This project management position will work for the Michigan chapter of TNC our Detroit program office. In Detroit, we are working to conserve and enhance natural systems in the urban environment for the benefit of people and nature, leading to improved water quality, neighborhood revitalization and resiliency, and enhanced quality of life for all residents. Our primary approach is through increasing investment in “green,” or natural, infrastructure – infrastructure that employs nature and natural processes – in urban areas. TNC’s Detroit Program is also part of TNC’s global and North American Cities Network, a dynamic urban conservation initiative focusing on building healthy cities that are ecologically and economically resilient for the communities that call them home.
This project management position will be assigned an array of projects to lead and support, involving public/private partnerships; development and oversight of contracts, deliverables, and outcomes; and green storm water infrastructure (GSI) installation, performance, and impact monitoring. This position will engage in coordination and communications relating to policy, science, and community relations and work with other program staff in developing and maintaining relationships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations, businesses, and the academic community. This project management position also will be contributing to developing strategies for TNC’s future work in the urban environment. This position will report to the Detroit program’s Urban Conservation Director.
The Project Manager is expected to perform the following essential functions:
- Project Management – Manage day-to-day work of green infrastructure storm water management installation(s) design and construction and provide oversight and implementation of other Detroit Program projects, including contracts, deliverables, partnership management, and communications and outreach.
- Partner and Community Engagement – Represent TNC in engagement and collaboration with grassroots community organizations, neighborhood associations, non- profits, government partners, other stakeholders and act as the day-to-day liaison for partners involved in our work.
- Conservation Strategy – Along with other team members and external partners/stakeholders, contribute to strategy development and innovation for the overall Detroit Program. This could include the development of new policies and/or scientific and technical approaches to deploying GSI in urban areas.
- Team Collaboration – Work closely with TNC’s Science, External Affairs, Conservation, Finance, Development and Marketing teams to integrate their expertise and team members into a seamless, coordinated Detroit Program team.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Coordinates the creation of project goals and outcomes amongst TNC team members, strategic partners and stakeholders, and – where appropriate – the public. Writes both internal- and external-facing documents to provide a compelling narrative for the Urban Conservation Program;
- Manages an array of projects including GSI demonstration projects, information management tool development for the City, and assuring success in project outcomes and deliverables;
- As part of project management responsibilities, tasks will include selection and management of contractors and consultants, permitting, grant and contract management, agency and stakeholder communications, monitoring, and reporting;
- Responsible for management of, and compliance with, budgets and schedules;
- Frequently makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context;
- Contributes to policy development in support of storm water demonstration projects in coordination with external stakeholders and partners, TNC’s External Affairs team and the Detroit Program’s Urban Conservation Director
- Assists in donor and government outreach needed to secure resources for the Detroit Program under the direction of TNC development staff and the Urban Conservation Director;
- Manages Detroit Program grants and contracts in compliance with all TNC standard operating procedures
- Occasionally travels domestically and works evening and weekend hours.
- 2 years of project management experience or 1 year acting as a project lead;
- Experience in equitable partnership development with non-profit partners, grassroots community groups/stakeholders and/or government agencies;
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including contracts and finances, under deadlines;
- Experience generating reports and interpreting data;
- Experience working across teams and strong cross-cultural competency communicating and collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5-7 years’ experience in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Landscape Architecture, or equivalent;
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated;
- Leadership experience ensuring a coordinated, equitable and strategic approach to community outreach and engagement;
- Equity-minded with a desire for continued learning about socio-historical context of historic underrepresentation, questioning assumptions, and making evidence-based decisions a regular practice;
- Ability to manage and prioritize tasks coming from multiple sources and meet deadlines;
- Strong knowledge and understanding of City of Detroit and surrounding county political, cultural, business and NGO landscape;
- Strong organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail