Position Description

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Program Officer in the Restoration Department. The Program Officer is responsible for leading two to three of the Trust’s restoration programs focusing on water quality and habitat, supporting administration of new related award programs as they are developed, and supporting implementation of the Trust’s restoration initiatives. This position is a new position needed due to our expanding partnerships and expected growth over the next six months. Duties will include assisting potential applicants with ideas and proposal generation; identifying new potential applicants and applications; soliciting, reviewing, and administering awards to nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, governments, schools, and other applicants that are committed to stewardship actions that restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers; and managing partnerships that advance the Trust’s restoration portfolio and support the outreach and education goals for the Trust. This person will be a key member of a 25+ person staff and will report to the Vice President of Programs for Restoration.

About the Chesapeake Bay Trust

The Trust seeks to engage and empower diverse groups to take actions that enrich the natural resources and local communities of the Chesapeake Bay region. The Trust works to empower people and restore nature through our partnerships, programs, and experienced staff. The Trust is a nonprofit award-making organization established by state government in 1985. The Trust currently makes 350+ awards per year ranging from $500 to ~$400,000 for on-the-ground restoration, science, capacity building, and community engagement, and K-12 environmental education. In the past 15 years, the Trust has increased its award-making five-fold through various revenues streams, with annual awards of approximately $12 to $20 million.

Specific Duties:

  • Serve as a lead for two or three the Trust’s restoration award programs focused on watershed restoration efforts. Examples of practices of focus include stormwater practices such as green infrastructure, agricultural best management practices, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration, living shorelines, and marine debris removal.
  • Advertise widely across the state and Chesapeake Bay watershed (depending on the funding source/focus of the program) to identify potential applicants to the award programs, identify what help these applicants might need to apply and successfully complete a project, encourage them to apply, and provide support as they develop project ideas for their proposal. One program likely to be of focus will concentrate in the upper Bay.
  • Lead the analysis and review of award applications received by the Trust.
  • Lead the refinement and/or development of Requests for Proposals and other program materials for the restoration programs managed.
  • Prepare award summary reports and analysis for Technical Review Committees, funding partners, and the Board of Trustees.
  • Administer awards from about $25,000 to $250,000, including preparing award agreements and contracts, assisting awardees with project issues, reviewing status and final reports, approving payments, reviewing revision requests, and more.
  • Work with awardees throughout their project to report successes, discuss and overcome any obstacles to the outcomes, where relevant, management of contractors to provide technical assistance for current or future awardees/partners, and report products to funding partners, the general public (e.g., in newsletters, on the website), and/or the Trust staff.
  • Develop a suite of professional development activities, which could include participating in and presenting at conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and/or symposia.
  • Advance recommendations received from the Trust’s external diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice advisory committee and the Trust’s internal action team.

Skills and Qualifications

Candidates must have the following skills, abilities, and/or qualifications:

  • Experience and a track record of success in restoration efforts, e.g., watershed planning, oversight of design/implementation of restoration projects, implementing restoration projects, and/or active participation/membership in the Chesapeake Bay watershed/stormwater community.
  • Experience using the latest science, research, and/or best practices to guide restoration efforts.
  • Strategic thinking skills: ability to set priorities, balance short-term and long-term objectives.
  • Proficiency in managing budgets and contracts.
  • Ability to work independently as well as in group settings.
  • Ability to lead groups of people (e.g., meetings, panels) and use collaborative approaches to realize project, program, and organizational goals.
  • Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of programs, especially word, powerpoint, and excel.
  • Exceptional project management and time-management skills, with the ability to manage and meet tight deadlines.
  • Ability to conduct site visits to project locations submitted by award applicants.
  • Personal vehicle or access to a vehicle/transportation and valid driver’s license or access to transportation options required to facilitate site visit travel and travel to the office.

Position Salary and Benefits

$50,000 to $60,000 with an excellent benefits package and professional development opportunities through workshops, training programs, conferences, and opportunities for advancement. Candidates with a M.S. degree in natural sciences and three years of relevant experience or B.S. degree in natural sciences and over five years of relevant experience will qualify for the upper half of the salary range.

How to Apply

Applications received before November 7, 2022, will receive full consideration, though the position will remain open until filled. Please send a resume and cover letter via email to talent@cbtrust.org and place “Restoration Program Officer – [Enter Your Last Name]” in the subject line of the email.  The cover letter must address how your skills and experience are specifically relevant to the job description and duties of this specific opportunity, rather than serving simply as description of your previous positions or experience.  Please explain why you are interested in this position specifically and what makes you a good fit.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from people of color.