HCAREER DETAILS:

CAREER TITLE: Oklahoma and Arkansas Program Manager

LOCATION: AYW Operating Site Oklahoma or Arkansas

DIVISION: Conservation Corps

DEPARTMENT: Administration

POSITION REPORTS TO: Oklahoma & Arkansas Director

POSITION SUPERVISES: Arkansas Field Coordinator, Oklahoma Field Coordinator, and AmeriCorps Members

CLASSIFICATION: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Oklahoma and Arkansas Program Manager is responsible for and expected to develop and maintain program culture, and manage programmatic operations in alignment with the organization’s Strategic Plan. The Program Manager will also develop and maintain conservation and community partnerships, oversee AmeriCorps grant compliance and support administrative needs for field operations in order to implement high quality, safe, and effective operational programming. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and basic tasks. 

Under limited supervision and minimal direction from the Oklahoma and Arkansas Operating Site Director will perform the following duties:

1. Leverage new partnerships and opportunities:
   1. Collaborate directly with the Oklahoma/Arkansas Site Director (OASD) to network and build relationships with state and local entities to identify potential conservation, natural resource management, recreation infrastructure, coastal restoration, and disaster response projects, ensuring that crews have adequate service projects sustain the program finances;
   2. Collaborate directly with the OASD, Conservation Corps Director (CCD), and Chief Development Officer (CDO) in identifying funding sources and submitting applications to maintain adequate revenue streams for sustainable programming.
   3. Collaborate with Chief Operating Officer CCPD, OASD, and program personnel to develop project contracts/agreements, entering all relevant information into database systems;
   4. Develop and maintain project partner relationships with an aim toward sustainability;
      Identify and participate in strategic multi-stakeholder initiatives that will enhance visibility in our service areas;
   5. Utilize existing tracking and reporting tools and strategies for partner cultivation
2. Manage day-to-day programmatic operations with an ongoing focus on safety risk management, building an intentionally diverse and inclusive community of staff and participants, creating a supportive learning environment for participants, and constantly strengthening systems and procedures:
   1. Work collaboratively with the Austin Site Director, Houston Site Director, the OK/AR Site Director, Conservation Corps Director, and other personnel as needed to assess the needs and opportunities of the Oklahoma and Arkansas program area and create strategies, measurable goals, and timelines to meet those needs;
   2. Ensure risk management strategies are consistently utilized by staff and program participants;
   3. Maintain connection with the members’ experience in the program and continually examine operational systems from the perspective of how the systems serve the members’ needs.
   4. Maintain regular weekly communications with Conservation Corps Director discuss program accomplishments, updates, professional development for staff and members, support needs, and upcoming opportunities for partnership and program growth;
3. Ensure all program activities are in compliance with grants and supporting grant management:
   1. Coordinate with the Compliance Manager and other personnel to complete grant-reporting requirements through project tracking and program/participant documentation, and provide leadership for outstanding grant compliance and monitoring techniques.
4. Manage administrative functions:
   1. Develop and implement program budget with guidance from the, Conservation Corps Director, and other Conservation Corps site directors and managers;
   2. Participate in monthly budget-focused calls with the CFO, Conservation Corps Director, COO and other personnel as needed;
   3. Ensure that all expense data and required paperwork is submitted in a timely manner and complete;
   4. Ensure all agency and programmatic rules, regulations, policy, and procedures are followed;
   5. Ensure progress is made toward the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.
5. Provide excellent leadership and support to program staff and participants
   1. Cultivate a respectful and inclusive working community and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities to staff to ensure staff continually grow in expertise and skills;
   2. Support and assist Field Coordinators in leading and training AmeriCorps crew leaders and members in specialized conservation service skills;
   3. Facilitate weekly staff meetings;
   4. Cultivate and support a sense of community and esprit de corps among program participants and the entire organization
6. Support the Conservation Corps program staff in the collaborative development and implementation of crew leader and member orientation
7. Coordinate with field staff to provide ongoing training for AmeriCorps crew leaders and members in the following areas:
   1. Growth and development in the following:
      1. Leadership skills; Tool use, inventory and maintenance; PPE, gear and uniforms; Vehicles, inspections, routine logs and repairs; Project and time management skills; mid and end-of-term evaluation processes
      2. Safety standards for the program overall, on-site projects, as well as tool use and vehicle operation;
      3. Technical conservation skills in: Sustainable trail building, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, wildfire mitigation, and disaster response; and park infrastructure, building and maintenance;
   2. Coordinate with Conservation Corps staff and partners to provide disaster response training
8. Provide oversight and support of crews serving on conservation and disaster relief projects:
   1. Perform site visits to monitor activities in the field;
   2. Transport members to project sites or other locations as needed, i.e., Urgent Care, presentations
9. Provide oversight of conservation and disaster response projects:
   1. Communicating with project partners to ensure project development is on schedule via teleconference or in person, which may include travel;
   2. Coordinating projects with colleagues and with project partners, including developing contracts/agreements (for direct supervisor review), scheduling, and logistics planning;
   3. Ensuring projects are successful and completed within the specified timeline;
   4. Responsibly purchasing supplies needed for project work and program development.
10. Attend relevant conservation and disaster response conferences and training;
11. Other duties as assigned.

