Job Description

About The Watershed Project
The Watershed Project (TWP) is a nonprofit organization based in Richmond, California whose mission is to inspire Bay Area communities to understand, appreciate and protect our local watersheds. Along with our many community and local group partners, through educating, community organizing, restoring creeks, shorelines, and native plant communities, and implementing vital green infrastructure projects, TWP is committed to building environmental resiliency and equity in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Position Overview
The Director of Programs and Partnerships is a member of TWP’s senior management team and reports directly to the Executive Director. This part-time position provides strategic leadership for TWP’s programs and partnerships, ensuring that program areas work together to advance the organization’s mission, impact, and strategic priorities. The Director oversees and supervises all program staff, leads program planning and implementation, develops and maintains key community, Tribal, government, and organizational partnerships, and works closely with the Executive Director and development staff to align program strategy with fundraising opportunities. The Director also serves as a key organizational representative and contributes to organization-wide planning, decision-making, and leadership.

Responsibilities
Program & Project Leadership
• Provide leadership and support for program and project implementation, helping teams establish clear roles, responsibilities, deliverables, timelines, and staffing plans.
• Organize and support cross-functional project teams, monitor progress, and help resolve challenges that arise during implementation.
• Develop systems and processes that support effective program coordination, communication, accountability, and evaluation.

Program Strategy, Integration, Evaluation & Fundraising
• Lead development, implementation, and evaluation of TWP’s program strategy, ensuring programs advance organizational goals and complement one another.
• Work with program staff and the Executive Director to develop new initiatives, strengthen existing programs, and identify opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Lead annual program planning and reporting processes, coordinating goals, activities, staffing, timelines, and outcomes across program areas.
• Advise the Executive Director and senior leadership team on program direction, opportunities, challenges, staffing needs, and resource allocation.
• Partner with the Executive Director and development staff to identify and pursue funding opportunities aligned with program strategy and organizational priorities, including determining which opportunities to pursue and reviewing proposals, budgets, and deliverables.

Staff Leadership
• Supervise program staff, providing direction, feedback, and support related to program work and team functioning.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, staffing plans, and lines of communication within and across program teams.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and transition of program staff, interns, and other program positions as appropriate.
• Participate in performance management in coordination with the Director of Organizational & Staff Development, including providing input on performance and addressing program-related concerns.

Tribal and Other Stakeholder Partnerships
• Lead partnership-building and stakeholder engagement efforts and maintain relationships that advance TWP’s mission and programs.
• Lead TWP’s relationships with Tribal partners, including supporting respectful, sustained relationships and incorporating Tribal perspectives and priorities into program development and implementation.
• Represent TWP at community meetings, events, and other external engagements and serve as a key public representative for TWP’s programs and mission.

Organizational Leadership
• Serve as a member of TWP’s senior leadership team and contribute to organization wide planning, decision-making, and problem-solving.
• Ensure programmatic decisions align with TWP’s mission, values, strategic goals, and available resources.
• Facilitate coordination and communication across program teams and organizational functions.

Required Qualifications
• Demonstrated experience leading and evaluating complex programs and projects, including coordinating people, timelines, deliverables, and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and supporting staff, including establishing expectations, providing feedback, and fostering collaborative teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and initiative, with the ability to work independently, identify opportunities and challenges, and translate organizational goals into clear priorities and action.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with community partners and/or other external stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate the local Bay Area environmental and community landscape and build effective relationships across diverse organizations and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to navigate complex relationships, build trust across different perspectives, and address challenging situations thoughtfully and constructively.
• Ability to work closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership team, understand and advance organizational vision and priorities, and translate strategic direction into coordinated action across staff and programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to utilize technology including Zoom, Box, Google Suite, etc. as a tool for organization and collaboration.

Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess some of the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
• Experience in environmental, watershed, environmental justice, community development, or a related field.
• Familiarity with Bay Area environmental and community organizations, agencies, and/or funding networks.
• Experience working in partnership with Tribal Nations and/or Indigenous communities, with an understanding of respectful, long-term relationship-building and Tribal sovereignty.
• Experience with community outreach, engagement, and/or social science approaches.
• Experience working across multiple program areas or leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience with fundraising, including identifying funding opportunities, developing proposals, working with funders, or aligning program opportunities with organizational priorities.

Physical Requirements, Work Environment and Values
Work is performed in a joint office and outdoor setting. Office location is at the Richmond Field Station in Richmond, CA, with restoration sites throughout Contra Costa County, Oakland, and San Francisco. The Director is expected to live locally and work from the office or field locations at least one or two days per week (depending on how many hours per week they work, see below), but some tasks may be performed remotely.

A TB test and Livescan are required after hire. Fingerprinting costs, if applicable, will be reimbursed. A valid California Driver’s license, clean DMV record, and access to a vehicle are required.

TWP is an equal opportunity employer that strives to recruit a diverse workforce and provide an equitable and inclusive workplace for all. We strongly encourage people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences to apply and thrive within our growing team. We seek qualified and passionate individuals regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, cultural background, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, military obligations, national origin, parental status, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or veteran status.

Compensation
This is Salary Non-Exempt position offered at 60-70% time (24-28 hours/week), with the future possibility of increasing to 100% time dependent on funding. The annual full-time equivalent salary is $98,000-100,000.

The Watershed Project offers excellent benefits, including:
• Sick leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid holiday closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Paid professional development opportunities
• Flexible work schedule
• Friendly, dedicated, and supportive coworkers

Full-time employees (working at least 70% time) are eligible for the following additional benefits:
• Medical and dental insurance
• Paid vacation time
• 14 paid holidays per year

How to Apply

Please email a resume and cover letter, describing your interest and experience relevant to this position, to jobs@thewatershedproject.org and include “Director of Programs & Partnerships” in the subject line. Applications received by Sunday, November 29th will be prioritized for review, but we will keep the position open until filled. We hope our new team member will start in February or March, but this timeline is flexible based on mutual availability. Please visit TheWatershedProject.org/Green-Careers for up-to-date information.

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Part-Time. Salaries: See posting for details.

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