About ecoLatinos

ecoLatinos is a Latino-led nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Latino community access to nature through green job development, youth environmental education, and improved wellbeing in underserved communities. The organization delivers hands-on environmental workforce training in sustainable landscaping, green infrastructure, and urban forestry across the Washington DC / Baltimore region, and operates with federal grant funding in support of its mission.

Position Summary

The Director of Programs & Operations is ecoLatinos' senior operational leader and the CEO's primary organizational partner. This role carries direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of ecoLatinos' programs, grants, staff, and organizational systems — enabling the CEO to focus on fundraising, board relations, and external partnerships.

The Director supervises a team of 4–6 staff and consultants, ensures grant commitments are fulfilled on time and in compliance with federal, state, and county requirements, and leads the organizational systems and processes that allow ecoLatinos to grow sustainably. This is a leadership position that requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

The successful candidate will be bilingual in English and Spanish, bring experience in environmental education, workforce development, or community-based programs serving Latino communities, and demonstrate the judgment and initiative to manage competing priorities with limited supervision.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Organizational Leadership & Strategic Implementation

• Serve as the CEO's primary operational partner, translating strategic priorities into coordinated organizational action.
• Provide day-to-day leadership of staff, consultants, contractors, interns, and volunteers across assigned programs and operations.
• Identify operational risks and bottlenecks early and bring solutions — not just problems — to the CEO.
• implement, and continuously improve organizational policies, procedures, workflows, and internal systems.
• Prepare agendas, materials, and action items for staff and leadership meetings; track follow-through on commitments.
• Contribute to long-term organizational planning and support the CEO in positioning ecoLatinos for sustainable growth.

2. Staff Supervision & Team Development

• Directly supervise a team of 4–6 staff and consultants.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones and team check-ins; set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback.
• Support staff recruitment, onboarding, and professional development in coordination with the CEO.
• Build and sustain a collaborative, accountable team culture aligned with ecoLatinos' values and mission.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for operational and interpersonal issues within the program team.

3. Program & Project Management

• Coordinate implementation of multiple environmental education, workforce development, and community programs simultaneously, ensuring deliverables are met on schedule.
• Monitor and track program timelines, milestones, budgets, and outcomes across all active projects serving Latino communities.
• Ensure program activities and outcomes are fully documented for internal management, funder reporting, and organizational learning.
• Evaluate program performance against goals; identify and implement improvements in collaboration with program staff and the CEO.
• Coordinate field requirements, site logistics, and contractor activities in support of hands-on environmental training and installation programs.

Grant Compliance & Reporting

• Coordinate preparation of grant proposals, budgets, and supporting documentation in collaboration with the CEO and program staff.
• Track grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, and compliance requirements across all active awards; maintain organized grant files.
• Draft grant progress reports, final reports, and other required funder communications.
• Monitor grant budgets and expenditures in coordination with the CEO, bookkeeper, and program staff; flag variances early.
• Ensure organizational practices meet federal, state, and county grant requirements, including record-keeping, timekeeping, effort reporting, and procurement documentation.
• Maintain supporting documentation for all grant-funded activities in a manner consistent with applicable funder and organizational record-keeping standards.

Community Partnerships & Organizational Representation

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with Latino community organizations, government agencies, funders, educational institutions, environmental partners, and workforce development stakeholders.
• Represent ecoLatinos at meetings, workshops, community events, and partner activities as directed by the CEO, with sensitivity to the cultural context and needs of Latino communities served.
• Support planning and coordination of organizational events, training programs, and public engagement activities that center Latino community participation.
• Support outreach initiatives that expand ecoLatinos' reach and deepen trust with Latino communities across the DC / Baltimore region.

Organizational Operations & Systems

• Own organizational calendars, internal communications workflows, and cross-team coordination processes.
• Support board meeting preparation, board documentation.
• Lead adoption of project management, CRM, and other organizational tools that improve team effectiveness.
• Ensure administrative functions — scheduling, correspondence, vendor coordination, procurement documentation — are operating consistently and efficiently.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in environmental education, environmental science, community development, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in environmental education, workforce development, community-based environmental programs, nonprofit operations, or organizational leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing grant-funded programs, preparing grant reports, and working within federal, state, or county funder compliance requirements.
• Experience directly supervising staff or managing teams.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish — written and spoken.
• Deep commitment to environmental equity and to the communities ecoLatinos serves, including an understanding of the cultural context of Latino communities in the DC / Baltimore region.
• Excellent organizational, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse communities, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for local travel to program sites and community events.

Working Conditions

This is a primarily office-based position with local travel to program sites, partner meetings, community events, and field training activities in the Washington DC / Baltimore region. Occasional evening and weekend work is required during active program delivery periods.

The Director of Programs & Operations operates in a collaborative, growing nonprofit environment where flexibility, adaptability, and shared ownership of organizational success are expected of all staff.