Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
To support our mission, we are seeking a Program Manager to join the Native Plant Habitat Impact & Certifications team in the Education and Engagement Department. Over more than fifty years, NWF’s education and engagement department has built a vast national network of community leaders, elected officials, educators, homeowners, and others who collectively create and steward natural habitat that helps local wildlife where people live, work, play, learn, and worship.
The Program Manager reports to the Head of Native Plant Habitat Impact & Certifications and works across teams to support large scale native tree, plant based habitat expansion with corporate and community partners, leveraging our national habitat program networks, including Trees for Wildlife partners, Community Wildlife Habitats, and Mayors Monarch Pledge sites. This position works closely with the Directors of Large-Scale Habitat and National Habitat Networks. This role is key to the overall success of the habitat programs, related campaigns and partnerships that align with NWF’s strategic plan and our commitment to equity and justice.
Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):
This role provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and growth of habitat conservation initiatives, with a primary focus on the Trees for Wildlife program. Responsibilities include cultivating and managing strategic partnerships, securing and stewarding funding opportunities, overseeing program operations and impact measurement, and advancing community-based conservation through data-driven decision-making and stakeholder engagement. The position also supports organizational fundraising and communications objectives by developing compelling content, managing sponsor and partner deliverables, and fostering collaborative relationships that expand habitat restoration efforts and enhance program visibility and impact.
Advance Large-scale Habitat Impact and Revenue Growth Opportunities
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- Plan, support and collaborate around the strategic growth of specific habitat programs as desirable funding opportunities for corporate sponsorships, employee engagement and as a revenue campaign(s) to ultimately increase tree canopy and native plant habitat footprint to benefit wildlife and people.
- Specifically, implement the Trees for Wildlife program by managing partnership process, conducting outreach to potential tree recipient partners, securing collaboration agreements and facilitating the reporting and invoice reimbursement processes.
- Apply data to inform decisions to innovate and effectively manage program outcomes and audience-based messaging.
- Refresh annual competitive analysis across national tree and urban forestry space to keep TFW program fresh, relevant and impactful. Contribute to re envisioning NWF’s TFW case for program success via a strategic business planning process.
- Support fundraising efforts through strategic business planning, online research, budget development and proposal writing.
- Support coordination with Community Wildlife Habitats, and Mayors Monarch Pledge networks.
Track Impact through Outreach and Habitat Metrics
- Update program impact reporting requirements to align with participant and funder expectations
- Improve processes for defining and collection metrics using dashboards, user-friendly feedback systems, etc.
- Research and write best practice summaries and case studies.
Implement Deliverables for Corporate/ Institutional/Program Habitat Partners
- Coordinate with leadership of Native Plant Habitats and Education and Philanthropy's teams to define sponsor packages scope and feasible deliverables.
- Implement and manage an RFP, delivery and reporting structure for multi year, mini grant "pass-throughs", in line with funder expectations and to increase capacity and habitat footprint of NWF's national habitat networks.
- Annually identify network and community partners to host and implement planting and educational events across funded partnerships and program annual tree bank dispersal, e.g. affiliates, community-based orgs, colleges, etc.
- Coordinate logistics, reimbursements, materials deliveries for partner events with local leads.
- Respond to program inbox and customer service inquiries.
Increase Outreach and Engagement to advance community-based conservation
- Lead annual Trees for Wildlife Month Campaign coordination and annual appeals to generate to support the membership and program goals, and ultimately increases available trees in the TFW tree bank.
- Support the NWF Native Plant Habitat programs by effectively communicating with program participants, partners, and community conservationists, team leaders, with compelling messaging for web, blogs, presentations and newsletters to support the overall success of the programs. Coordinate with the Native Plant Habitat Strategy team’s overall content management and communications processes and templates.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Conservation, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Communications, Ecological Landscaping, Sustainability, Urban Forestry, Native Plant Ecosystems or a related field; advanced degree a bonus.
- 5-8+ years of progressively responsible experience in program management, conservation, environmental nonprofit leadership, community engagement, or a related field. Specific knowledge of habitat conservation, urban forestry, native plant restoration, community-based conservation, or related environmental programs is ideal.
- Commitment to conservation, environmental stewardship, and advancing equitable community engagement in support of organizational mission and impact.
- Demonstrated experience implementing strategic partnerships with multiple stakeholders, e.g. corporate sponsors, nonprofits, community organizations, government agencies.
- Proven success in project management, including overseeing multiple initiatives, timelines, budgets, contracts, and deliverables simultaneously.
- Experience supporting fundraising efforts through grant writing, proposal development, sponsorship cultivation, budget preparation, and donor stewardship.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using data, metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to evaluate program performance and inform strategic decision-making.
- Experience managing grant-funded programs, including reporting, compliance, reimbursement processes, and stakeholder communications.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop reports, case studies, presentations, web content, and marketing materials for diverse audiences incorporating compelling use of metrics, scientific data to convey impact to funders and the general public.
- Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams and organizational levels.
- Experience planning and coordinating events, volunteer engagement activities, and community outreach campaigns.
- Demonstrated ability to identify process improvements and implement systems that increase program effectiveness, efficiency, and measurable impact. Ability to pivot direction as needed building on strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems, project management tools, and data visualization or reporting platforms, e.g. Airtable, GIS mapping experience is preferred.
NWF Values:
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s required equity competencies at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Travel Requirements:
There will be some travel required in this role, approximately 5-8 times / year for community events or conferences.
Location and Work Mode:
This position is a fully remote position. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work remotely to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers
Physical Requirements of the Job:
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $72,000 - $80,000, commensurate with experience.
We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits, and by Forbes as one of America’s best small employers! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.
We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:
- Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual based on a full-time schedule, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 11 holidays
- We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
- Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
- Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
- Therapist available at no cost
- Pet insurance and discount perk program
- Annual wellbeing allowance
In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:
- Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
- Annual year end retirement contribution
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
- Pet adoption stipend
- Student Loan management
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume. NWF is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with regard to any classes or characteristics protected by law.
For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers
We recognize that people come with a wealth of knowledge and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in your employment, or are taking the next step in your career path, if you believe you could excel in this role we encourage you to apply! Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. To be eligible for this role you must be a U.S. citizen or have valid work authorization to work in the U.S.
Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at Careers@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
