Program Manager I: Active Transportation (Watsonville) Bilingual English/Spanish Required - Ecology Action

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Program Manager will join Ecology Action's Community Programs team devoted to educating, encouraging, and empowering communities to choose more active and sustainable forms of transportation. We do this through school and community-based programming that fosters individual safety and well-being. We envision an equitable and connected community where everyone has the education and resources to confidently choose active and sustainable transportation, leading to joy, health, and climate resilience resulting in a thriving planet for generations to come.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Program Manager directly supports this mission and vision by administering a portfolio of grant-funded education/outreach projects. This includes supervision of a project implementation team of ~3 Program Coordinators headquartered in Watsonville, California whose work focuses on promoting safe biking and walking through a variety of school and community-based programming. Watsonville, also known as the "Strawberry Capitol of the World", is characterized by a predominantly Hispanic/Latinx population, and has been identified by Ecology Action as a priority climate justice community. More specifically, the Program Manager is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all aspects of grant contract setup, implementation, tracking and reporting meet funder expectations. We are looking for a strong leader and collaborator who can work to build Ecology Action's brand while driving impact within the targeted geography. This is accomplished through thoughtful leadership, strategic project design, strong community-based collaborations, and the delivery of high-quality products and services.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Staff Management
Serve as the hiring manager for direct reports, including working with Human Resources on staff recruitment and the development of job descriptions. Participate in the interview process and onboard new staff members. Supervise 1 or more direct reports, including staff mentorship and coaching, quarterly performance evaluation, ongoing performance management, and the ongoing support of growth through thoughtful professional development and training.

2. Budget Management
Collaborate with Community Bike and Youth Program Managers and Operations & Budget Analyst to create and manage initiative-level budgets and staff plans. Ensure appropriate expenditure and accurate budget accounting (including timesheet reporting) by direct reports.

3. Resource Management
Collaborate with Community Bike and Youth Program Managers and Facilities Manager to develop and maintain a system guiding the tracking, use, storage, and maintenance of all material program resources. Work within grant budgets to ensure program team members have the materials and supplies they need to execute grant priorities.

4. Risk Management
Collaborate with Director of Operations to devise related policies and protocols and otherwise work within existing risk management strategies, policies, and protocols. Ensure team compliance, including the completion of required training. Incident management.

5. Stakeholder Communication
Lead communication with external partners involved in project portfolio, including funders, project collaborators, subcontractors, stakeholders, community members, and the media. Actively solicit and maintain professionally strategic relationships. Work with a variety of internal stakeholders, including:

• Marketing: Collaborate with the Marketing team and Community Bike and Youth Program Managers to develop and implement a marketing strategy for portfolio of initiatives. Work within pre-determined brand guidelines and collaboration protocols and timelines.
• Development & Fundraising: Work in close partnership with Development & Fundraising partners to consult regarding funding opportunities, engage potential collaborators, assist with proposal development, administer contracts, and engage with funders.
• Human Resources (HR): See "Staff Management," above. Work closely with HR partners to resolve staff performance issues.
• Accounting: Work in partnership with the Accounting team to set up and track internal budgets, develop invoices, and develop grant reports.
• Information Technology (IT): Work in partnership with IT team to ensure staff adhere to proper protocols regarding data collection and storage, equipment security, and technology procurement and usage.
• Volunteer Program: Work in close partnership with the Volunteer Specialist to identify project needs and recruit, onboard and train volunteers. Track volunteer metrics.

6. Program Design & Implementation
Work in collaboration with Community Bike and Youth Program Managers on program design and implementation planning, incorporating data to ensure programs are operating at the forefront of innovation and best practice.

7. Program Delivery
Manage program delivery for all initiatives within portfolio, ensuring the successful and timely completion of all project deliverables. Coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the delivery efforts of front-line staff.

8. Program Evaluation
Collaborate with Community Bike and Youth Program Managers on a program evaluation plan. Lead evaluation for initiatives with portfolio. Lead evaluation implementation efforts, including data scrutiny and reporting. Work with Community Bike and Youth Program Managers and front-line staff to utilize evaluation data to guide program improvement.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Experience supervising / managing staff
• Experience with project management
• Experience with project administration, including budget management
• Experience working in an education and/or outreach setting
• Experience with community engagement
• Excellent verbal and written Spanish communication

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Thoughtful leader able to simultaneously focus on the various business needs while prioritizing the material and affective needs of direct reports. Skilled coach and mentor able to leverage strong relationships and trust-building among staff to accomplish strategic priorities and program goals.
• Detail oriented project manager skilled at all aspects of project administration, including budget, contract, and relationship management. Able to assume ultimate accountability for meeting all contract goals and timelines. Accurate metric tracking and reporting.
• Exceptional communicator (English & Spanish) who can effectively represent the program to internal and external stakeholders. Includes the ability to speak in public to a range of audiences, and independently develop written reports.
• An understanding of education/outreach best practices and experience with education/outreach project design, implementation, and evaluation. A proven record of accomplishment utilizing data to improve program design and outcomes.
• Ability to work effectively independently, with minimal guidance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook)
• Valid driver license, proof of minimum required insurance and reliable transportation

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience with grant contract management
• Experience working in the active transportation sector
• Experience working with schools / teachers
• Experience collecting, organizing, analyzing and/or presenting data, specifically for evaluation purposes


WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Ability to regularly sit, stand, talk, and hear, and use a computer keyboard and monitor.
• Ability to bend, lift, carry objects, of varying size weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to effectively work in a remote/hybrid environment.
• Ability to work occasional early mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• Ability to travel as needed for work.

ABOUT US
Ecology Action is an award-winning non-profit consultancy that provides innovative solutions to the energy, water, and transportation challenges of cities, governments, and utilities across California. We have five decades of experience helping people make simple yet profound changes with significant environmental impacts. We believe that when individuals and businesses make simple changes in their behavior, they drive large-scale changes that benefit people and the planet. This translates into reduced carbon emissions, stronger businesses, healthier communities, and a sustainable future for all. Together, we help people, businesses, and communities act now.