Manager, Forests Operations

Duration

This is a two-year fixed-term contract position with full benefits and the possibility of extension.

Location

This position may be remote or hybrid out of an EDF office, with a preference for candidates in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York.

Forests Overview

EDF’s Forests Focus Area is one of EDF’s 8 global impact areas, whose goals rise to the level of the enormity of the climate and nature crisis. Through demonstrating proof of concept for large-scale forest conservation, engaging key Indigenous peoples and local communities forest policies and programs, and scaling access to finance for these solutions, EDF seeks to contribute global-scale contributions in support of meeting global targets to halt and reverse global forest loss by 2030 while boosting local livelihoods and forest restoration. To achieve this, EDF will harness its unique capabilities in science, economics, policy, partnerships and incentive design. The scope of this work is global in nature, with near term priorities on tropical forest conservation and wildfire resilience in the US and globally.

Overall Function

The Manager, Forests Operations will report to and act as the operational right hand of the VP, Forests, will provide expert-level project management (work-planning, procurement, compliance) and operations for key Forests initiatives and selected projects. Additionally, this position will establish and implement appropriate planning, accountability and adaptive management systems, maintain effectiveness, and ensure program focus. The Manager is a key contributor to strengthening team synergies by developing improved systems, fostering communications, and planning strategic meeting events.

The Manager will serve as the Operations Lead for the Forests team, support the achievement of the team’s donor deliverables and milestones, advance budget management and effective resource allocation, and support collaboration and performance of the team. This position interfaces across the EDF matrix with other teams including Finance, IT, HR and Development to ensure collaboration and smooth functioning across our units.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the VP, Forests and other colleagues to develop, implement, validate, and manage effective systems and communications for Forests, the Forest Focus Area Strategy Team (FFAST), and other stakeholders, for effective and efficient collaboration.
• Manage complex projects across the team, including project management for government grants, implementing necessary tracking tools and documents for individual and group projects to foster project flow and efficiency, monitoring progress of projects to ensure grant milestones are met, making recommendations, and tracking deliverables, in collaboration with colleagues and Government Compliance as applicable.
• Develop and implement detailed work plans and orchestrate the completion of work plans, fundraising budgets, progress reporting, and development communications, including donor proposals and reports contributing content and facilitating processes in partnership with relevant colleagues across the organization.
• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Plan and schedule meetings, prepare agendas, record decisions and track action items, including for the FFAST, to keep the team aligned and engaged throughout strategy execution.
• Manage, support, and guide a direct report, ensuring that administrative and operations requests are addressed in timely and accurately.
• Manage Forests document repository and respond to document and information requests.
• Participate in strategic planning of team objectives, goals, and ensuing projects.
• Participate in the development of narrative and financial grant reports and proposals, including communicating with EDF staff in other departments.
• Develop consultant contract deliverables, execute contracts and track progress toward meeting deliverables, identify potential issues, and communicate with supervisor and project staff to propose solutions, in collaboration with relevant staff.
• Manage relevant internal procurement processes, including interfacing with EDF procurement and compliance teams, and supporting contract managers with development of TORs (Terms of Reference) and consultant evaluation and selection processes.
• Act as a liaison between the team and with consultants to ensure consistent, high-quality service.
• Maintain a process ensuring that expense reports and Emburse reimbursements and invoices are processed efficiently and timely and for setting up new vendors and liaise with IT and Finance as needed.
• Manage Forests team’s staffing, intern hiring, onboarding, and offboarding processes in collaboration with HR.
• As needed, organize special team events and meetings to ensure they effectively meet their desired objectives, including agenda development, site research & selection, contract negotiation, travel arrangements, attendee needs, catering & activity coordination, post-meeting review, productivity assessment, and participant communications.
• Present on new EDF policies and procedures and develop tools and processes to help Forests team navigate EDF administrative landscape.
• Train and mentor the team and other relevant colleagues on standard operating procedures.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree required. A Master’s degree may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant experience. Project management certification a plus.
• Experience serving as the Operations Lead for a team and managing staff.
• Prior experience working on government grants, with a particular focus on functions supporting compliance, procurement, administration, finance and/or coordination is strongly desired.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface well with all departments in the organization and external stakeholders and represent the team in a highly professional manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proactive, well-organized, and attentive to detail.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, adapt to evolving contexts, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office and other software applications; project management software experience preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is strongly desired.
• Demonstrable passion and commitment to EDF’s mission.
• Experience with complex event planning a plus.