Program Manager - Chattahoochee

Who We Are:

At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​ We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside — parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands — and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us!

Position Summary:

T he Trust for Public Land’s Chattahoochee River Program aspires to activate and conserve the Chattahoochee River and its valley from Helen to Columbus, GA. In the past 30 years, TPL has successfully leveraged public and philanthropic funds to protect 18,000 acres along this 285-mile stretch of River. Recently, TPL has focused on the 100 miles through 20 metro Atlanta cities and 7 counties between Buford Dam and Chattahoochee Bend State Park. The organization has collaborated with regional partners and the general public to develop a bold vision for a series of greenway trails, ‘tributary trails’, a blueway trail, and the destinations they will inevitably inspire. This vision is called the Chattahoochee RiverLands (RiverLands.org).

Through the Chattahoochee River Program, we seek to unlock the potential promised within the Chattahoochee RiverLands vision. With a focus on equity, we collaborate closely with residents, community groups, non-profit organizations, public partners, and others to ensure that the implementation of the Chattahoochee RiverLands vision lives up to the high aspirations reflected in the overarching guidelines:

• A safe, connective corridor
• A common ground for all
• An ecological refuge for the region
• A living legacy for future generations.

As a vital member of the Chattahoochee River Program, the Program Manager will advance a full range of activities associated with the delivery of Trust for Public Land’s mission through ongoing planning and capital projects. This role will support the management of multiple aspects of project implementation, including community and partner engagement, oversight of contracted design professionals, construction management, and oversight of project schedules and budgets. This position will work closely with the Chattahoochee Program’s Director and Project Manager and other Trust for Public Land staff including but not limited to Philanthropy and Government Affairs, Legal, Finance, Marketing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The Program Manager will be based in the Atlanta office and will be encouraged to work in-office at least three days per week.

Essential Functions :

Project Management: 85%

• Lead in some phases of planning, community engagement, design and construction of new and existing public trails, parks, and other open spaces in multiple jurisdictions across the 100-mile corridor
• Provide design direction, guidance, and critical reviews during course of projects
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets and contracts
• Conduct and document community outreach and stakeholder engagement
• Work with partner organizations, public agencies, diverse communities and public and private funders
• Track project progress and deliverables, organize meetings and define agendas
• Scope potential funding needs and develop grant applications
• Develop graphics needed for the project including presentation boards, renderings, flyers, etc.
• Develop concept plan level site plans and renderings to communicate design intent to stakeholders and contracted design professionals.

Program Advancement: 15%

• Advocate for region-wide implementation of the Chattahoochee RiverLands vision in keeping with the overarching guidelines
• Work with the Chattahoochee River Program Director, Project Manager and Director of Philanthropy to build philanthropic support for program
• This position requires occasional off-hours work including attending some weekend and evening meetings and events. Though the position is based out of our Atlanta office, the Chattahoochee River Program Manager will engage in field work and meetings at various project sites all along the 100-mile corridor and beyond. Access to reliable transportation is required.

Qualifications:

• Five years of experience managing projects [combination of park and trail design projects] (PREFERRED)
• Experience in hiring and managing design professionals and construction contractors
• A degree from an accredited university in Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning or similar fields (PREFERRED)
• Strong commitment to TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Collaboration, Creativity, Hope, Impact) to effectively work across the organization.
• A passion for The Trust for Public Land’s mission and a passion for social and environmental justice are essential
• Ability to work as part of a team and support departmental framework
• Ability to collaborate and negotiate with diverse groups and interests
• Ability to multi-task, meet schedules, and achieve long term goals
• Well-organized and detail-oriented
• High degree of creativity, vision, flexibility and resourcefulness
• Excellent oral, written, graphic communication, and interpersonal skills
• Basic graphic design skills: Adobe Creative Suites, PowerPoint.
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, and LGBTQ candidates, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time, exempt employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $64,000-$74,000 per year.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.