Director of Conservation Programs

Organization Summary The LA Conservation Corps (“the Corps”) is a private, non-profit organization that has helped at-risk young adults develop themselves since 1986.
To date, more than 20,000 young people have participated in the Corps classes and service projects, learning new skills while contributing to the quality of life for residents of the greater Los Angeles area.
Mission We create equitable opportunities for young people to build resilience in themselves, their communities and the environment through a program of work, education and support.
Position Summary Reporting to the Sr.
Director of Conservation Programs’ duty is to ensure the organization’s success and sustainability by contributing to the accomplishment of the organization’s mission, business goals and vision by establishing new and maintaining current development resources that will identify and cultivate funding to grow and sustain the Corps.
The Director of Conservation Programs supports the Corps by fiscally and programmatically managing their department and site in the Young Adult Corps Work Program in a responsible and efficient fashion.
The Director accomplishes this mission by developing and directing programs that serve young people with an opportunity for developing educational and work skills to further their personal development and environmental awareness, creating stronger ties to their communities through community involvement and services, exploring avenues for personal growth and development in a respectful and nurturing environment, and developing leadership skills to contribute to the advancement of all people.
Other job-related duties may be assigned, as needed.
Essential Responsibilities Compliance and Reporting Ensures that the Corps maintains high standards in the development of systems, procedures, and ethics.
Works closely with the Corps’ grant writer and Executive Management Team to ensure the submission of high-quality grant proposals and reports including but not limited to crew work, Compton Creek Natural Park operations, maintenance and or programming for the community.
Ensures and executes data collection methods for input into the Corps’ ECM database in Salesforce, Survey 123 and the budgeting software.
Ensures metrics are aligned with organizational goals utilizing these Corps-instituted databases.
Directs, coordinates, supervises and authorizes departmental reports.
Ensures weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements are met for both the organization and project sponsors.
Ensures submission of monthly invoices, reports and quarterly program accomplishment reports are submitted accurately and on time.
Ensures staff and Corpsmembers conduct 2-3 tailgate safety meetings per week.
Oversees all first aid and injury incidents and conduct thorough investigations, making sure staff and Corpsmembers are adhering to Corps safety policies and practices.
Contributes to keeping the organization’s injury rate low.
Discuss Safety as a daily topic at hookline ensuring safety is a daily topic, using incentives and praise for zero injuries.
Contributes to policy formation and long-term planning.
Contributes to the professional tone and approach of the organization within the constructs of the Corps’ mission and values.
Ensures contract compliance through regular review of contract requirements and projected results.
Fiscal Management Leads the development of the annual Departmental Budget, and tracks consistency using financial tracking tools such as budgeting software and monthly financial statement reports.
Ensures regular meetings with Accounting Dept project leads to ensure consistent communication and billing, while including program staff in these meetings as a form of communication and training.
Schedules regular project budget meetings and project audits with manager/coordinator to ensure actuals vs financials are up to date and accurate.
Establishes and oversees a $2-4 million+ annual budget consisting of fee-for-service projects, donations, private foundations, corporations, and government funding.
Ensures each individual budget within the Department’s overall budget ends in a minimum of 7% surplus or breaks even at the end of each contract.
Researches prospective funding sources.
Communicates funding opportunities to Development Department Team and introduces potential funders to appropriate counterpart.
Identifies public relations and marketing opportunities and communicates them to staff in the Development Department.
Manages the implementation of contracts, including monthly financial management meetings with senior-level Accounting and Finance Department management and/or the Compliance Director.
Program Management Implements sound business practices that tie to the mission of the Corps and its Strategic and/or Business Plan.
Examine the staff and consultant configuration and propose an approach that promotes maximum effectiveness in determining which projects and tasks are best to outsource and which should be kept in-house.
Develops program goals and milestones to build leadership and marketable job skills that benefit Corpsmembers, ultimately giving them a variety of opportunities during and after their Corps experience.
