The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office (NPS CHBA) and the Chesapeake Conservancy (Conservancy) are partner organizations dedicated to conserving the rich historical and natural resources of the Chesapeake region. As such, the Conservancy and the NPS CHBA are the co-conveners of the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership (CCP), a coalition of diverse organizations and agencies engaged in land conservation and related work within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Collectively, partner agencies and organizations manage more than 8 million acres combined; the CCP seeks to increase the conservation of large landscapes throughout the region to benefit multiple values, including economic sustainability; historical, scenic, and cultural heritage; working lands; wildlife habitat; water quality and supply; and overall quality of life.

Partnership activities are guided by a Steering Committee, composed of representatives of key partner organizations, and carried out through a series of working groups. The Steering Committee has set an ambitious agenda of initiatives to advance landscape conservation, including:

● Establishing a set of long-term, inclusive landscape conservation goals and developing the documentation and tracking to support them;

● Expanding capacity for land conservation to achieve long-term landscape goals;

● Advancing a coordinated approach to mitigation that minimizes the impact of infrastructure development on land conservation and maximizes mitigation funds targeted for conservation;

● Creating strategies to increase funding for land conservation and long-term support of the Partnership.

Achievement of this agenda requires a full-time Program Manager position for the Partnership.

This position will be based at the Chesapeake Conservancy and is supported by funding from several Steering Committee agencies and organizations.

Job responsibilities will include:

● Serving as principal staff for the Partnership and the Partnership’s Steering Committee;

● Facilitating development of strategic plans, operational goals, and annual work plans of the partnership in collaboration with the Steering Committee and with engagement of work groups, Partnership members and the Chesapeake Bay Program;

● Leading, facilitating, and coordinating implementation of Partnership priorities, work plans and management strategies; ensuring collaborative engagement of all key and interested partners;

● Functioning as the Partnership’s primary spokesperson for communications and policy matters; Guiding implementation of an overall internal and external communications strategy;

● Maintaining excellent working relationships with and engagement of the Steering Committee, work groups, and partner organizations;

● Ensuring effective planning of the Partnership Annual Meeting as well as Steering Committee meeting agendas and advance materials; facilitating Steering Committee meetings for effective progress;

● Facilitating collaboration to sustain existing and develop new financing mechanisms for advancing landscape conservation;

● Forecasting and developing necessary funding resources, in conjunction with the Steering Committee, including developing targeted proposals for funding and working with Steering Committee to ensure long-term, stable funding of position and Partnership;

● Work with staff from the Chesapeake Conservancy and National Park Service and others, as designated by other Steering Committee members, in guiding and carrying out the work of the Partnership; and

● Collaborative work with the Chesapeake Bay Program, state conservation and historic preservation agencies, federal land management agencies, American Indian tribes and nations, land trusts, conservation and preservation NGO’s and others.

The ideal candidate will possess:

● An advanced degree in Natural or Cultural Resource Conservation, Public Administration, or a related field, with at least 5 years of experience working on collaborative, stakeholder-driven conservation initiatives;

● Strategic thinking and the ability to organize and mobilize people and information to develop new, and support existing, conservation initiatives;

● Excellent written and oral communication skills, and an attention to detail;

● Project management experience and the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously;

● Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to forge relationships across a spectrum of professionals and high level officials;

● Organizational skills; Microsoft and Google Doc proficiencies;

● An interest in protecting large landscapes encompassing multiple natural, cultural, recreational and socioeconomic values;

● An ability to work with minimal oversight, yet be accountable to a small group of supervisory professionals

This is a two-year term position with the possibility of renewal. The Chesapeake Conservancy offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and participation in a retirement savings plan.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Colleen Whitlock, Director of Administration, via email, at hr@chesapeakeconservancy.org. Please include Chesapeake Conservation Partnership Manager as the subject of your email. Writing samples may be requested.

The Chesapeake Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available genetic test results, or any other legally protected characteristic.

National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office
410 Severn Ave., Suite 314
Annapolis, MD 21403
www.nps.gov/chba, www.nps.gov/cajo
www.FindYourChesapeake.com
Chesapeake Conservancy
716 Giddings Ave., Suite 42
Annapolis, MD 21401
www.chesapeakeconservancy.org