Operations Manager

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our needs, we are looking for an Operations Manager to join the Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region.  As a member of the regional leadership team, you will work closely with the Regional Executive Director, program staff, project partners, and members of our Finance/Legal/Operations teams to support implementation of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan (A Common Agenda for Wildlife) and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan.

You will report to the Regional Executive Director. (Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions).   When the offices open, the position will be based, and in office work is expected, in either Missoula, MT or Seattle, WA.

About Our Region:

The Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region spans a large and diverse geographic landscape across the states of Alaska, Hawai’i, Oregon, and Washington in the Pacific; Montana and Idaho in the Rockies; and North and South Dakota in the Great Plains. Our work is based out of two primary offices, in Missoula and Seattle, and a smaller office near Portland, Oregon.

Our regional team has proven its commitment to wildlife and landscape-scale conservation through four decades of successful campaigns to protect grizzly bears, restore bison on public and Tribal lands, secure safe habitat for bighorn sheep, and fight for runs of wild salmon. Working closely with our affiliates, Tribal/Native/Indigenous entities and other conservation and community partners, our programs help expand Monarch migration pathways, restore beavers for riparian health, expand protection for Native Hawaiian seabirds, connect children and families with nature, and more. Some of our conservation programs extend beyond our region, including work on western water, wildlife habitat connectivity, and youth and adult education. Details on these and other program priorities can be found on our regional website: https://www.nwf.org/Northern-Rockies-and-Pacific-Region.

Your role will include:

Regional Financial and Legal Management

• Work together with the Regional Executive Director and other regional staff to integrate program budgets and contract processes with regional and national teams.
• Ensure sound financial management, including tracking expenses and revenues.
• Manage the development and monitoring of regional budget reporting systems; direct responsibility for managing regional budget of approximately $2,000,000.
• Develop and implement budgets through projections, cost classifications, transfers and year-end carryovers; prepare and monitor center budget consistent with NWF's financial reporting system.
• Oversee and approve expenditures, including salary allocations, travel, office operations and special events.
• Oversee and coordinate legal document management between and with national and regional teams. Oversee all regional contracts, including contractors, grazing retirement incentive payments, and grant awards. Manage and process payments related to these regional contracts.

  Regional Grant and Fundraising Tracking, Management, and Reporting

• Coordinate with regional leadership and program managers and philanthropy team to monitor and support relationships and funding opportunities.
• Maintain grant management platform and foundation/fundraising report tracking.
• Oversee grant submittal procedures and support regional staff and philanthropy team with funding opportunities.
• Create and maintain grant budgets, and oversee process for approval and reporting.
• Integrate, manage, and support all grant reporting with regional staff.

 Regional Outreach and Communications Management

• Support and coordinate strategic communications between regional programs and Communications Manager.
• Coordinate and oversee production for communication pieces (website, promotional pieces, videographers).
• Train, support, and integrate tools and programs between regional programs with Communications Manager and national outreach teams (website, blog team, newsletter team, social media platforms).

 Regional Staff and Office Systems Management

• Negotiate and manage regional offices and systems (rent, copiers, contractors).
• Oversee onboarding and training for new staff, including coordination of equipment and platforms needed for program work.
• Serve as main point of contact with the NWF headquarters to ensure best-practices in the region. Ensure systems and procedures are current and functional; keep office equipment updated and in working order; and oversee and negotiate office lease and contract agreements.
• Support regional leadership in expanding Regional Center’s relationship and collaboration with other NWF departments and staff, including senior management. Troubleshoot and coordinate support with national team on technology systems and platforms. Provide training for regional staff on IT systems. Coordinate and determine regional technology needs and installations.
• In coordination with the Regional Executive Director, provide day-to-day management of regional staff, including direct supervision of work-study students providing administrative support. Assist supervision of program interns as coordinated with program managers in the region. Communicate policies and procedures to staff. Assist regional leadership and program managers with hiring and recruitment of new staff.

Basic Qualifications:

Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in organizational leadership, including demonstrated proficiency in personnel management, teambuilding and delegation; strategic planning and program implementation; familiarity with conservation or other nonprofit advocacy; developing and engaging partners from diverse communities; non-profit fundraising, and working with non-profit boards, government and Tribal agencies, and corporate entities. These proficiencies are typically consistent with five or more years of professional experience, including all of the following:

• Financial, contract, and grants management
• Preparing, presenting, and managing organizational and grant budgets
• Administrative operations, preferably in a nonprofit setting
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with a high proficiency in Excel required
• Using professionally managed website and social media platforms
• Comfortable with IT and assisting others with technology set up and troubleshooting

In this position, your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. These may be demonstrated by your experience:

• Working collaboratively with an integrated and diverse team of professionals
• Appreciating diversity of opinion as well as respect for individuals
• Being a self-starter capable of putting plans into action and meeting deadlines
• Prioritizing time and working efficiently
• Showing a high-level performance in independent work and using problem solving, initiative and creativity
• Being detail-oriented
• Communicating well in writing and orally

Desired Competencies:

• Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
• Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
• Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
• Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships
• Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them
• Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
• Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
• Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
• Strategic thinker, self-starter, well organized, strong communicator, and relationship builder
• Commitment to and strong skills related to leadership, strategy development, fundraising, and personnel management
• An entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, energy, the ability to lead, mentor and inspire others
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Travel:

Once safe travel resumes, periodic travel throughout the region and to national HQ and/or meetings may occur. Anticipate 3-5 days, roughly every other month, up to 30 nights per year.

Application:

Applications will be accepted through May 24, 2021.

The salary range for this position is currently $60,000 - $65,000 annually, dependent upon qualifications and experience.

The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere.  Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year.  In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks.  Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world.  We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity. 

If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.

The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply.  Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translates directly to our openings.  Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.

www.nwf.org