Works closely with the Executive Management Team (EMT) and the Senior Management Team (SMT) in strategic development and meeting the goals and objectives of the Corps’ Strategic/Business Plan.
Attends external meetings and events to network with colleagues in the community.
Brainstorms and collaborates with other organizations to plan future projects and proposals not limited to but including project work and maintenance & operations of CCNP.
Develops program vision and goals, ensuring alignment with organization’s mission and vision.
Develops new programming with other Conservation Programs Directors and the Deputy Director.
Serves as a resource to the Compton, East/West Rancho, and Willowbrook community as appropriate promoting CCNP as a resource for these communities.
Site Management and Operations Directs day-to-day operations of the site and department.
Communicates performance expectations, measures progress and hold staff accountable; recognizes achievements and lessons learned.
Supports the Recruitment Team in helping to meet the Corps’ Corpsmember recruitment goals.
Supports the Corpsmember Development Department by discussing college/career readiness steps and overall progress in/through program with Corpsmembers.
Supports partner charter school by ensuring participant students attend class and successfully complete classes/coursework.
Works closely with the Deputy Director of Operations to grow funding opportunities by pursuing and bidding on potential fee-for-service and other local, state and federal projects for both current and future years.
Provides input and strategic thinking for special construction projects that are new to the Corps.
Manages cross-program/departmental projects.
Assess and improves structural improvements with other programs/departments to create synergy and reduce replication.
Oversees safety, security, maintenance and facilities improvement activities at the program site.
Promotes a positive image in the immediate community surrounding the site.
Ensures Community is aware of and has access to community garden plots, understands Garden rules and polices.
Maintains an open line of communication to the Compton unified School district, district police where part of the CPT fleet is parked.
Liaison with community leaders, and residents who use the park, including but not limited to City of Compton Council district representatives, local nonprofits or CBOs for events or programming at the park.
Staff Management Leads staff’s internal capacity building including but not limited to professional and team development, programmatic understanding, functional expertise, clarity of roles, and responsibilities and standards.
Leads and supervises departmental staff that includes managers and coordinators, and their reports as well as a site that could exceed 70 Corpsmembers.
Works with staff to make funding recommendations to the Deputy Director of Operations that support the mission of the Corps and the Business Plan.
Ensures that staff members are supporting the Corpsmember Development Department by checking in with Corpsmembers regarding completion of individual service plan objectives, performance on contracts and communicating with case management staff about the well-being of Corpsmembers.
Ensures staff members are meeting with Corpsmembers and providing them with performance reviews and evaluations at the end of each management period.
Works with staff to increase training opportunities that are tied to safety, soft skills, hard skills and other trainings that benefit the mission of the LA Conservation Corps.
Executes Performance Management Plan (PMP) for department/site on a quarterly and annual basis.
With Human Resources, defines and updates job descriptions for direct reports.
Schedules One on One or O’3 meetings with direct reports and memorialize, follows up those conversations for staff development and professional accountability.
Ensures direct reports are conducting O’3 meetings with the direct report field staff and provide support and direction for positive outcomes.
Gives ongoing feedback and conducts formal performance evaluations in a timely manner.
Assists direct reports in defining career goals and seeking opportunities for development.
Delivers or provides training and resources required for direct reports to perform their roles.
Solicits feedback from direct reports on management style and techniques.
Other duties may be assigned as needed.
The Corps’ provides a great work environment that includes great work-life balance, top-tier benefits, and an excellent vacation package.
Please note that this job announcement is not designed to cover or contact a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and/or responsibilities that may be required of the employee for this job.
Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time and without notice.
Due to the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, your essential functions and responsibilities may change to accommodate the needs of the program and to stay in compliance with CDC and County of LA Public Health Department requirements.
Qualifications Minimum Requirements/Qualifications Demonstrate excellent analytical and organizational skills; characterized by identifying, assimilating and comprehending the critical elements of various situations, and extracting and interpreting the implications of courses of action.
