Northeast Program Manager

National Parks Conservation Association•New York, NY

3d•$69,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is seeking a Northeast Program Manager to join their Northeast Regional Office. This role is responsible for building support for national parks and developing park champions throughout the region, with a specific focus on national park sites in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The Program Manager will develop relationships, educate, and mobilize communities surrounding national parks to advance strategic regional park campaigns and contribute to NPCA’s program team goals. Guided by the Northeast Campaign Director and in collaboration with the broader NPCA team, the Program Manager will advance strategies to ensure that natural and cultural resources in Northeast national parks are protected, preserved, restored, and resilient. The role will focus on the protection and expansion of cultural resources and inclusive storytelling, while also working to protect key Northeast landscapes, enhance park visitors’ experience, and provide operational support for the regional office in New York City.

Requirements

Four to five years of relevant lived or worked experience
BS/BA preferred
Background or experience in cultural resources preferred but not required.
Knowledge and experience navigating local, state and/or federal legislative processes, basic understanding of New York City politics, and comfortability participating in public hearings, providing testimony a plus.
Proven ability to manage time effectively, coordinate multiple projects, handle details, work effectively under pressure with minimum to moderate supervision.
Capacity to respond to requests and complete tasks in a timely, professional manner, manage and meet deadlines, and produce high-quality work.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, reliably and as part of a team in a virtual setting. Must be comfortable working collaboratively on a daily basis as part of a closely-knit team of professional colleagues.
Professional presentation and excellent writing and oral communications skills are essential.
Confidence in groups and comfort with community engagement and public speaking.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Zoom, the internet for research and other basic computer skills is required.
Experience with digital organizing platforms such as Eventbrite, Canva, and the creation of QR codes a plus.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Commitment to NPCA’s mission, core values and NPCA’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Statement of Intentions.

Nice To Haves

Background or experience in cultural resources
Knowledge and experience navigating local, state and/or federal legislative processes
Basic understanding of New York City politics
Comfortability participating in public hearings, providing testimony
Experience with digital organizing platforms such as Eventbrite, Canva, and the creation of QR codes

Responsibilities

Build a community of new and diverse advocates to advance established and emerging regional and national campaigns that enhance historic and cultural resource management and expand narratives in Northeast national parks.
Lead the campaign to ensure the protection and promotion of Stonewall National Monument and evaluate and develop proposals and creative thinking for the monument and the full inclusive stories the park represents.
Identify opportunities to strengthen cultural resource protection and interpretation and leverage innovative partnerships in parks to ensure Northeast national parks reflect different perspectives and true, honest history.
Facilitate direct advocacy to local, state and federal decision makers to build champions for Northeast cultural resource parks.
Develop and manage authentic and reciprocal relationships with allies, including National Park Service staff, local businesses, elected officials, universities, social justice organizations and other cultural heritage and conservation organizations.
Serve as a member of relevant internal NPCA program teams, such as Welcoming and Inclusive Parks Working Group, New Parks team, Visitation team, and others as relevant to the Program Manager’s regional campaigns.
Build a coalition of park advocates to increase park funding, staffing, and engage federal, state and local decision-makers in support of regional and national priorities.
Identify opportunities to educate the media, public, decision-makers, advisors and fellow advocates about the Northeast national parks through the creation of digital and print communications tools.
Work with Northeast team to engage New York, New Jersey and Connecticut local, state and federal decision makers and influencers to grow support for increasing the NPS workforce, federal budget and seek additional opportunities for dedicated, supplemental funding on an as-needed basis.
Attend community meetings, conduct informational public forums, organize outdoor group experiences, and carry out other forms of community education that promote and advance park funding and staffing campaign goals.
Facilitate opportunities for allies and supporters to engage in park advocacy actions that advance regional and national programmatic goals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Create supporting campaign materials (talking points, fact sheets, public comments, newsletters, presentations, website content, etc.), and host in-person and hybrid events to engage elected officials, stakeholders, NPCA members, the National Park Service and other federal agencies in our regional campaigns.
Support the Northeast Young Leaders Council by helping to facilitate meetings, mentor Young Leaders in advocacy and outreach to decision makers, and organize park visits, events, and tabling opportunities in the tri-state area.
Assist in the coordination and execution of regional administrative activities and provide logistical support for activities of the Northeast Regional Office including Regional Council and other in-person and hybrid events and meetings as requested. Maintain event supply inventory and support a regional office in New York City.
Produce email newsletters, summaries of program work and campaign milestones/achievements and calls to action for NPCA supporters, Northeast partners and internal stakeholders.
Leverage tabling opportunities and digital campaigning tools to broaden advocacy and member engagement in priority Northeast Park campaigns. This includes helping prepare and execute the bi-monthly Park Partners Advocacy Hour webinar.
Maintain a high level of responsiveness and execute quick and efficient follow-up after meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities to increase advocacy actions and expand NPCA’s members, supporters and Northeast Park partners network.
Track and respond to natural resource threats in Northeast national parks by crafting creative, proactive strategies and tactics that engage decision makers and partners to ensure the long-term protection of irreplaceable ecosystems and plant and wildlife species. This work is supported by NPCA’s Program Teams, including but not limited to the Clean Air team, Water team, Wildlife team, Science Advisory Leadership Team, Energy team, etc.
Support and implement programs to increase support for the Delaware River, including water protection, funding, and community engagement. Attend public meetings, submit public comments, lobby decisionmakers, and develop fact sheets.
Collaborate with the Northeast team and Development staff to identify and steward major donors, foundation representatives and prospects, Board members, Regional Council and Young Leader Council members, and Next Generation Advisory members.
Assist in preparation of funding proposals by writing and editing grant proposals and reports. Support fundraising events, park tours, VIP tours, speaking programs, and other activities as needed.
Assess and identify resource and budgetary needs to effectively execute regional campaigns.
Respect employees regardless of their position or background.
Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems.
Participates in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, quarterly regional planning sessions, staff committee meetings, training programs, and attend external meetings and seminars as necessary to advance regional campaign goals.
Assists in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals.