Olympic Program Manager

We're protecting and enhancing America's National Park System for present and future generations.

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the nation’s oldest and largest national parks nonprofit advocacy organization. NPCA has an exciting opportunity for an Olympic Program Manager to join our Northwest Regional Office.

Position Title: Olympic Program Manager                Grade: M

Job Status: Full-time                                                   FLSA: Exempt

Department:  Northwest Regional Office (NWRO), Regional Programs                                

Location: Seattle, WA, or Western Washington State (remote)

Immediate Supervisor: Colin Deverell, Northwest Regional Director

Supervisor’s Supervisor: Jim Adams, Alaska Senior Regional Director

Incumbent/Newly Created Position: Newly Created Position

Salary: $69-80k (based on experience)

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for this role including a four-day, 32-hour work week, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and paid sabbaticals for staff after seven years of service. Learn more about our benefits at npca.org/jobs.

Primary Purpose of the Position:

NPCA’s Northwest Region encompasses the states of Oregon and Washington, which have more than two dozen national park units, including iconic parks like Mount Rainier and Crater Lake. The Olympic Program Manager will lead NPCA’s work at Olympic National Park with a strong focus on NPCA’s goals to support endangered salmon and steelhead recovery at Olympic and its connected watersheds. Essential to this effort are relationships with area Tribes, whose ceded lands include those within the national park boundary. NPCA recognizes Tribal Nations as sovereign governments with whom the United States holds government-to-government relationships and advocates for a National Parks System and public land management that is inclusive and upholds treaty-reserved rights & trust responsibilities. As the voice of the parks, NPCA is uniquely positioned to advocate alongside Tribal interests for salmon and steelhead recovery. In addition to Tribes, the Program Manager will work with area decision makers and elected officials, including key members of Congress.

Guided by the Northwest Regional Director and in collaboration with the broader NPCA team, the Olympic Program Manager will also respond to threats to park resources as they arise and advance strategies to benefit parks, wildlife, and nearby communities and ensure that natural and cultural resources in our Northwest national parks are protected, preserved, restored and resilient for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

While mainly focused on the protection of wildlife and natural resources at Olympic, the Program Manager will also work to advance national NPCA initiatives, support ongoing fundraising needs, and provide operational support for the regional office as needed.

Essential Functions:

Lead NPCA’s efforts to restore salmon at Olympic National Park (70%)

• Foster and implement NPCA’s Sea to Summit campaign, which seeks to equip the National Park Service (NPS) and partners with the resources necessary to manage and protect endangered aquatic species, advance needed salmon recovery projects, and coordinate partnerships that enhance the effectiveness of salmon protection within and around Olympic National Park.
• Lead outreach, ongoing communication and trust building with Tribal community members and other Indigenous partners to build enduring relationships and foster collaborative partnerships with NPCA, other NGOs, and agencies including NPS.
• Advocate for initiatives that support Tribes seeking co-management, co-stewardship, or other agreements with NPS and relevant agencies, with emphasis on natural resource stewardship.
• Track resource threats to Olympic National Park and respond by crafting creative, proactive strategies and tactics that engage decision makers and partners to ensure the long-term protection of park resources.
• Facilitate direct advocacy to local, state and federal decision makers to build champions for Olympic National Park, including relevant members of Congress.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other allies, including National Park Service staff, local businesses, elected officials, and other cultural and conservation organizations.
• Serve as a member of relevant internal NPCA program teams, such as Indigenous Engagement, Wildlife team, and others as relevant to the Program Manager’s work.

Support regional and national park protection efforts (15%)

• Work with the Northwest team to build and sustain a community of new and diverse advocates to advance established and emerging regional and national campaigns that enhance natural and cultural resource protection in national parks.
• Identify opportunities to educate the media, public, decision-makers, advisors and fellow advocates about Northwest national parks through the creation of digital and print communications tools.
• Work with the Northwest team to engage a broad set of local, state and federal decision makers and influencers to increase support for increasing the NPS workforce, federal budget, and seek additional opportunities for dedicated, supplemental funding on an as-needed basis.
• Facilitate opportunities for allies and supporters to engage in park advocacy actions that advance regional and national programmatic goals in Washington State.

