Become a force for nature and a healthy planet by joining the Maryland/DC Chapter’s Urban Conservation Team! Our work is focused on two areas where our outcomes can have the greatest impact for the residents of Maryland/DC: protecting clean water and tackling climate change. Our efforts span the region, from western Maryland's Central Appalachian forests to our nation's capital and beyond to the Chesapeake Bay. The Stormwater Retention Project Manager will bring their years of field experience, design skills, project management, and contract management to bear in working with contractors and landowners to design and implement Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) green infrastructure projects in Washington, DC. A successful candidate will have experience in writing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), selecting contractors, relationship management, budgeting, outreach and marketing, project management, drafting contracts, stormwater retention Best Management Practices (BMPs), permitting and construction management, negotiations, and strategy development. This is a term position that will report to the Urban Conservation Program Director for The Nature Conservancy’s Maryland/DC Chapter, and work as part of a team of the Clean Water Urban team of scientists, policy experts, marketing and development professionals to successfully implement this work.
The Stormwater Retention Construction Project Manager plays a key role in leading Green Infrastructure (GI) planning and implementation projects across Washington, DC. This role will focus on designing, constructing and maintaining GI projects. This position will identify, select, contract and manage all hired consultants and contractors to execute work on behalf of District Stormwater, LLC, the entity The Nature Conservancy has created to progress this work. This position will also engage property owners to negotiate the use of their property for SRC projects and coordinate design approval that meets the desired outcomes for property owners, regulatory agencies, and District Stormwater.
- Identify cost-effective and efficient stormwater retention BMP designs, locations and solutions through GI.
- Manage design, permitting, construction, inspection and maintenance of stormwater retention projects, including contractor oversight and construction management.
- Manage project schedules, budgets, and interface with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Develop phases and plans for future stormwater retention projects.
- Work effectively with partners, staff, landowners, and contractors to resolve matters such as work procedures, complaints, and construction problems.
- Write technical letters, reports, requests for proposals, and contracts.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
Qualified candidates must be able to manage implementation of tangible conservation projects on the ground, construction and maintenance of green infrastructure, engage local community support for conservation efforts, and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, contractors and landowners to implement green infrastructure projects that benefit both people and nature.
- Lead projects to support and improve execution of Green Infrastructure efforts.
- Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- Work with scientists and engineers to identify sites that would be most optimal for constructing stormwater retention projects.
- Review construction drawings, specifications, cost estimates, proposals and select contractors to implement stormwater retention projects.
- Outline and execute GI project development processes from pre-design, to design, to implementation.
- Interface with government agencies during design, permitting, construction, and maintenance of stormwater retention projects.
- Analyze SRC market trends.
- Keep abreast of best practices and promotional trends.
- Gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.
- Financial responsibility may include working within/managing a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors, and assisting with budget development.
- Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
- Under minimal supervision, makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Experience with project delivery process. Must be comfortable managing the landowner relationship, the process, and the project team.
- Experience with complex project management, budgeting, adapting to delays, and construction quality assurance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, landowners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience performing field work on active construction sites year-round without restrictions, and in inclement weather if required.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Valid driver's license highly desirable; willingness to travel to project sites and external meetings a must.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Current certification in construction management, from an accredited program, preferably like National Green Infrastructure Certification Program
- 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Experienced in the application of green infrastructure principles to design and construct stormwater management BMPs.
- Experience in developing and responding to requests for proposals to design and construct stormwater management facilities.
- Familiarity with Washington, DC construction permitting process and DC Department of Energy and Environment SRC market.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in stormwater retention Best Management Practices.
- Customer Service and client relationship management skills.
- Ability to read and interpret Green Infrastructure engineering designs and permitting plans.
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
- Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.