Senior Program Specialist - Youth Programs (Bilingual Spanish/English Required) - Ecology Action
Salinas, CA
About the Job
Join Our Youth Programs Team!
Ecology Action is dedicated to creating a sustainable future through innovative education and outreach programs. We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Program Specialist to join our team and help advance our mission by managing a portfolio of grant-funded projects.
About Ecology Action
At Ecology Action, we are passionately driven to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to take actions today that achieve environmental and economic sustainability. Our mission is to help people, businesses, and communities act now for a better tomorrow. We believe that simple changes in behavior can drive large-scale transformations that benefit both people and the planet. This translates into reduced carbon emissions, stronger businesses, healthier communities, and a sustainable future for all.
About the Role
As a Senior Program Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in managing and executing education and outreach projects, primarily focused on local schools. You will oversee a project implementation team, ensuring all aspects of grant contract setup, implementation, tracking, and reporting meet funder expectations and deadlines. Your collaboration with community stakeholders, residents, and grant partners will be crucial in creating safe and appealing walking experiences for students.
What you'll Be Doing
Budget Management:
- Create and manage initiative-level budgets and staff plans.
- Ensure appropriate expenditures and accurate budget accounting.
Grant Contract Management:
- Support grant proposal development.
- Administer an active grant portfolio, ensuring timely contract execution and budget maintenance.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting across all contracts.
Resource Management:
- Develop and maintain a system for tracking, using, and maintaining program resources.
- Ensure program team members have necessary materials and supplies.
Risk Management:
- Devise and implement risk management policies and protocols.
- Ensure team compliance with required training.
Program Design & Implementation:
- Assist with program design and implementation planning.
- Lead program delivery, ensuring successful and timely completion of project deliverables.
- Evaluate and improve program initiatives using data.
Stakeholder Communication:
- Lead communication with external partners, including funders, collaborators, and community members.
- Work with internal stakeholders, including marketing, development, HR, accounting, IT, and volunteer programs.
Team Management and Development:
- Recruit, lead, mentor, and train assigned staff.
- Monitor and evaluate team performance, providing constructive feedback.
- Promote a positive and inclusive work culture.
What We're Looking For
- Minimum of 3 years' related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience supervising/managing staff and project management.
- Experience with project administration, budget management, and community engagement.
- Experience with grant contract management.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Spanish (required).
- Ability to work independently with minimal guidance.
- Valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and reliable transportation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the active transportation sector.
- Experience working with schools and teachers.
- Experience with data collection, organization, analysis, and presentation.
Work Environment
Regular duties for this position involve sitting, standing, conversing, hearing, and using a computer keyboard and monitor. The work environment is diverse, encompassing an office setting, remote work from home, and fieldwork at schools and community events for planning and executing youth bicycle and pedestrian safety training.
Are You Ready?
Don't meet every single requirement? If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Join us at Ecology Action and contribute to a sustainable future!