Program Manager, Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program

Title: Program Manager, Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program

Hours: Full-time, exempt, Remote

Compensation: $65,000 – $75,000/annually

Benefits: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; generous employer 401(k) contribution; liberal PTO; flexible work environment; annual professional development stipend

Location: Must permanently, physically reside in a State that boards the Great Lakes with special consideration for candidates residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, or Northern Indiana; travel within the Region is required up to 30% of the time.

Qualifications

· At least four years experience working in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, ideally in initiatives or projects impacting Great Lakes Watersheds

· Experience working with or in historically underrepresented or marginalized communities; urban communities, tribal, or immigrant communities particularly valued.

· Experience managing federal, state or foundation grant programs; experience with federal funding, EPA funding a plus.

· Strong interest in community engagement and capacity building, as demonstrated through work, volunteering, internships, etc.

· Ability to seamlessly move between working autonomously and in a highly collaborative environment.

· Ability to present complex and time-sensitive information in a variety of accessible formats.

· Willingness to change focus and support additional projects as they arise.

· Comfortable occasionally traveling within the U.S. and primarily within the Great Lakes region.

· Ability to drive and owns own vehicle as needed.

· Fluency in spoken and written English; multi-lingual skills preferred and highly valued;

· Must reside full-time in a state that borders the Great Lakes and be able to travel up to 30% of the time, with some travel outside the watershed.

· Must have prior authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Primary Duties

This position primarily supports the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program

· Work with the Program Director to develop and execute strategies that build collaborative partnerships and advance GLEJGP throughout the Great Lakes region.

· Identify and connect Environmental Justice Organizations from the Great Lakes Region to GLEJGP.

· Conduct outreach and engagement on a specific region within the Great Lakes Basin.

· Identify and recruit potential participants for the GLEJGP Working Group and RFA advisory committee.

Learning Exchange & Training

· Solicit input from disadvantaged communities on challenges in addressing environmental burdens to facilitate effective training and capacity building.

· Provide technical support to subawardees by coordinating outreach, training, and information resources to ensure success with their current grants and building the capacity to apply for other grants.

· Support the planning and implementation of an annual learning exchange for peer-to-peer tech transfer for subawardees and community-based organizations to learn from one another.

· Administer and/or plan training opportunities for community-based organizations targeting all staff in a broad range of skills areas such as administration, human resources, and program management.

Program Administration

· Maintain good communications with Program Director including regular meetings.

· Coordinate program activities with administrative activities that support sound financial management, regulatory compliance, and program goals.

· Support the development and dissemination of annual RFA reflective of Great Lakes priorities, including those identified in the current GLRI Action Plan.

RAE

· Participate in team meetings, retreats, and events.

· Participate in grants management team meetings.

· Participate in the Inclusive Coasts Initiative as needed.

Other Responsibilities

RAE is a dynamic organization and appreciates the entrepreneurship and collaboration of staff. Additional responsibilities may be developed based on the candidate’s experience, career goals, and RAE staffing needs.

Application Instructions

Please send a cover letter and resume to jsanchez@estuaries.org with Program Manager, Great Lakes Environmental Justice Program in the subject line. This position is open until filled. RAE is an Equal Opportunity Employer; women, minorities, and individuals with differing abilities are particularly encouraged to apply. If you meet at least 75% of the qualifications of this description, we encourage you to apply. Candidates selected for an interview will be notified on a rolling basis. Please email jsanchez@estuaries.org for questions regarding the application process.

Application Process

· Initial screening virtual interview

· Virtual interviews with additional RAE team members

· Reference check

· Offer

Background

About Restore America’s Estuaries Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) is a national leader in coastal restoration and protection, education, and advocacy. Our local projects restore coastal wetlands, open fish passages, remove invasive species, build living shorelines, transplant seagrasses, replant salt marshes, and restore shellfish habitat.

As a leader in coastal issues, we provide a unified voice for coastal communities and advance the science and practice of habitat restoration through on-the-ground projects, groundbreaking science, high-level meetings, and our biennial RAE Coastal and Estuarine Summit.

About the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program (GLEJGP)

In 2024, the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office launched a multi-million-dollar program to address environmental justice concerns impacting underserved communities in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program will direct funds and technical assistance to communities affected by adverse and disproportionate environmental and human health risks or harms. The Program is a significant step to enhance equitable access and participation in the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes.

There are two components of GLEJGP: creating and administering a competitive sub-award program and providing a technical assistance program.

· Competitive grant program will provide at least $3 to 5 million of funding annually in competitive grants across four years;

· Technical assistance will be available to help establish or strengthen organizations’ ability to ease environmental-related burdens facing their communities. Examples of technical assistance topics include application preparation, applying for government grants, and project/financial management. RAE has structured the technical assistance program so trainings will be free and travel stipends will be available if needed.