Associate Director, EPIC FWS

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of an emerging labor force to help restore America's public lands. ACE's Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) program has a national reputation for providing young adults and recent graduates with hands-on, professional development individual placement opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers. EPIC operates in coalition with partners such as the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other conservation focused groups.

Job Title: ACE EPIC Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Division Associate Director

Location: Salt Lake City, UT. Options include other ACE offices or remote/flexible telework.

Department/Division: EPIC (Fish and Wildlife Service)

Status: Regular Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)

Schedule/Hours: ​​Full-time, 40 hours/weeks with additional hours as needed. Typical work hours of 8:30am-5:00pm (Monday - Friday) local time with some adjustment expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be occasionally required.

Reports To: Division Director, EPIC FWS Program

Travel: Some regional/national travel required to various project partner locations.

Start Date: August/September 2022

Position Summary: The Associate Director (AD) for the ACE FWS Division is an office-based position and works under the direction and support of the Division Director to manage a variety of administrative and operational functions. The AD is directly responsible for leading and developing programmatic strategies and ensuring Division compliance with program objectives, as well as ensuring that all projects and programs are managed to high quality outcomes.

The Associate Director will frequently interact with ACE's staff, project partners, and ACE members on projects they directly manage. As such, the AD is expected to maintain a professional demeanor, positive attitude, and willingness to act as an ambassador and leader of ACE's program at all times. The Associate Director must be flexible, adaptable, and enthusiastic while working in a dynamic remote office environment. Adaptive leadership and feedback-driven thinking are important assets in this position as the Division continues to evolve and aspires to embody ACE Core Values: Quality, Inclusion, Professional Development, Stewardship, and Partner-Immersed.

General responsibilities include managing key deliverables and outcomes of Division partnerships and member experiences, including supervising division staff, supporting ACE members, managing projects, developing budgets, cost management, and associated staffing coordination.

ACE EPIC FWS Division Background:

The ACE EPIC FWS Division currently manages more than 100 Cooperative Agreements with FWS across the country. Projects supported are diverse and range from invasive species control; riparian and wetland restoration; threatened and endangered species research and management; records reconciliation; realty; vertebrate and invertebrate research and management; ecology; landscape level planning; maintenance; outreach, environmental education, and visitor services.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

With the primary direction and support of the FWS Division Director, along with team support, the AD will:

• Develop and manage project budgets and ensure compliance on federal agreements between ACE and FWS, as well as agreements with non-profits and other government agencies; Train and provide guidance for Division staff for budget management and agreement compliance.
• Supervise and support division staff including Member Manager(s) and Division Support Specialist(s).
• Interact with ACE FWS Division team and program staff, agency partners, and ACE members to ensure effective communication between these stakeholders in both office and field settings.
• Monitor member and partner feedback and respond appropriately providing necessary support and coordination.
• Maintain and improve current programmatic and operational strategies and develop new strategies with Team to increase the effectiveness of programming.
• Collaborate with the Division Director and Project Partners on project planning and growth; Collect and manage data on member hours, program measurables, payroll, and other data for regular and annual reporting and forecasting.
• Review ACE database management systems and train staff to ensure all appropriate project information is being entered and maintained for each agreement.
• Directly engage and support agency partners in the implementation of projects:
  • Coordinate logistics, establish expectations for project duties and schedules, communicate with the FWS Division team, and adjust project needs accordingly.
  • Assist with invoice review and agreement budget management.
  • Ensure all project goals and deliverables are met in a timely manner.
• Oversee member placements on large-scale, multi-year projects, including:
  • Support member managers with the candidate screening and selection process
  • Communicate and collaborate with ACE's recruitment team for outreach efforts.
  • Recruit, place, and support ACE members on select projects, including managing interviews, reference checks, onboarding and exit paperwork needs, and member in-term support and logistics.
• Conduct refuge visits, attend offsite events, and professional development conferences or trainings.
• Adhere to ACE safety policies and procedures.
• Foster an environment that is anti-bullying, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Ability to effectively work with a diverse range of people.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to track and manage funding and compliance across multiple agreements and projects
• A deep and continuing interest in the welfare and professional development of ACE participants.
• Commitment to ACE's mission of public service through youth development and volunteerism.
• Highly organized, with the ability to maintain coordination of hundreds of positions nationwide, utilizing proprietary database tools.
• Ability to think creatively and proactively, organize tasks, work independently and as part of a team, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage and train remote staff, when needed.
• Strong computer management skills including experience or willingness to learn applicant tracking software and personnel databases, iOS, MS Office, Google Suite, and webinar platforms such as Zoom, or equivalents to these.
• Must be flexible and eager to engage the highly mobile and predominantly remote teams that make up ACE.
• Effective time management skills, and the ability/desire to concurrently perform multiple deadline-driven tasks.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding and the ability to effectively interact with individuals (internal and external) from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, ability, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Familiarity with the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, passion for ACE and ability to articulate its mission.
• Commitment to helping ACE advance its goals around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes including supervisor key responsibilities.
• Ability and motivation to perform multiple and variable tasks concurrently.
• Computer competency with experience using a variety of software and database systems, preferably Microsoft Office Suite and the entire Google platform.

Other Requirements:

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record
• Proficient in English
• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check
• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time.
• All ACE members and staff must verify that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the time they start their term/position or request a medical or religious exemption.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talks and hears. Manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch (all physical demands are required with or without reasonable accommodations).
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 10 lbs., occasionally moves up to 25 pounds.
• Environmental: Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel as needed.

Compensation: Starting annualized salary of $52,000 to $58,000 (assuming 40 hours/week for 52 weeks), based on experience.

Benefits: ACE offers competitive medical and ancillary plans (health, mental health, dental, vision and other supplemental benefits). ACE Staff members are also eligible to participate in ACE's retirement plan with a 1% employer contribution.

Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time: As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to accrue up to 80 hours of paid vacation time annually during your first two years of continuous employment, then it increases to 120 hours annually. ACE observes 13 paid annual holidays (floating holiday flexibility). Additionally, ACE full-time regular employees also receive paid additional holiday time for any normal work days that fall between the observed Christmas Day and New Year's Day holidays. ACE provides 10 days (or 80 hours) of paid sick time annually.

Additional Benefits: Outdoor Perks - As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your relevant project management experience and why you are a good fit for this position. Qualified applicants may be contacted directly to schedule an interview. All application materials must be submitted to be considered for this opportunity.

For specific questions not answered above, please contact: ACE EPIC FWS Division Director, Ellen Bley at ebley@usaconservation.org

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Associate Director, EPIC FWS Jobs at American Conservation Experience - Staff