BACKGROUND
The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) seeks a Conservation Project Manager to join the team working to improve habitat and protect water resources in beautiful coastal San Mateo County. RCDs across California serve as local hubs for conservation, connecting people with the technical, financial, and educational assistance they need to conserve and manage natural resources. RCDs help landowners, land managers, government agencies, and others to voluntarily protect, restore, and enhance natural resources on private and public lands. A defining characteristic of RCDs is that our assistance is non-regulatory, confidential, and free.
POSITION
The RCD has five program areas: climate mitigation, water resources, forest health and fire, habitat enhancement, and agricultural stewardship. This position serves the water resources and habitat enhancement teams. You will advance efforts to restore wildlife habitat and enhance streamflow for environmental benefit while improving water security for local agriculture and domestic use. The work includes developing and implementing projects, supporting regional prioritization efforts, and helping landowners manage their natural resources. Typical projects include creek and wetland enhancement, removal of barriers to restore ancestral fish migration, vegetation management, agricultural and domestic water storage and water conservation, and other activities that improve natural resources for wildlife and people. You will work closely with a broad array of internal staff, partner organizations, government agency staff, and public and private landowners and require a high level of collaboration both internally and externally.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management
- Ensure that each project meets all internal requirements and follows RCD protocols for project management, e.g. writing project descriptions, holding kickoff meetings, completing post-mortems, utilizing project management tools, identifying roles and responsibilities, and completing communications plans
- Manage projects to ensure satisfactory completion, including but not limited to:
- Coordinate with funders, technical advisors, partners, and stakeholders as needed in each stage of the project
- Manage contracts with funders, consultants, and subcontractors
- Manage bid processes for hiring contractors and developing contracts
- Manage budgets, invoicing, and reporting
- Manage communications between project partners and stakeholders
- Manage and develop environmental documents and permits, sometimes with the support of consultants
- Manage the development of project designs and logistics for project implementation
- Oversee implementation activities, including contractor management and coordination, permit compliance, and biological monitoring
- Oversee monitoring activities, including data collection in the field, data entry, equipment preparation and supply maintenance (the employee will be trained in all required protocols)
- Ensure timely completion of high-quality deliverables including final reports, technical reports, outreach materials, and workshops
Collaboration, Outreach and Technical Assistance
- Support or lead workshops in English, Spanish, or Chinese
- Help identify and support strategic opportunities for partnerships, resources, and communications to advance program goals
- Support and sometimes lead the identification of emerging restoration and conservation opportunities through collaboration with internal and external partners such as staff, resource agencies, community representatives, public land managers, and private landowners
- Communicate regularly with partners and foster positive relationships
- Provide technical assistance through individual communications, site-visits, and occasional after-hour community meetings
- Coordinate with other RCD staff as needed to advance multi-benefit conservation
- Respond to timely needs and pivot resources as necessary and appropriate, per the direction of program manager and/or supervisor
Project Development
- Help identify and/or support strategic opportunities for partnerships, resources, and communications to advance program goals
- Help identify emerging issues, priorities and opportunities to advance RCD or program goals under direction of Program Manager and/or supervisor
- Help seek funding opportunities through private, local, state, and federal sources under direction of Program Manager and/or supervisor
- Prepare grant proposals and communicate with funding agencies and grants managers
Supervision
- Conservation Project Managers may supervise permanent or seasonal staff or interns or otherwise provide mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to others