Conduct and support communications and outreach (10%)

• Create supporting campaign materials (talking points, fact sheets, public comments, newsletters, presentations, website content, etc.), and host in-person and hybrid events to engage elected officials, stakeholders, NPCA members, the National Park Service and other federal agencies in our regional campaigns.
• Attend community meetings, conduct informational public forums, organize outdoor group experiences, and carry out other forms of community education that promote and advance park funding and staffing campaign goals.
• Assist in the coordination and execution of regional administrative activities and provide logistical support for activities of the Northwest Regional Office including Regional Council and other in-person and hybrid events and meetings as requested.
• Contribute to email newsletters, summaries of program work and campaign milestones/achievements, and calls to action for NPCA supporters, partners, and internal stakeholders.

Support Development activities (5%)

• Collaborate with the Northwest team and Development staff to identify and steward major donors, foundation representatives and prospects, Board members, Regional Council members, and Next Generation Advisory Council members.
• Assist in preparation of funding proposals by writing and editing grant proposals and reports. Support fundraising events, park tours, VIP tours, speaking programs, and other activities as needed.
• Assess and identify resource and budgetary needs to effectively execute regional campaigns.

Total 100%

Other: Respect employees regardless of their position or background. Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. Participate in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, quarterly regional planning sessions, staff committee meetings, training programs, and attend external meetings and seminars as necessary to advance regional campaign goals. Assist in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position.

Minimum Work Schedule:  Monday through Thursday, 32-hour work week; flexible depending on office needs, some Fridays and weekend and evening work required. Regional travel is required for meetings, site visits to Northeast national parks and events as determined by business needs. National travel required approximately two to three times a year for meetings, events, and staff retreats.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

• Four to five years of relevant work and/or lived experience with Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Background and familiarity with conservation, national park, and public land management issues preferred.
• Two to three years of experience with aquatic wildlife management and/or partnering with Native Tribes or Indigenous organizations, preferably in the Northwest region.
• Proven track record of working with a variety of individuals and organizations to build effective coalitions across political and cultural boundaries.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple projects and handle details.
• Creative and strategic thinking skills to help adapt and implement effective programs and campaigns.
• Comfort and ability to be independently productive and stay connected to other staff remotely while in a solo workplace environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, public speaking, and presentation abilities.
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat) and comfort with online communications and systems.
• Commitment to NPCA’s mission, core values and NPCA’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Statement of Intentions.

Core Values

Live, honor, and own the organization’s Core Values:

Commitment. We are passionate about NPCA and dedicated to achieving excellence through our work and mission. We seek to improve our performance by taking opportunities for professional and personal development and encouraging reasonable risk-taking and innovation.

Inclusion. We value diversity of thought, background, experience, and opinion. We create a culture of empowerment by welcoming and encouraging meaningful participation from all people and promoting an environment that embraces different perspectives.

Integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to each other, our members and partners, and our mission. We evaluate the impact of our work and strive for honesty and transparency across the organization. We operate ethically in the organization’s best interests.

Respect. We collaborate in results-oriented teams based on trust and consideration for each other. We promote harmony between our work and our personal lives. We foster a healthy and positive workplace culture and work collaboratively with external partners.

Physical Effort and Dexterity:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is typically required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Physical Environment: Typical office setting with open desk areas; occasional remote work; field visits in national parks and on-site meetings with stakeholders.

Employer’s Rights:  NPCA reserves the right to revise this position description at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the NPCA and employee and is subject to change by the NPCA as the needs of the NPCA and requirements of the job change. The above is in no way an exhaustive list of the requirements for the position.