Title: Conservation Corps North Carolina Program Manager

Starting Salary Range: The starting salary range for this position will be in the $55,300-$56,959 range, depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position.  Please note that the indicated starting salary range describes the range for an incumbent in this position.  Most new staff generally start at the beginning of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.

Location: Old Fort, NC and Partially Remote Eligible.  

Status: Full-Time, Exempt 

Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Short/Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Retirement, Paid Time Off per Personnel Policies, Supplemental benefits including critical care, pet insurance, supplemental life, and others.

Reports to:  Program Director

Posting Period: Please apply before May 31, 2026

Required Application Documents   

• Resume 
• Cover Letter

Please note: Applications must include all required documents to be considered.

Organizational Summary:
Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit.  The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands.   These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air and water; thriving people and resilient communities.

Program Summary:

Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) empowers youth and young adults through meaningful outdoor work that benefits North Carolina’s land and water and fosters healthy communities. A program of Conservation Legacy, CCNC partners with public land managers and community organizers across the state to engage motivated individuals – typically ages 15-30 – in challenging and impactful conservation service projects. These projects may include trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, hazard fuel reduction, invasive species removal, and other technical conservation work. CCNC crews and individual placements gain hands-on experience, professional development, and the opportunity to positively impact North Carolina’s natural resources and communities. CCNC has program offices in both Durham and Old Fort and supports project work statewide with partners including the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, AmeriCorps, NC State Parks, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, local governments, community organizations, and nonprofits. 

Position Summary:

The CCNC Program Manager (PM) is responsible for the execution and overall quality of all programming and operations run out of individual CCNC offices. The PM is responsible for supervision and mentorship of any field and/or program staff of the office(s) they oversee. The PM delegates operational tasks to their team, serves as the local lead for program-wide communication and collaboration, ensures safe workplace standards in the office and the field, and maintains timely and effective relationship management with all collaborators and partners.  The PM will be responsible for project reporting as delegated by the directors. 

The position is approximately 60% office-based and 40% field-based, with field visits that may include overnight stays. A strong and consistent in-person office presence will be required from the PM. The PM may occasionally work remotely in case of emergency or as approved by then Program Director, but the majority of the position is intended to be in-person.  

Outcomes & Functions of Position:

Management and Supervision 

• Oversee CCNC Old Fort office crew programming and operations.
• Oversee CCNC’s Helene Recovery Programming and aid administrative staff with corresponding reports.
• Oversee CCNC Old Fort staff recruitment efforts each season and advise staff as needed.
• Supervises, supports, guides, and evaluates staff in managing their responsibilities and expectations.
• Works closely with Executive Director and Program Director for smooth facilitation of programming and identify areas of program growth.
• Collaborate with CCNC staff across the state to run cohesive programming.
• Approves timesheets, PTO requests and credit card usage of staff.
• Establish weekly check-ins with supervised staff to address questions, ensure procedures are being followed, and foster a collaborative work environment.
• Work with program staff to coordinate distribution of responsibilities, and step in as necessary to cover staff responsibilities when a staff member is unavailable. 

Field Support  

• Supervise staff in overseeing programming in Western North Carolina.
• Mentor field staff by providing technical expertise, guidance, and emotional support.  
• Maintain a safe working environment for all CCNC Participants and staff.  
• Collect and review reporting paperwork, surveys, incident reports, and project outcomes.
• Enforce all CCNC and Conservation Legacy policies and procedures.
• Respond to crew emergency situations and participate in an on-call system for crews in the field.
• Assist program staff to develop and implement training including technical trails, chainsaw, herbicide application, leadership, and facilitation skills.  
• Manage projects from planning to completion, providing Program Coordinators with specifications for projects and reporting outcomes accurately. 

Program Development 

• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with local, state and federal partners.
• Manage CCNC’s Helene Recovery Grant: coordinating with project partners, aid in grant reporting, and track disaster spending.
• Develop innovative programs that meet the needs and strengths of the communities and participants we serve and help CCNC meet our mission.
• Assist with applications for grants and fundraising campaigns to support programming.
• Manage operations budget tracking in Western NC.
• Support a long-term support strategy for members and alumni.
• Develop a long-term plan for the direction of local program operations and support sources. 

General Administration  

• Work with CCNC administrative staff to update multiple databases for recruitment, selection, onboarding, payroll, timesheets, and AmeriCorps information.  
• Manage and maintain accurate reporting of all necessary information and complete program reports including all crew programing paperwork and accomplishments.
• Manage credit cards, receipts, and financial reporting, and facilitate timely management of the same for local program staff.  
• Work closely with administrative staff to ensure office-wide compliance with paperwork tasks and AmeriCorps requirements.
• Track expenditures for local program team to ensure we are staying within approved budgets. 

Organizational Advocacy

• Successfully engages, leads and supports a positive work environment for all within the organization and the communities we serve.  
• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual.
• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.    

Qualifications: 

• 3 years’ experience working with youth and/or young adults.
• 3 years’ experience in all or most of the following: trail construction & maintenance, chainsaw operation & maintenance, hand tool maintenance, herbicide application, prescribed or wildland fire, backcountry travel, with a strong emphasis placed on multiple years of previous trail construction and maintenance experience.
• Valid CPR and Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification. 
• Ability to operate Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms. 
• Ability to keep others and oneself, in remote locations, accountable to expectations. 
• Valid Driver’s License and Insurable Driving Record per Personnel Policies. 
• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history check requirements.  
• Ability to successfully work in a fluid, changing work environment. 

Other Competencies Desired for this Position’s Success: Manage Complexity, Resourceful, Effectively Communicate, Cultivate Innovation, Drive and/or Influence Results, Plans & Aligns.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.