Program Strategy Manager, Conservation Data

The Nature Conservancy•Arlington, TX

4d•$83,700 - $125,700•Remote

About The Position

The Program Strategy Manager, Conservation Data will be responsible for using proven team management approaches to support the global Conservation Data Team. They will set up for success, structure, staff, and plan organizational initiatives or projects led by the Conservation Data Team. The Program Strategy Manager, Conservation Data is a member of the leadership team of the Conservation Data Team in the Chief Conservation Office. The Conservation Data Team in the Chief Conservation Office helps advance TNC’s collective impact by helping executives, leaders of portfolios, and teams generate and use evidence for adaptive management and reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience or equivalent combination.
5 years of project management experience or 3 years acting as a project lead.
Completed coursework or other training on project management principles.
Direct experience working on and experience consulting on managing and tracking multiple projects, managing and implementing complex processes time management.
Experience with learning, adaptive management, and human-centered approaches.
Experience managing project teams and working with cross-functional staff.
Experience managing scheduling and logistical aspects of medium to large projects that range from short to long term.
Directly using and consulting on project management techniques and tools.
Experience working with a highly matrixed, decentralized and collaborative organization.
Experience meeting time sensitive deadlines.
Experience training staff on how to effectively engage with internal and external parties.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting strategic initiatives and organizational change management, especially related to data, business intelligence, and data-drive portfolio management.
Credentialed certification in Highly Effective Teams® (HET) or Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent program.
Ability to use project management software (e.g., Microsoft Teams Planner) or the ability to quickly learn new software.
Critical analytical thinking and excellent English writing skills.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to negotiate, influence, and persuade.
Ability to write and speak in a language other than English, such as Spanish, Portuguese, French or Chinese, highly desirable.
Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences.
NGO experience.
Ability to acquire quick fluency in the client’s global strategy or Business Unit strategy.
Familiarity and knowledge related to business, governmental, and/or environmental policy and practices pertaining to the global strategy or Business Unit area of focus.
Experience influencing without authority or supervising staff, interns and/or volunteers.
Ability to develop and drive new ideas and approaches.
Proficiency in interpreting guidelines and manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data.
Successful experience implementing strategic program goals.

Responsibilities

Establish goals and success factors and develop organizational initiative and project plans, budgets, metrics and schedules with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members.
Serve as a technical resource to the Global Director of the Conservation Data Team and its Directors to critically assess project scope and objectives, ensuring all risks and dependencies are addressed in the project plan in order to deliver successful project results that support the fulfillment of the objectives.
Support the Directors to define roles and responsibilities, recruit, and lead the project teams to successfully achieve identified goals in the most cost-effective and time-saving manner possible.
Build into project plans go/no-go decisions at all project decision points from the Project Lead or Sponsor.
Support adaptive management of the initiatives, including running quarterly and annual reviews.
Support risk management, issue resolution, and conflict management, and collaboratively solve complex problems.
Act as a master resource to other staff and project managers to provide project management guidance, coaching, training, and expertise.
Manage and report on grants, as well as support scoping and development of new proposals, initiatives, and special projects.
Act as an expert consultant in the organization’s project management method and bring that expertise to a global team leading organization-wide initiatives, in partnership with other teams in the organization.
Act independently and in supervisor’s stead, as needed; exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
Coordinate the work of global team leading organizational-wide initiatives towards a desired outcome.
Develop and implement project management excellence to ensure the goals of the global team’s strategy, initiatives and projects are achieved.
Support the global director in ensuring commitments, Conservancy policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
Support the global director to manage program, project, and grant budgets and assist with budget development related to strategic projects.
Coach directors and team members to manage and implement multiple complex projects, including managing project teams, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.
Manage team and project adaptive management processes, including quarterly reviews and annual reviews.
Manage and report on grants to funders and stakeholders.
May manage or participate in complex negotiations.
Travel occasionally, working long and flexible hours as needed.
Work within scope of program’s strategic goals.