Associate Director, EPIC NPS

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. ACE 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: Associate Director, EPIC NPS

Location: ACE currently has offices in Sacramento, CA; Ridgecrest, CA; Hurricane, UT; Flagstaff, AZ; and Asheville, NC. This position can also work remotely.

Department/Division: EPIC Program, National Park Service (NPS) Division

Status: Regular Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)

*Depending on location, this position may be non-exempt/hourly in compliance with specific state regulations.

Schedule/Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week (Monday - Friday) with some adjustment expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be occasionally required.

Start Date: January 2023

Reports To: Division Director

Position Summary:

The Associate Director (AD) of EPIC NPS is an office-based position and works under the direction and support of the Division Director to manage a variety of administrative and operational programs and initiatives within the Division. The AD is directly responsible for leading and developing innovative programmatic strategies and ensures Division compliance with program operations and member management. This position is an integral part in identifying and coordinating trainings and professional development opportunities that support both ACE staff and members as well as ensuring that all projects and programs are well-managed to high quality outcomes.

The Associate Director will frequently interact with ACE's staff, project partners, program members, as well as the general public and as such is expected to maintain a professional demeanor, positive attitude, and willingness to act as an ambassador and leader of ACE 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 while embodying ACE Core Values of Quality, Inclusion, Professional Development, Stewardship, and Partner-Immersed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support the EPIC NPS Program division staff including Program Managers and Member Managers.
• Interact with NPS Division team and program staff, agency partners, and members effectively to ensure communication between these stakeholders in both office and field settings.
• Help train NPS Division staff to ensure members are recruited, enrolled, exited, and managed to ACE Program standards for their term of service.
• Help train Division staff to conduct ACE orientation trainings and ensure full orientation is delivered to every new member.
• Help train and provide guidance for Division staff for budget management and agreement compliance.
• Work closely with the recruitment team to ensure members are recruited effectively for the various EPIC NPS Programs.
• Monitor member and partner feedback with responsive triage and coordination for incident management, professional development or other situational support to all parties.
• Foster an internal and external environment that is anti-bullying, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination for ACE staff and members.
• Assist in implementing regular member check-ins, performance improvement action plans, suspensions, or dismissals for violations of ACE Policy.
• Maintain and improve current programmatic and operational strategies and develop new strategies with Team to increase the effectiveness of programming.
• Work with Division Director and Project Partners on project planning and growth; collect and manage hours, measurables, payroll, and other data for regular and annual reporting and forecasting.
• Review ACE database management including training staff to ensure all appropriate member/project information is being entered and maintained in each member profile and agreement.
• Ensure that all project measurables, budgets and goals are met, including communicating and guiding project partners with project implementation.
• Develop and monitor project agreement budgets.
• Oversee budgeting and purchase of requested equipment/travel for agreements including, but not limited to, gear, transportation, per diems, training fees, and lodging.
• Ensure timely invoicing of projects.
• Assist in grant writing, seeking out new funding opportunities and partnerships and areas for strategic growth.
• Conduct park visits, attend offsite events, and professional development conferences or trainings.
• Adhere to ACE safety policies and procedures.
• Foster a culture and environment that positions ACE for success and ensures that ACE is the program of choice for partners, members and staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• At least 2-3 years experience of program/project management or coordination.
• A deep and continuing interest in reaching and pairing emerging professionals with professional development opportunities that match their interests and goals.
• The ability to handle multiple projects/tasks, prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Highly organized, with the ability to maintain coordination of hundreds of applicants and active members for positions nationwide, utilizing a variety of cloud-based recruitment and member management tools.
• Demonstrated creativity; ability to organize tasks, work independently and as part of a team.
• Capable of supervising and supporting a team of direct reports, both remotely and in-person as needed.
• Experience using a variety of software and database systems, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Platform, applicant tracking softwares, databases and other internal and external systems.
• Experience or ability to learn basic budget modeling tools and management systems.
• Must be flexible and eager to engage the highly mobile and predominantly remote administrative teams that make up ACE.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding and an ability to effectively engage individuals (internal and external) from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, ability and ethnic backgrounds.
• Commitment to ACE's mission of public service through youth development and volunteerism.
• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• A deep and continuing interest in the welfare and professional development of ACE participants.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Encouraged but not required:

• Knowledge and or understanding of National Service Programs like AmeriCorps
• Practical knowledge of the federal grants and agreements processes.
• Practical knowledge of or experience with similar corps-oriented, non-profit organizations,
• Knowledge and or understanding of NPS or federal land management agencies.
• Experience with the National Park Service, or passionate about implementing its mission to, "balance public resource enjoyment, education, and inspiration with resource preservation."
• Mentorship / engagement with marginalized individuals or communities that conservation organizations have failed to previously engage.
• Previous supervisory experience.

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.

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 $55,000 to $60,000, 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). 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.

Phone Provided or Reimbursement Option: You have the option to select one of the following options: ACE work phone device/number provided or monthly phone reimbursement for personal device/number use.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your relevant project or member management experience and why you are a good fit for this position. Please submit your application using the online application link. 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 NPS Division Director Dave Bastian (dbastian@usaconservation.org, 435-881-9076)

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

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.

Learn more about ACE on our WEBSITE or check out our INSTAGRAM!

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