Chesapeake Program & Contracts Specialist

The Nature Conservancy•GEO / Remote - Maryland, MD

10d•$31 - $42•Remote

About The Position

This is a part-time, 19 hour per week, up to 2-year grant-funded position with the possibility of extension based on continued grant funding. Please note, this position is not eligible for benefits. Working location is remote from a home office within the continental United States, with the option of working out of the Easton, MD office. The chosen applicant must work Eastern Standard Time hours. The Chesapeake Project & Contracts Specialist will be a key member of TNC’s Chesapeake Bay Program and the Chesapeake Bay Agriculture Team working to restore a healthy Chesapeake Bay that supports over 3,700 species of plants and animals, thriving local communities, and sustainable industries such as fisheries, farming, and tourism. The Chesapeake Project & Contracts Specialist will bring their enthusiasm to work with multiple conservation teams to advance projects that improve water quality, sustain and increase biodiversity, and increase climate resiliency by facilitating efficient and effective communications among teams and partners, supporting rapid processing and approval processes to pay invoices and participant payments, draft contracts and facilitate approvals and deadlines, and track and report on project deliverables and conservation outcomes. The Chesapeake Project & Contracts Specialist will support projects and contracts and coordinate cross-functional operational activities, including operations support, procurement, finance, and meeting support. Core focus areas include: Project Coordination: Advance the strategic priorities of the Chesapeake Bay agriculture strategy by completing tasks and activities that are critical to advance projects. They will be responsible for collaborating with team members to plan and coordinate parts of internal and external facing projects including those funded by large Federal grants; coordinating among internal TNC teams (e.g., Grants, Legal); coordinating project team meetings and associated follow-up; updating/maintaining intranet sites and other internal databases; and coordinating a variety of administrative and programmatic functions. Contracts & Internal Systems Management: Perform Information Systems, Data Security, and Finance tasks, including processing and managing contracts, procurement, managing invoices, preparing reports and forecasts, and tracking existing budgets and contributing to budget forecasts. They will be well-versed in the systems and resources utilized by the team, including data security requirements, to execute assigned tasks. Team Support: Provide guidance to ensure TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met. They will implement processes and practices to improve effectiveness. They will communicate with staff across the Chesapeake Bay agriculture strategy team, as well as with vendors and business partners. They will communicate or distribute information to assist staff in making decisions, solving problems, and improving workflow.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 2 years related experience or equivalent combination.
Experience coordinating administrative processes.
Experience generating reports and interpreting data.
Experience in business writing, editing, and proofreading.
Experience organizing time and managing diverse activities to meet deadlines.
Experience working across teams and communicating with a wide range of people.

Nice To Haves

Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
Ability to analyze information for the purpose of coordinating and planning activities and solving problems.
Ability to use existing technology to achieve desired results.
Excellent customer service skills and focus.
Experience interpreting guidelines to achieve desired results.
Strong organization skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Experience managing components of large Federal grants.
Experience managing contracts, including drafting and completing due diligence.
Experience with financial systems, including invoice and budget management.

Responsibilities

Work within scope of program’s strategic goals
Act independently on assigned tasks and exercise independent judgment based on analysis and experience, referring difficult questions and unusual problems to supervisor
Coordinate projects with several variables, working within a defined timeline and budget
Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information
Perform non-routine analysis, research and follow-through
Ensure compliance with Conservancy policies and procedures, and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements
Ensure compliance with private and public grant terms and conditions
Financial responsibility includes purchasing, processing invoices, contracting with vendors, and assisting with budget preparation
May act as a resource to others to solve problems and act in supervisor’s stead when instructed
Provide input through project teams for the improvement of existing programs
Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain
Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines
May require occasional domestic travel for multi-day retreats in the mid-Atlantic region and working flexible hours as needed to coordinate with staff and partners located in the Eastern time zone in the U.S.