Restoration Program Manager

Minnesota Land Trust

The Minnesota Land Trust seeks an individual to help us build a new program that collaborates with Indigenous communities of Minnesota to complete restoration projects of ecological and cultural importance. The Program Manager will lead an effort to build relationships with tribal partners, develop a multi-year program of work, supervise projects and coordinate with government partners to meet the restoration objectives.

Our ideal candidate has deep experience working with tribal communities in Minnesota and is seeking a leadership position to advance environmental justice, climate change adaptation and land-based conservation initiatives in Minnesota.

Summary of Position

The Restoration Program Manager (Program Manager) is responsible for delivering habitat restoration projects in priority program areas. The Program Manager works directly with the Land Trust’s conservation partners, including local units of government, tribal natural resource managers, state and federal agencies and the Land Trust’s Director of Restoration Programs to develop, fund and complete restoration projects. The Manager identifies and develops key relationships, coordinates activities among multiple agencies, schedules a cohesive program of work, defines and executes projects. The Manager understands and successfully meets all grant requirements for their projects (i.e. grant compliance).

A significant portion of the Program Manager’s work is to collaborate with Fond du Lac Resource Management to restore/enhance culturally valued wetlands in northeastern Minnesota. The Program Manager will also work to develop new opportunities to restore natural resources of importance to Indigenous communities statewide. The Program Manager reports to the Director of Restoration Programs and may supervise contractors, volunteers, or temporary staff. The Program Manager must be adept at building relationships with Indigenous communities.

Priority Program Area(s): Northeast region of Minnesota. Statewide.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ)

All employees of the Minnesota Land Trust are expected to embrace the ideals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and incorporate DEIJ principles throughout their work. All employees help advance the Land Trust’s current DEIJ plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Restoration Project Management – 75%

The Program Manager leads habitat restoration projects in the Land Trust’s priority Program Areas.

  • Proactively develop and deepen partnerships between the Land Trust and Indigenous communities in Minnesota to support restoration efforts in culturally important regions.
  • Facilitate topical meetings with the Land Trust’s partners to assess, plan and complete habitat restoration projects.
  • Conduct site visits to identify potential projects, define scope and establish priorities.
  • Complete project narratives, designs and permitting in-house and through professional services contracts.
  • Contribute to Land Trust efforts to identify and support BIPOC owned vendor services.
  • Prepare bid packages and agreements for professional services and construction contractors.
  • Coordinate construction work with landowners, partners and contractors.
  • Ensure quality assurance and quality compliance (QA/QC) for restoration projects including on-site inspections, purchasing, documentation and project performance reports.

Grant Management – 10%

The Program Manager assists with creating proposals for new grants, ensures compliance with existing grant requirements.

  • Prepare grant proposals and award agreements for natural resource restoration projects.
  • Assist and/or prepare grant reports as required by funder.
  • Maintain records for grant reporting and audit requirements.
  • Manage expenses for assigned grants to ensure costs are within budget.

Department Administration – 10%

The Program Manager contributes to the Restoration Department strategic direction by representing the interests and needs of the Boreal Wetlands Program.

  • Assist Program Director compile department annual plans and budgets.
  • Maintain organizational record-keeping and project database.
  • Participate in DEIJ planning and initiatives.
  • Present the Land Trust’s restoration work in this program area to staff, board and partners.
  • Other duties as assigned.

External Communications – 5%

The Program Manager assists with building awareness of the Land Trust’s restoration efforts.

  • Work with the Communication staff to contribute to media and communication efforts related to Land Trust fundraising or marketing program areas.
  • Assist with Land Trust outreach events such as Treasured Places and MN Made.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  1. Demonstrated connection with tribal communities and government.
  2. Five years of work experience in habitat restoration, or with Indigenous communities OR a Master’s degree and 2 years of relevant work experience. Scientific and/or traditional ecological knowledge of wetlands preferred.
  3. Organized and self-motivated. Ability to solve problems with limited direction.
  4. Ability to achieve outcomes working with a wide variety of perspectives in both group settings and individually.
  5. Experience managing land-based projects from conception to completion.
  6. Ability to prepare complex written proposals and reports on deadlines.
  7. A valid MN driver’s license, or ability to obtain one.

Physical Demands

This position is physically active and the following abilities are necessary to fulfill the position.

  1. Ability to drive 2-3 hours to remote settings.
  2. Ability to navigate using maps, and other spatial data.
  3. Ability to walk up to 1 mile over uneven terrain at all times of the year.
  4. Ability to travel throughout Minnesota with overnight stays occasionally required.
  5. Office duties to be performed at a desk and at a computer.

Location

This position is based in our office in Duluth, MN with possibility of a hybrid schedule.

Salary Range

$65,000-75,000 annually

To Apply

Please email a cover letter and resume combined as a single PDF to Sue Martinez at smartinez@mnland.org by March 6, 2023.

Minnesota Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company will not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, genetic information, sex, disability, age, or any other status protected by state or local law, for employees who fall within the jurisdiction of such law.

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