Resilience Program Specialist

Salary: 52,102-61,297 (USD) Annually

Job Overview

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being.

This Program Specialist position is an instrumental part of advancing the organization’s strategic priorities focused on building healthy communities, ensuring equitable access, and climate resilience. The Program Specialist is responsible for assisting with and coordinating key project(s) within NRPA’s resilience portfolio. This position will have a passion for subject matter and other key strategic priorities. This position is responsible for providing assistance to the management of grant funded projects and NRPA initiatives including grant planning and execution to meet project goals, grant communications, technical assistance and professional development, management of technology systems, program data collection, evaluation, resource development, and reporting. This position should work collaboratively with members of the resilience team, other Programs and Partnerships Department members and all NRPA staff. This position is for one year, with future term contingent on grant funding.

Responsibilities and Duties

Project Coordination

Coordinate and support grant-funded programs in the NRPA Resilience and Access portfolio centered on place-based climate resilience, equitable access to parks and the resources needed to maintenance them, green infrastructure, and community partnership building in service of the goals outlined in NRPA’s 2021-2023 strategic plan focused on advancing climate ready parks and knowledge park professionals. Core responsibilities include:

• Support grant management, including grantee communications, navigating appropriate signatures on grant related MOU, reporting, resource development and dissemination

• Deliver training and technical assistance to grantees seeking to improve climate resilience and equitable park access in communities NRPA Resilience Specialist

• Support the development and dissemination of key resources focused on supporting locally solutions driving towards climate resilience and park focused sustainability efforts to advance NRPA’s strategic goals

• Create and administer electronic surveys, assessments, metrics collection, and evaluations in consultation with NRPA research team, as defined by project scope

• Manage networks and grantee learning cohorts to steward engagement, resource sharing and active dialogue • Keep abreast of trends and opportunities in parks and recreation, climate change and sustainability

• Support partnerships with local, state, national and federal organizations to implement project deliverables and enhance NRPA’s Resilience and Access portfolio

• Attend local, state, and national conferences/meeting to share program successes/challenges and expand knowledge in key subject matter and emerging areas Communications Support

• Responsible for contributing content and thought leadership to resilience and access team and organization, including writing and deploying of regular communications:

• Collect and repurpose stories from grantee projects to share broadly through blogs, success stories, magazine, podcasts • Develop PowerPoint presentations, brochures, webinars, and marketing materials for project promotion and broad dissemination

• Provide regular updates to NRPA website on programs

• Create other communications for the program in consultation with marketing and communications team

• Serves a resource with grantees, members, donors, partners and colleagues Grants Management

• Assist with budget management to include processing check requests, tracking MOUs, keeping accurate and organized data

• Demonstrate an interest in learning about budget management Customer Service • Exhibit superior customer service with grantees, members, donors, partners and colleagues NRPA Resilience Specialist

Qualifications

High School Diploma + 3 years of continuing education or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree or industry certification equivalent preferred;

Minimum of 3-5 years in related field; 3-4 years position specific experience preferred;

Association or park and recreation experience preferred

• Passion for parks and recreation, community building, sustainability, climate solutions, park access, emerging climate change threats, and/or environmental justice

• General knowledge of environmental science subject matter

• Excellent communication (oral, written) to effectively and politely communicate with individuals at all levels, including members, partners and donors

• Excellent organizational, time and project management skills • Interest and willingness to facilitate meetings, trainings and professional development opportunities, and present on behalf of NRPA at conferences, meetings

•Demonstrates an understanding and passion for learning more about diversity, equity and inclusion concepts, is able to represent those in external relationships, and ensures that they are reflected in the programs and activities they are responsible for

• Excels in dynamic, fast-paced work environment

• Self-directed and detail-oriented with a collaborative and professional team spirit to contribute to a collegial, team-oriented environment

•Willing to travel up to 20 days per year to local, state-wide or national conferences, meetings, grantee site visits, etc

TO APPLY

Please submit the following required materials. Applicants without the following required materials may not be considered for this position:

• Resume
• Cover Letter describing how your experience and qualifications would make you a successful candidate for this position.

Applicants will first be evaluated on qualifications and the completeness of application materials. Qualified applicants will then be invited for a phone interview screen and finalists will be invited to a Zoom interview. Professional references are required from finalists.

For employment you must have reliable internet if you work remotely and be able to satisfy a background screen and authorization to work in the United States.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

NRPA is deeply committed to the core values of diversity, equity and inclusion and actively integrate these core values into all elements of our daily work. NRPA is an equal opportunity employer and highly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, native people, and veterans.

Discover the Benefits at NRPA!

To promote healthy lifestyles, at work and away, we have established programs such as a 37.5-hour workweek, flexible work schedules, a remote first workplace, an employee assistance program (EAP), educational Assistance including tuition reimbursement and certification exam fee reimbursement programs, Lunch-and-Learn sessions, and more.  NRPA offers competitive and generous health and wellness benefits, a paid time off program that includes 26 days of accrued paid time off from time of hire, sponsored paid days off for volunteer activities and 13 paid holidays per year, 6 weeks of paid parental leave, a tuition reimbursement and certification reimbursement program, and a 6% employer match in the retirement savings plan with immediate vesting.

Although most staff work remotely, the NRPA headquarters office is situated on park land in Ashburn, Virginia. This campus boasts a warm professional environment, with a relaxing and peaceful view of nature at its finest!  This space offers indoor & outdoor eating areas and fitness opportunities, including an air-conditioned fitness room with access to showers and extensive foot trails for the outdoor enthusiast.