OFFICE LOCATION AND SUPERVISION

The Conservancy’s principal office is in Annapolis, MD, with opportunities for remote working. The Deputy Program Manager will report to and be supervised by the Conservancy’s Executive Vice President of Programs. The Vice President will seek periodic feedback on the performance of the Deputy Program Manager from members of the Steering Committee.

 

TO APPLY

Please submit both a résumé and cover letter. Only complete and signed applications will be considered. Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis with the goal of hiring as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified.

Key Qualifications
  • A bachelor’s degree in natural science, environmental science, regional planning, natural resource planning, landscape architecture, sustainability or a related field with at least 3 years of relevant and progressively responsible professional experience. Additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree in one of these majors may be considered in lieu of 2 years of experience.
  • A passionate desire to advance the mission and goals of Chesapeake Conservancy, NPS, and CCP
  • A commitment to assisting teammates and partners to be successful and to finding solutions to barriers that are impeding progress
  • An ability to think strategically and creatively to advance the goals of CCP and to clearly and compellingly articulate a vision and strategies to partners
  • An ability to anticipate or ascertain the needs of all partners and stakeholders
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and an attention to detail
  • Complex project management experience and the ability to multi-task are desirable
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to forge relationships across a spectrum of professionals and stakeholders
  • Organizational skills and proficiencies with Microsoft and Google Documents; experience using various platforms for remote meetings; and familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are all desirable
  • Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice as a priority across all spheres of work
  • All Chesapeake Conservancy employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19