Demonstrate excellent communication and presentation skills (verbal and written); characterized by actively listening and ensuring respectful two-way communication.
Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding, and the ability to effectively interact with individuals (internal and external) from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, disability and ethnic backgrounds.
Demonstrate strong time management skills and a high level of attention to detail.
Demonstrate a high level of accountability, responsibility, and dependability.
Demonstrate teamwork through cooperation and collaboration with others.
Demonstrate a positive attitude, self-discipline and self-awareness.
Ability to prepare concise, logical and grammatically correct documents, reports, and presentations.
Ability to accept, direct and perform responsibilities and assigned tasks as a project team member in support of the overall project.
Ability to explain policies, procedures, directions and represent the Corps’ philosophy and values to a wide range of audiences including corpsmembers, programmatic staff, management and the public.
Ability to structure tasks, establish priorities and set goals.
Ability to effectively perform the physical requirements of the job, as well as train others.
Ability to balance competing priorities and multiple stakeholders.
Ability to work independently.
Intermediate level of computer skills (Microsoft Office environment) including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, software and Internet research.
High level of interpersonal skills, integrity and the ability to keep information confidential.
Uses good judgment, evaluates alternatives in the achievement of quality outcomes.
Results-/Solution-oriented; flexible.
Passion for the Corps and ability to articulate its mission.
Required Education And Experience A Bachelor’s degree (from an accredited institution) in a related field (e.
g.
, public administration, business administration, education, nonprofit management, etc.
) or A minimum of ten (10) years of program design and management/leadership experience working in the areas of youth and workforce development and education; and, experience managing a department.
A minimum of five (5) years of experience in youth and workforce development.
Master’s degree (from an accredited institution) in a related field and previous experience working in the non-profit or public sector and a background in diversity, equity and inclusion programming or initiatives, preferred.
Other Duties and Requirements Attend events and meetings in the community to support the program.
This can involve working Saturdays or Sundays, as needed.
Standard multi-media first aid certification.
If you do not currently possess a standard multi-media first aid certification, you will have 90 days from the effective date of acquiring this position to secure it.
Pass a post-offer drug/alcohol screen test before commencing employment (required to submit for the drug/alcohol screening at a company designated facility).
Pass a post-offer Live Scan (fingerprint/background clearance-Department of Justice) before commencing employment.
California Driver’s License, validation of driving record for commercial policy insurability per the requirements of the state of California.
If a private vehicle is utilized for company purposes validation of a California Class C Driver’s License, validation of driving record and approval of commercial policy insurability is required in conjunction with proof of personal minimum liability insurance coverage per the requirements of the state of California.
Reference checks will be conducted; employment is contingent upon receipt of acceptable references.
Must be COVID-19 vaccinated and be able to provide supporting documentation.
Salary and Benefits Salary $82,901.
54 - $109,080.
36 annually (reflects the entire salary range).
A starting salary higher than $82,901.
54 annually is based on a level of experience and education that significantly exceeds the minimum requirements and is commensurate with the compensation scale (salary range).
Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits with 93% employer coverage of costs for employee and 79% coverage for additional family members.
3 weeks of vacation accrued per year; 11 paid Holidays and 80 hours of sick time accrued per year.
401k retirement plan with match of up to 3%.
Application Procedure Complete application and provide resume and cover letter at www.
lacorps.
org.
The Los Angeles Conservation Corps only employs individuals who are lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
Based upon a review of your application and supportive information, applicants will be considered for the interview portion.
The interview will cover education and experience requirements.
Applicants who need reasonable accommodations to apply or interview for this position must notify Human Resources at least four (4) business days before the closing date of the position or, if applicable, at the time an interview is scheduled.
AAO/EEO Statement It is the policy of LA Conservation Corps to seek and employ qualified workforce at all locations, job sites, and facilities, and to provide equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees in recruiting, hiring, placement, training, compensation and benefits, promotion, transfer, and termination.
LA Conservation Corps Equal Opportunity Employer www.
lacorps.
org