Human Resources:

1. Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments;
2. Ensure managers of the department are establishing and monitoring staff performance and development goals, assigning accountabilities, setting objectives, establishing priorities, conducting annual performance appraisals, and administering salary adjustments.
3. Oversee education and mentoring for staff and management regarding project management;
4. Coordinates with the Conservation Corps Director on compliance issues and, or matters related to legal problems or potential lawsuits;
5. Perform other duties and projects as required or assigned

ANTIRACIST ORGANIZATION TRANSFORMATION

Promote continued organizational support of Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives. Seek to remove systemic barriers for underrepresented populations within the agency and our partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferred

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION: CPR / First Aid / WFR Certification; Herbicide Applicator; Wildland Fire Training; ICS Training; S212 or equivalent training.

EXPERIENCE: Working with a young and diverse population experiencing barriers to education and employment with criminal records and a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, cultural and spiritual practices; and working with contracts, reporting measurements, compliance, member coordination, and, or working as a YouthBuild/AmeriCorps model;

Minimum Required

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, nonprofit management, community planning/development, or related fields or equivalent

EXPERIENCE: Five years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit/corps operations; managing program budgets, grants, and/or
contracts, leading a team and developing partnerships

EQUIVALENT EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 60 hours toward a bachelor’s degree (equals two years) with at least 12 hours in the specified or related field of study and three years of the specified work experience with a successful track history, or High school diploma or GED, and 8 years of the specified work experience, with a successful track history

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE: Management of state and federal grant, agreements and contracts; AmeriCorps and National Service protocols; Trail building and habitat restoration processes; AmeriCorps role in disaster response; Mechanical and basic tool usage, including use of a chainsaw; CPR/First Aid; Team-based coordination and logistics;          

SKILLS: Lead teams and develop leaders; Good problem solving and logistical skills; Good communication and presentation skills; Flexibility under pressure; Mediation skills; Proficiency in Microsoft Office and diverse software platforms; May operate passenger vehicles, truck with trailer, and other heavy equipment

ABILITIES: Ability to work well with a wide range of people to coach or develop, including opportunity youth; evaluate, analyze and interpret information; Ability to thrive in a lean and fast-paced work environment; Self- motivated, creative and able to work with minimal supervision; Attention to detail and accuracy; highly organized, Idea fluency, Prioritizing, planning and organizing, Flexibility under pressure, Dependability and Innovation, Ability to manage outside contractors and projects

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

HEARING: Hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information;

TALKING: Speaking clearly so others can understand you and the information you are communicating; will be required to convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately; talking in front of groups and, or providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and external partners via telephone, writing form, e-mail or in person provide guidance and direction to others, and set and monitor performance standards;   

VISION: See details at a distance and, or at close range, within a few feet of the observer; will be required to read papers, books and to operate audio-visual, office equipment and tools;

EXTENT FLEXIBILITY: Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs;

REPETITIVE MOTIONS: Walking; talking; frequent and regular movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers;

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects, sedentary work,

DYNAMIC/STATIC/TRUNK STRENGTH: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. Exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects; use of abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without ‘giving out’ or fatiguing; may also restrain potentially violent individuals;

VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT INTERACTION: Navigating and, or driving a personal vehicle or 15-passenger company van; using computer and computer applications to enter data or process information; Photocopiers and scanners.

WORKING MODEL AND CONDITIONS:

ENVIRONMENT: Hybrid, some on-site or project site, some remote office work 

INDOORS: Environmentally controlled conditions, working in an office or shared office setting, working with others in a group or team; contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise), No hazardous conditions. 

OUTDOORS: Independent, isolated settings, may be required to work in hot, wet, cold, or other significantly unpleasant conditions, including active and non-active disaster work zones and areas;

ATTENDANCE: MMonday – Friday, flexible 40 – 50-hour work-week; 1-hours unpaid lunch break; occasionally weekends or after hours to meet deadlines or special projects and other events as needed; participates in National Service Days activities, staff retreats, and other special events;

TRAVEL: Conferences, meetings and tours of job sites around Oklahoma and Arkansas, potential travel to Washington, D.C. for programmatic requirements, outside training, workshops, and networking events, Headquarters located in Austin, Texas, Board Meetings, and annual staff retreats.

BENEFITS

American YouthWorks offers competitive benefits and leave packages including, on an annual basis:

• 11 personal days;
• 8 sick days;
• 19 break days, taken throughout the spring, summer, and winter;
• 17 holidays,
• Employer contributions toward medical and dental plan;
• Employer-paid Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability;
• Pre-tax programs for child and health care;
• Supplemental income and additional voluntary life options
• 403(b) retirement with employer contribution;
• Employment service awards every 5-years;

EOE

AYW is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and fostering an environment of respect and inclusiveness amongst all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy or parental status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, military or veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or physical or mental disability,or any other characteristic as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.