The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) Manager coordinates and collaborates with partner organizations and New York State’s (NYS) Invasive Species Management Program to develop, manage and advance a comprehensive invasive species management program, strategic plan and conservation project portfolio for the 7+ million-acre Adirondack Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). This includes supervising and managing a team of professional conservation staff and working closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) Invasive Species Coordination Unit and APIPP partners to advance the key deliverables of a five-year contract for services with the NYS DEC. This position is contingent upon successfully securing funding from NYS DEC, with APIPP about to enter into a new 5-year agreement that will run through 2023. APIPP recently celebrated its 20th year and has a long history of successful funding based on a great track record of sustained and impactful on-the-ground conservation.
The APIPP Manager provides technical leadership and support relating to invasive species prevention and management for the Program and to the region. They build partnerships with supporting organizations, affected stakeholders, and the public to advance holistic solutions for addressing invasive species impacts. The APIPP Manager works closely with The Nature Conservancy’s North American Invasive Species Advisory Committee and community of practice to advance a cohesive national invasive strategy and fosters communication with and between NYS’s Invasive Species Management Program. This position requires in-depth knowledge of invasive species and work experience.
Duties may include the following:
- Defines invasive species program priorities and long-term strategies, builds strategic and technical capacity in the field.
- Plans and directs a comprehensive and integrated invasive species prevention and management program.
- Addresses critical threats posed by invasive species to natural systems and communities.
- Fosters cross-site learning and partnerships among diverse stakeholder groups.
- Coordinates partner organizations, communities, and citizens to advance invasive species related projects.
- Supplies partners with invasive species information for conservation plans.
- Develops and implements conservation strategies.
- Leverages knowledge of politics and society with respect to invasive species/environmental affairs.
- Implements a variety of strategies to increase public and private support for invasive species priorities.
- Coordinates development and implementation of the Adirondack PRISM’s Five-year Strategic Plan.
- Communicates invasive species priorities to various internal and external audiences and decision-makers.
As part of the APIPP Manager’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new invasive species prevention, education, surveillance, management and monitoring techniques to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional credentials. In addition, they will work to build and maintain relationships in the professional invasive species management community. Key relationships include coordinators of NYS’s seven other PRISMs and partners in NYS’s Comprehensive Invasive Species Management Program, including the NYS DEC Invasive Species Coordination Unit, iMapInvasives, NYS Invasive Species Research Institute, NY Invasive Species Council, and NY Invasive Species Advisory Committee, among others.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manage multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
- 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, assisting with budget development, and meeting fundraising targets.
- 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 negotiating complex agreements.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience communicating with the public and/or media both in writing and verbally.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Experience in training and curriculum design.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated
- MA/MS degree and 5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge of land management conservation practice, conservation science and conservation policy.
- Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profits, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and natural resource preservation.
- Completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Politically savvy.