Project Manager (Soil Health and Water) - Modesto/San Francisco/Sacramento

Experience Level: 3+ Years of very strong project management experience

Job Type: Exempt, full time with benefits  

To Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume to JOBS@suscon.org, and include “Project Manager (Soil Health & Water)” in the subject line. 

Sustainable Conservation unites people to solve the toughest challenges facing California’s land, air, and water––and to collaboratively steward the resources all Californians depend on in ways that are equitable, practical, and enduring. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has driven shared solutions to meet the water needs of California’s environment, people, and economy – with particular focus on advancing sustainable groundwater management and accelerating the stewardship of ecosystems, working lands, and waterways.

Over the past few years, Sustainable Conservation has connected its programs around conserving California’s water resources through groundwater recharge, aquatic habitat restoration, water quality management, and soil health. This holistic approach to conserving the state’s most consequential resource has allowed Sustainable Conservation to listen, collaborate, and test solutions on the ground so they can scale effectively, equitably, and sustainably.

Since 1993, Sustainable Conservation has found success in building uncommon coalitions across sectors, interests, and geographies to develop scalable, science-based strategies that establish truly lasting solutions. The programmatic focus on removing barriers to adoption and driving systemic change ensures long-term positive impacts. By working at the watershed scale, this approach enables solutions to take root and grow across California’s most vital and vulnerable landscapes. Please visit www.suscon.org to learn more about our work.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Sustainable Conservation has an exciting opportunity that will play a key role in helping expand a new program and work with a multi-disciplinary team to build on their success to date. Our newest program “Solutions in our Soil” works collaboratively to advance soil practices that improve water management, supply, and quality in California’s Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley. We seek an experienced Project Manager to provide critical project management support to our Soils team by ensuring seamless project operations every day. Under the guidance of the Senior Director of Circular Economies and in collaboration with program team members, the Project Manager will be an integral part of the Soils team. This role will be responsible for overall project management within the team by working collaboratively to integrate team input and track key decisions and actions needed to complete projects. The Project Manager will also be a key contributor to projects, leveraging their writing, facilitation, and collaborative skillsets. The Project Manager must be able to communicate effectively and maintain relationships with a broad array of audiences, both internal and external. Following timelines and paying great attention to detail to meet deliverables is essential. Equally important, the Project Manager should be able to draw connections between water policy, on-farm practices, and research to effectively support multi- and transdisciplinary collaborations with experts across various sectors.

Location: This position will be based at our Modesto office ideally, but we are open to working from our San Francisco or Sacramento offices. Our teams work in a hybrid work environment with an option to work remotely a few days a week. Periodic travel throughout the state will be required.

Primary Responsibilities  

• Initiate, plan, and complete projects to meet deadlines and create high-quality effective work products which may include research, content creation, and/or facilitation for specific projects
• Collaborate with internal project team to strategize, develop, monitor and lead work plans, and proactively follow-up on to-dos
• Develop and manage projects with external partners: build scope and methodology based on input from internal and external teams, develop and monitor external work plan and follow up with responsible parties as needed
• Plan, schedule, coordinate, manage logistics for the program – including meetings (internal and external), events, and any other pertinent activities hosted by the team and/or in collaboration with external partners
• Independently schedule meetings, draft agendas, take meeting notes, identify and communicate action items, and incorporate action items into work plans
• Proficiently summarize and synthesize written and verbal information gathered during meetings and presentations into scopes of work, overviews, reports,
• Liaise with partner organizations, collaborators, and growers, building and strengthening relationships, gathering information, and representing Sustainable Conservation and its work
• Build relationships with project team by maintaining credibility, trust, communicating actively and effectively, and producing results
• Any other projects/duties as assigned

Experience and Skills Required  

• 3+ Years of very strong project management experience required
• Very strong project and time management skills, including demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks to meet deliverables and established timelines.
• Very strong organization and planning skills as demonstrated by the ability to track and document conversations, concepts, action items
• Exceptional communication (verbal, written, and presentation skills) and listening skills with emphasis on synthesizing information for diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to follow-up appropriately – manage up, out, and down
• Proven ability to multitask and balance the management of multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong problem-solving and independent thinking skills
• Ability to learn new concepts quickly and to draw connections between water policy, on-farm practices, and research
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently and in cross functional team settings
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; desire to work in collaboration with a broad range of partners
• Keen interest in nature-based solutions and climate-resilient agriculture, and knowledge and/or motivation to learn about California agriculture, soil, and water.
• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of MS applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Valid CA Driver’s License and a willingness to travel as required

Also Desirable: 

• Experience using project management tools and/or training or certification in project management
• Understanding of soil health, regenerative agriculture, agroecology, agronomics, and/or agricultural management.
  • Multi-lingual/multi-cultural skills and/or training
• Event planning and logistics experience
• Business or policy background a plus

Compensation: The compensation for this position will be in the range of $89,430 - $98,577 annually. The exact pay offered will be determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

COVID-19 Note: Sustainable Conservation is a 100% COVID-19 vaccination workplace. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including booster) is required before the first day of employment. Job applicants with religious and disability-related objections will be extended reasonable accommodations.

What we offer: A competitive compensation package based on experience, fully paid health insurance benefits, generous match on 401k, FSA, EAP, vacation, floating days, sick leave, plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as holiday leave. Our greatest benefit is our culture. Our staff is collaborative, dedicated, and caring. We believe in articulating and practicing our values (Collaboration, Respect, Results, Honesty, Learning, Well-Being) at work and have a strong commitment to bringing a DEI lens to our work and workplace culture. We encourage, prioritize, and support professional development and career growth within the organization.

At Sustainable Conservation we value culture and diversity, and as an equal opportunity employer we encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our job openings.