Senior Program Manager

Dec 1, 2017 | Udall Foundation
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The Udall Foundation was established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on this nation's environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his support of the rights and self-governance of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The 1998 Environmental Policy and Conflict Resolution Act created the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution as a program of the Udall Foundation to assist parties in resolving environmental, public lands, and natural resources conflicts nationwide that involve federal agencies or interests. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to honor Stewart L. Udall and add his name to the Udall Foundation.

The Udall Foundation’s U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (U.S. Institute) is seeking a skilled professional to serve as a Senior Program Manager. The successful candidate will lead the U.S. Institute’s role on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC), along with other projects. This job is a full-time, permanent, Federal position in an Excepted Service Appointment. The preferred location is in Tucson, Arizona, although highly qualified remote candidates will be considered.

The U.S. Institute is part of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, an independent executive branch agency that promotes leadership, education, collaboration, and conflict resolution in the areas of environment, public lands, and natural resources.

Reporting to the Director of the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, the Senior Program Manager (AD-14) will independently lead and manage a large-scale, complex, contentious, and high-profile project of the U.S. Institute. The Senior Program Manager will oversee contracted neutral service providers and also provide direct mediation, facilitation, or training services as appropriate.

Candidates may submit a cover letter, resume, three references, and writing sample to:

Brian Manwaring, Director
U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution
520-901-8529
manwaring@udall.gov

OVERVIEW

Opening and closing dates: Open until filled, applications reviewed on a rolling basis

Pay Grade: AD 14

Salary: $101,938- $132,521

Location: One vacancy in Tucson, Arizona (relocation expenses may be paid in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations)

Work Schedule: Full-time

Appointment Type: Permanent

Supervisory Status: No

Promotion Potential: N/A

Who May Apply: This job is open to United States Citizens

Travel: Extensive travel may be required

Major Duties and responsibilities:

  • Under the supervision of the Director of the U.S. Institute, independently perform and initiate general Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution information and project intake; coordinate and manage the U.S. Institute’s role in the contracting process for neutral selection; and provide contracting oversight and management of the neutral contract, often for multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Develop, with input from U.S. Institute program staff, a long-term vision and near-term plan for building one or more service sectors for consideration by the U.S. Institute Director. Under the direction of the Director of the U.S. Institute and with the assistance from Program Associates and other Program Managers, the incumbent coordinates case screening and project approval, case consultation, conflict assessments, and, as appropriate, serves as facilitator and/or mediator on projects and evaluations.
  • Draft or review the Scope of Work (SOW) for routine and complex project budgets for projects and programmatic efforts. Budgets should reflect appropriate estimation of tasks, level of effort, timelines, costs, and milestones.
  • Successfully assess highly complex issues, such as very visible public controversies with extreme distrust among parties and/or serious process design hurdles, to develop recommendations for ECR processes.
  • Effectively serve as lead  facilitator in situations with a high degree of political, substantive, and interactive complexity and in technically complex, multiparty settings with a high level of conflict, often involving senior decision-makers.
  • Effectively serve as lead trainer and/or manage the delivery fo environmental collaboration and conflict resolutiontrainings.
  • As needed, assist with the convening and facilitation of dialogues within and across government agencies.
  • Oversee teams during the development of complex projects, sector and program budgets, ensuring timelines and milestones are met.
  • Effectively develop and implement ECR strategies relating to factually and technically complex multiparty conflicts to achieve project and program goals.
  • Under the supervision of the U.S. Institute Director, and in coordination with the Director of the DC Office, work collaboratively with all Udall Foundation programs to implement the Udall Foundation’s Strategic Plan in building connections between programs of the Udall Foundation.
  • Under the supervision of the U.S. Institute Director and in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative, independently perform and initiate general information and project intake; coordinate and manage the U.S. Institute’s role in the contracting process for neutral selection; and support contracting oversight and management of the neutral contract, often for multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Serve as a subject matter resource for other program staff and Udall Foundation management.
  • Develop and maintain relationships by communicating regularly with agency, Tribal, and other stakeholders from target program areas.
  • Monitor program area to evaluate progress in meeting strategic goals and to ensure performance on scopes of work, costs, and timelines are met.
  • Effectively lead internal and external teams.

The incumbent mentors junior staff by providing direction on a project-specific basis.

A significant amount of travel will be required.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

1. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Demonstrated flexibility and ability to work independently, while also capable of working collaboratively with a team to develop and carry out an overall program.
  • Ability to take initiative and lead projects ethically, on scope, and within budget, with attention to detail that produces the highest quality of work.
  • Ability to prioritize work and balance many projects simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated excellence in both oral and written communication (a writing sample is required).
  • Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Experience utilizing databases, spreadsheets, research tools, online collaboration tools, and social media.
  • Experience managing complex project teams (with 5 or more staff, contractors, partners, etc.)

2. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • An Advanced Degree and ten (10) years’ experience in environmental, natural resources, or land use law, cultural resources law, science policy planning, or management of complex public policy issues. In lieu of an Advanced Degree, an undergraduate degree and fifteen (15) years of comparable experience is required.
  • Familiarity with Federal contracting, grants, or agreement processes in order to understand and work under the guidelines of Federal contracting, grants, or agreement procedures.
  • At least eight (8) years of experience leading large environmental collaboration and conflict resolution projects, including national level projects. At least five (5) of these years should include experience in public policy negotiations or other consensus seeking processes.
  • Collaborative problem-solving experience in Federal, State, Regional, Tribal, or Local government, or in the private sector dealing with public policy matters and public institutions.
  • Demonstrated competencies in the numerous skills required for large public meeting facilitation.
  • Skill and experience in situation assessment and process design.
  • Experience as a project manager and team leader; responsible for developing funding streams and managing programs or large projects involving conflict resolution, multiparty collaboration, or public involvement.
  • Experience as a trainer of conflict resolution, mediation, or dispute resolution.