Virginia Program Manager

About the role

Trout Unlimited (TU) seeks a self-motivated and highly capable Program Manager to lead development and implementation of a multi-year strategic vision for TU’s Virginia conservation program. This includes Priority Waters expansion, partner engagement strategies, funding sustainability, and organizational growth opportunities.

The Program Manager will oversee a team of TU staff working with private landowners and state and federal agencies to re-establish brook trout in extirpated spring creeks and strengthen existing populations across Priority Waters by restoring and reconnecting habitat. The role involves carrying forward ongoing restoration initiatives and developing new projects and programs in collaboration with the team.

This position requires demonstrated ability in project and program management, including project identification, development, and monitoring to achieve on-the-ground conservation of aquatic resources. It also demands strategic planning, partnership development, fundraising, and coordination of cross-functional teams within TU.

The Program Manager will serve as a recognized fisheries and coldwater conservation leader in Virginia, providing technical guidance to agency partners, stakeholders, funders, and TU staff. The role involves frequent local and occasional overnight travel. The position is based remotely but ideally within 1 hour of one of TU’s Virginia Priority Waters.

Responsibilities

• Lead long-range planning and implementation for Priority Waters initiatives, including Upper James/Shenandoah, Grayson Highlands, and Blue Ridge watersheds.
• Develop and execute strategies for renewal and expansion of major landscape-scale conservation partnerships and agreements.
• Coordinate development of watershed-scale conservation plans integrating restoration, science, volunteer engagement, communications, and public funding opportunities.
• Evaluate and recommend organizational staffing and capacity models for future Priority Waters growth.
• Identify and develop strategies to diversify and sustain program funding sources in response to changing philanthropic and public funding landscapes.
• Identify, develop, initiate, and manage specific assessment, protection, restoration, and research projects.
• Coordinate multiple conservation projects simultaneously across Virginia’s Priority Waters, including USFS, NRCS, NFWF, and other agreements.
• Manage a staff of 2-4 TU employees.
• Develop and manage an annual budget for TU projects and programs in Virginia.
• Provide leadership to staff, partners, agency officials, contractors, and others involved in Home Rivers Initiatives and Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Build a network of community, TU volunteers, business, and agency partners in Virginia.
• Coordinate and implement communications and outreach efforts.
• Manage and maintain grassroots engagement and support for TU volunteers.
• Work with TU’s development staff on fundraising, including identifying potential funding sources, drafting and submitting grant proposals, and developing relationships with funders.
• Collaborate with TU’s government affairs and policy team to contribute to advocacy and policy activities at the state and federal levels to advance support and protection for wild trout watersheds.
• Manage staff workloads and schedules to efficiently meet objectives and goals of the Home Rivers Initiatives and Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Use TU contract standards for all contracted work, overseeing and ensuring compliance with contract terms.
• Communicate with supervisors regarding progress, obstacles, operational challenges, and program performance in Virginia.
• Ensure contractors, staff, volunteers, and partners comply with safety procedures, operational and maintenance procedures, and workplace rules and regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; Master’s degree a plus.
• 10 years of experience coordinating or managing restoration projects or initiatives.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of fisheries, aquatic resource management, geomorphology, or restoration design and engineering.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing multi-year program strategies.
• Experience building and sustaining large partnership networks across agencies, NGOs, private landowners, and funding organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing major federal, state, or philanthropic funding programs.
• Experience evaluating program growth opportunities and aligning staffing, budgets, and resources to strategic priorities.
• Ability to integrate science, policy, communications, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement into comprehensive conservation strategies.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills to communicate with and direct staff to accomplish the goals of Priority Waters in Virginia.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work constructively with a wide range of partners; prior experience with local communities in the watershed is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; previous experience with media, outreach, or education is helpful.
• Ability to work with multiple and diverse partners in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner, even on contentious issues.
• Good organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative to coordinate numerous partners.
• Willingness to travel within the watershed and region as necessary.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office computer programs.
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout habitat and their watersheds.
• Valid driver’s license.

Pay

$72,000–$90,000