Careers

In compliance with Transparency in Coverage (TiC) rules, we are sharing the following documents:

Senior Director, Water for the Future Program – San Francisco

First Review of applications: September 15, 2023

Start Date: November 1, 2023 (tentative)

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Sustainable Conservation (a leading non-profit in its field) advances the collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. Every day, we bring together businesses, landowners, scientists, government and others in some of the most productive yet economically disadvantaged parts of California, to steward the resources on which we all depend in ways that are just and make economic sense. Please visit www.suscon.org to learn more about our work.

Sustainable Conservation is committed to addressing policies and practices that have historically prioritized economic benefits to some at the ecological, health, and/or economic expense of others. We engage with diverse entities like businesses, non-profits, agricultural communities, government, etc. to partner in co-creating solutions to catalyze more substantial improvements in areas of California where the stakes are highest for getting it right. We strive to center diversity, equity, and inclusion in our mission and vision and through everything we do – both within individual programs and the organization, both in the field and at the office – so we can help shape a California where all can truly thrive.

POSITION OVERVIEW AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Director, Water for the Future Program, will lead a well-established and growing program of our organization with far reaching impact. Our Water for the Future Program advances promising practices, tools, incentives, and policies to help achieve long-term water sustainability in California. Our efforts mean reliable, affordable, and clean water for healthy communities, vibrant waterways that support diverse wildlife and habitats, and a dependable supply of water for irrigating the crops that feed the nation.

Key responsibilities include overall strategic guidance and day-to-day management in collaboration with the Director, Water for the Future Program.

Experience in program development and management, staff supervision and research/monitoring design would be key requirements for this role. Success in this position will come from strong and creative strategic thinking for the program and the organization, a commitment to collaboration and building leadership skills within a very talented and growing five-person team and a passion to grow and harness relationships with external partners to support and enhance our work.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead and provide strategic direction to the Water for the Future Program.
Build, maintain and harness relationships with external partners including state and federal agencies, other NGOs, industry groups and academic institutions to advance our collective goals and leverage resources.
Lead the conceptualization and design of new projects, products, tools and strategies.
Provide technical leadership and guidance to staff to ensure scientific rigor in all aspects of program delivery and products.
Lead team in developing and quantifying long-range and quarterly/annual program goals and metrics to guide staff priorities and communicate progress to the Board and supporters.
Manage equitable allocation of program workload to staff according to skills and abilities, identify staffing needs and select new employees from eligible candidates.
Mentor staff with professional development and build leadership skills.
Collaborate with the Development and Communications team to prepare and present program achievements and goals to funders and at various conferences, events, forums, webinars, etc.
Interact and interface with media as a representative of the organization.
Collaborate with the Director, Water for the Future and Financial/Administrative staff to plan and manage program and project budgets.
Partner with the CEO and Chief Development Officer and other program leads to raise funds for various initiatives.
Envision potential new projects/strategies with external funding partners and help with writing federal and state grants and contracts, including building budgets.

Knowledge and Skills desired:

Masters/PhD in Ecology, Natural Resources, or related field (equivalent experience considered in lieu of education)
Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
Very strong interpersonal skills that lead to building collaborative long-term relationships both internally and externally to support and enhance our work.
Strategic vision, analytic thinking, and a creative/innovative approach that leads to development and advancement of the program and team.
Deep knowledge of water management/issues in California, with emphasis on topics related to groundwater recharge.
Knowledge and keen interest in agriculture, ecosystems and a multi-benefit approach that helps disadvantaged communities.
Experience with supervising and managing a multi-disciplinary team.
Seasoned public speaker with demonstrated ability to represent the organization at various forums, events, workshops, webinars, etc.
Strong project management including ability to follow-up across all levels of the organization and with external partners.
Proven ability to multitask and balance the management of multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong problem-solving and independent thinking skills
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 change adaptation.
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.
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including booster) required.

Nice to Have:

Spanish speaking.
Land management or on-the-ground project implementation experience.
GIS operation and analysis skills.
Familiarity with using logic models and defining theory of change.

Compensation: The annual salary for this role is $135,000-$150,000 commensurate with experience.

Location: This position may be at our any of our offices – San Francisco, Modesto or Sacramento. 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.

We also 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.

To Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume to [email protected] and include “Senior Director, Water for the Future” in the subject line.

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.

Project Manager (Nutrient Management)

Experience: Understanding of production agriculture, with 3+ years of experience working with farmers required

Start Date: Tentative, October 15, 2023

Job Type: Full Time, Exempt with benefits

Salary: $68,000-$78,000 per year

To Apply: Please send your cover letter, and resume to [email protected] and include “Project Manager (Nutrient Management)” in the subject line.

