Division Director, EPIC National Park Service Division

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: Division Director, EPIC National Park Service Division

Location: ACE currently has offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; Sacramento, CA; Ridgecrest, CA; Hurricane, UT; Flagstaff, AZ, and Asheville, NC. This position can also work remotely in the continental USA.

Department/Division: EPIC (National Park Service)

Status: Regular Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)

Reports To: National Director, EPIC Programs

Schedule/Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week (Monday - Friday, flexible; typical ACE core business hours are 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern time) with some adjustment expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs.

Travel: Yes, regional/national travel required to various project partner locations, conferences, and meetings, up to 30%

Start Date: Open Until Filled

Position Summary:

The Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) program places individual members and small teams with land management agencies and organizations in professional paid internships ranging from three to twelve months. These internships are intended to provide a pathway to employment in specific fields, ranging from hydrology, trails, restoration, rangeland management, wildlife, geology, education/interpretation, and more, with position descriptions directly paralleling agency mission and values.

The ACE EPIC National Park Service (NPS) program hosts over 350 members in individual placement projects each year across the country in National Parks, Monuments, Recreational Areas, Trails, Rivers, Battlefields, and Heritage Areas. Individual placement projects supported are wide-ranging, including, but not limited to, natural and cultural resource management, wildlife monitoring, environmental education, interpretation, trail work, historic preservation, physical sciences, GIS, and many more.

Under general supervision of the National Director of EPIC Programs, the NPS Division Director is responsible for soliciting and coordinating conservation and environmental restoration projects with federal, state, and other non-profit partners; developing and managing program budgets; overseeing the recruitment of the division's members; and hiring and supervising program staff members. The Division Director will demonstrate a deep commitment to ACE's unique mission that leverages public service for youth career development and volunteerism.

This Division Director position will oversee a program with over 130 partnership agreements with the National Park Service (NPS). The Division Director will frequently interact with ACE's staff, project partners, and 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's program at all times. The Division 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 ACE Values: Quality, Inclusion, Professional Development, Stewardship, and Partner-Immersed.

Among the program areas the NPS Division oversees are special initiatives that require strong emphasis of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) hiring practices and implementation. The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP), NPS Academy (NPS/A), Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP), Washington Area Support Office Fellows (WASO), and NPS Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program are nationally recognized and deeply impactful to participants, to ACE, and the National Park Service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, hire, train, and hold accountable the ACE National Park Service EPIC Division staff team of 10+ members, all working remotely and dispersed across the country, consistent with the ACE vision, strategy, goals, and core values.
• Develop program strategy, plans, goals, and targets in collaboration with ACE Program Leadership Team.
• Administer and ensure compliance with grants and partner agreements.
• Solicit, plan, schedule, develop, coordinate, and tracks conservation/environmental restoration projects; maintains professional communications and relations with agency project partners (National Park Service and affiliate partners).
• Negotiate cooperative agreement partnerships as well as contracts for work projects and assure compliance.
• Seek opportunities to develop new partnerships through grant writing and funding opportunities.
• Oversee the recruitment of program staff and members.
• Develop and monitor the annual program divisional budget.
• Oversee budgeting and purchase of requested equipment/travel for agreements including, but not limited to, transportation, per diems, training fees, and lodging.
• Oversee management of tools, vehicle and equipment inventories for project agreements.
• Oversee preparation and maintenance of records and reports, including project reports and annual program impact reports.
• Assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for staff.
• Assist in the development and implementation of safety protocols and procedures for the Division.
• Oversee timely and accurate invoicing of division projects.
• Oversee preparation of division payroll.
• Oversee OSHA compliance, including appropriate record keeping.
• Adhere to ACE safety policies and procedures; report any unsafe or harmful conditions, incidents, and/or accidents immediately.
• Foster a culture and environment that positions ACE for success and ensures that ACE is the program of choice for partners, members and staff.
• Collaborates and consults with other ACE Division Directors to identify and develop new partnership relationships.
• Maintain necessary safety and legal compliance with ACE trainings, processes and project management.
• Ensures consistent procedures and policies are being executed across the Division as appropriate to program needs. Provides trainings to support these processes, especially with incoming staff.
• Facilitate and document member and staff development, including disciplinary or corrective action(s) in accordance with ACE policy, as needed.
• Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by ACE.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in nonprofit management, conservation management and/or education, resource management, or related field, and five years of experience working with conservation organizations, including three years of supervisory experience; OR any combination of education, training, and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position at the discretion of the National EPIC Director.
• Experience working with or within the National Park Service preferred.
• Experience as a partner with federal agencies or managing federal partnership agreements preferred.
• Ability to work remotely and independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to manage and train remote staff, when needed.
• Strength in managing and supporting staff in a remote work environment.
• Knowledge of key public lands conservation, environmental, and restoration priorities/issues.
• Understanding of the laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing field operations and program management.
• Knowledge of Federal Uniform Guidance for grants and agreements.
• Understanding of and experience working with young adults in national service settings.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of effective supervision and leadership.
• Ability to plan, supervise, schedule, oversee, and evaluate multiple, concurrent project operations.
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex customer service and safety issues.
• Ability to understand and follow ACE systems and processes including supervisor key responsibilities.
• Proven ability to professionally manage confidential material.
• Proven ability to track details and organize.
• Ability and motivation to perform multiple and variable tasks concurrently.
• Professional verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Must be able to take initiative, work independently and remotely, and facilitate and participate in collaborative efforts.
• Computer competency with experience using a variety of software and database systems, preferably Microsoft Office Suite and the entire Google platform.
• Ability to adapt to surrounding work environment with conditions that can change frequently.
• Strong skills in leadership, interpersonal communication, organization, management, conflict resolution and motivating others.
• 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.

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 requires domestic travel up to 30%.

Compensation: Starting annualized salary range of $60,000 - $70,000 (assuming 40 hours/week for 52-weeks), depending on experience.

Medical/Health 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 403b retirement plan with a 1% employer contribution.

Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time: As a full time regular 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 100's 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, one-page cover letter and contact for three professional/academic references to the application link. Qualified applicants will be contacted by email to arrange an interview. Applicants must follow all application instructions in order to be considered for this opportunity. This position may close at any time.

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!

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