Estuary Program Executive Director na Okaloosa County, FL

About the Department

Manages and directs preservation and restoration activities for the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition (CBEC) by providing oversight, vision, and direction for activities which support CBEC’s mission to implement programs and initiatives for the protection and stewardship of natural resources and water quality throughout the Choctawhatchee Bay watershed. Provides significant community outreach to strengthen community resiliency and provide environmental education to maintain a vibrant economy and high quality of life around the Bay and within our region. Oversees implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) including the specific management of projects developed identified by the CCMP. Responsible for the identification and securing of grants, revenue sources and funding opportunities to support the CBEC, its activities and projects identified in the CCMP, and the long-term operation and sustainability of the Estuary Program. This position is grant funded and contingent upon acquiring future funding sources.

Position Duties

• Develops, implements, and administers an Annual Work Plan and Budget each year in compliance with EPA standards for a National Estuary Program, to ensure cost control and monitoring of revenues and expenditures to be reviewed by the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition and submittal to Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners. • Will pursue National Estuary Program (NEP) designation with the Environmental Protection Agency and provide appropriate reporting according to future designation requirements. • Solicits strategic opportunities and collaborations for funding through grant and other funding sources (i.e. fundraising, membership, sponsorships, etc.) to support and implement the goals of the CCMP for the Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed. Provides grant writing and management and directs staff regarding grants and cooperative funding agreements to leverage and take advantage of strategic opportunities, collaborative efforts, and funding sources; works with local, state and federal officials to secure sustainable funding. Develops a long-term funding plan to sustain the Estuary Program. • Develops, implements, and administers the CCMP and associated strategic plans for delivering programs and services related to the preservation and restoration of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in Choctawhatchee Bay and its watershed. • Guides, establishes, and encourages participation in high-level advisory committees supporting the work of the program, ultimately bringing together citizens, government agencies, business and industry, conservation and environmental organizations, and academic institutions. • Oversees management functions to ensure the program’s schedules, goals, and objectives are met; allocates appropriate resources to personnel to ensure essential job functions are performed properly, and reporting requirements are met. • Acts as liaison between the CBEC Board of Directors and stakeholders; develops and implements projects and programs which support the mission of the organization and are identified in the CCMP; evaluates inclusion of future goals in the CCMP to ensure the Estuary Program is addressing pertinent issues. • Establishes a team of professionals and external partners to direct and promote watershed restoration, recovery and economic impact measurement strategies; integrates environmental activities within the area. • Administers contracts, Memorandum of Understanding/Agreements, and other projects associated with implementation of the CCMP. • Manages and supervises personnel and staffing functions such as assignment, scheduling, interviewing/hiring, training/development, and discipline as the team grows, to ensure a focused, cohesive, and positive team-oriented workforce, enhanced productivity of personnel, and achieve program objectives within budget. • Oversees and assists with implementation of a public communication platform and education and outreach program to promote wise stewardship of the estuarine system and associated watershed; provides access to educational, professional, and scientific tools and resources. • Prepares a variety of written and visual materials (i.e., bid specifications, correspondence, memos, reports, policy/procedures, budget, presentations, etc.); reviews and coordinates the development of plans, projects, documents and reports created by staff. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in environmental or natural sciences, public/business administration, urban and regional planning, or closely related field; supplemented by five (5) years progressively responsible experience in environmental, natural sciences or conservation programs, public/business administration, planning, or closely related field; three (3) years of which were acquired in a supervisory/management capacity; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Must demonstrate knowledge of natural resources sciences, strong organizational management, excellent interpersonal and technical skills to include developing and maintaining local support, securing funds, and facilitating partner, committee, and consultant interaction. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are essential. Experience in public presentation including the use of electronic and computer aids required. Experience directing environmental and natural resource programs with high visibility and developing successful diverse and stable funding sources for those programs, preferred. Licenses and/or Certification:Requires a valid driver’s license.

Other Qualifications

Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to operate office equipment, to include computers, copy/fax machines and related peripherals. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position requires periodic walking and/or standing without variety on occasion. Requires full range of body motion, to include bending at the waist and full use of lower extremities and back muscles. Must be able to traverse irregular or uneven surfaces occasionally. Physical demands are essentially those of sedentary work. Language Ability: Requires the ability to communicate effectively in English, including the ability to convey, record and exchange information; requires the ability to explain procedures and to give, receive and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to read a variety of moderately complex technical data, policy and procedure manuals, codes, professional journals. Requires the ability to prepare forms and reports using prescribed formats, and adhering to all rules of grammar, spelling, diction and punctuation. Requires the ability to communicate with a broad array of individuals from various professional backgrounds. Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical and scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical instructions in written, mathematical or diagrammatic form; to make independent judgments; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Requires the application of moderate to long range planning principles and techniques. Requires the application of principles of influence systems and synthesis functions. Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, multiply and divide, use decimals and determine percentages; determine weight; compute discount, profit and loss, ratio and proportion; interpret graphs; perform statistical calculations. Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with frequent deadlines. Requires the ability to exercise consistent tact and courtesy in frequent contact with various professionals, county personnel and the public.