Sustainable Conservation (a leading non-profit in its field) advances the collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. Every day, we bring together businesses, landowners, and government in some of the most productive yet economically disadvantaged parts of California, to steward the resources on which we all depend in ways that are just and make economic sense. Please visit www.suscon.org to learn more about our work.

Sustainable Conservation is committed to addressing policies and practices that have historically prioritized economic benefits to some at the ecological, health, and/or economic expense of others. We engage with diverse entities like businesses, non-profits, agricultural communities, government, etc. to partner with us in co-creating solutions to catalyze more substantial improvements in areas of California where the stakes are highest for getting it right. Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our mission and vision is the fullest expression of how we aim to support California. Only by weaving these values through everything we do – both within individual programs and the organization, both in the field and at the office – can we help shape a California where all can truly thrive.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Sustainable Conservation has an exciting opportunity that will play a key role in helping expand impact of a long-standing program to improve drinking water quality in the San Joaquin Valley by reducing nitrate leaching to groundwater. Our Waste Not program works to identify and advance agricultural nutrient management practices that improve drinking water quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley. We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to provide critical project management support to our Waste Not team by ensuring seamless project operations every day. Under the guidance of the Project Director, Waste Not Program, and dotted line reporting to Director of Circular Economies, and also in collaboration with program team members, the Project Manager will be an integral part of the Waste Not team. This role will be responsible for managing on-the-ground implementation, evaluation and scaling of an innovative subsurface drip irrigation system that uses readily-available dairy manure effluent instead of synthetic fertilizers. It will also be responsible for helping address barriers to adoption of manure compost and evaluating emerging technologies that transform dairy manure into value-added products. The Project Manager is responsible for integrating team input and helping to track key decisions and actions needed to complete projects. The Project Manager must also 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 have a passion for climate-resilient agriculture and collaborating with a strong, experienced team that demonstrates expertise in nutrient management, agriculture, water, and policy, among others.

Location: Due to the field work required, our ideal candidate must be willing to work from either our Modesto office or any other location in the San Joaquin Valley. Our teams work in a hybrid work environment with an option to work remotely a few days a week. The role will require frequent travel in the San Joaquin Valley area in addition to periodic travel throughout the state.

Primary Responsibilities

Initiate, plan, and complete projects to meet deadlines and support implementation of projects
Collaborate with internal project team to strategize, develop, monitor and lead work plans, and proactively follow-up on to-dos
Lead projects that include on-farm implementation, including facilitating meetings, communicating priority tasks and roles, motivating partners to reach project milestones, pivoting in response to new information, and responding in a timely manner to project-related requests
Understand and evaluate the efficacy and suitability of nutrient management practices and technologies for California dairies
Analyze data to assess and convey agronomic, environmental and economic impacts of adopting new practices and technologies
Collaborate with internal and external partners to evaluate and address regulatory and economic barriers to scaling adoption of practices and technologies
Coordinate and lead field days or focus groups to educate farmers and stakeholders showcasing projects
Independently schedule meetings, draft agendas, take meeting notes, identify and communicate action items, and incorporate action items into work plans
Prepare written documents, including project update and final reports, recommendations, best management practices, and summary evaluations of practices and technologies
Engage and maintain strong relationships with a variety of partners, including farmers, industry associations, scientists, government agencies, and private sector companies
Any other projects/duties as assigned

Experience and Skills Required

Understanding of production agriculture, with 3+ years of experience working with farmers required
Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams to reach milestones
Working knowledge of nutrient management and/or agronomics, Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) a plus
Strong analytical skills and ability to understand technical details, agricultural engineering or similar background preferred
Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data
Exceptional communication (verbal, written, and presentation skills) and listening skills with emphasis on sharing information with diverse audiences
Very strong project and time management skills, including demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks to meet deliverables and established timelines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Very strong organization and planning skills as demonstrated by the ability to track and document conversations, concepts, and action items
Strong problem-solving and independent thinking skills, and ability to thrive in a dynamic environment
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 climate-resilient agriculture, and knowledge and/or motivation to learn about California agriculture, nutrient management, 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
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including booster) required

Also Desirable

Knowledge of environmental issues impacting agriculture and/or California and technologies & practices available to address those issues
Knowledge of California dairies, dairy cropping systems, and manure management a plus
Knowledge of policies and regulations related to agriculture in California a plus
Economic or financial expertise a plus
Experience with fertilizer and soil amendment industry a plus
Multi-lingual/multi-cultural skills and/or training, Spanish language a plus

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.

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.