Bluestem Communications seeks a
full-time Program Manager with exceptional coordination skills to manage
the Mississippi River program. We are seeking a candidate with at least
5 years of experience working with coalitions in the nonprofit sector,
managing advocacy campaigns and familiarity with environmental
(preferably conservation-related) issues.
The Mississippi Program Manager, an employee of Bluestem Communications, manages the Mississippi River Network (MRN). The MRN is a coalition of 49 organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mississippi River for the well-being of the land, water and people of the country’s greatest River. Bluestem Communications has managed this Network and its component communications and policy strategies since 2008.
Bluestem Communications is a nonprofit organization that designs, implements and evaluates communications, education and outreach initiatives that inspire people to make the connection between their values and environmental causes. Our work motivates targeted audiences to take action to protect and restore the Earth’s natural resources and to use them sustainably.
The Mississippi Program Manager reports to Bluestem Communications’ Executive Director and is responsible for all aspects of the program: short- and long-term planning, staffing, evaluation, MRN member and external relations, budget management, fundraising and general program management duties. This position works with the Executive Director, MRN staff and MRN members to develop all of the programming associated with the Network, primarily the public communications and policy strategies. The Program Manager coordinates and oversees the implementation of these two parallel and interconnected strategies. Additionally, the Program Manager coordinates the efforts of two MRN staff: 1) the 1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator, who implements the public campaign strategy and 2) the Mississippi Policy Coordinator, who implements the policy strategy and manages additional policy staff located in Washington, DC and along the River. The Program Manager ensures that the Network’s communications and policy strategies are strategic and aligned, consistently moving toward programmatic goals.
The Mississippi Program Manager is the primary liaison with Network members and manages three standing committees that meet regularly: Steering, Policy and Public Communications. The Program Manager also plans and organizes all in-person meetings including the annual meeting, the annual policy summit and others. The Program Manager will work to partner with other coalitions and organizations not in the Network to leverage collective resources as efficiently and effectively as possible to achieve large-scale policy changes for the Mississippi River. This job does require travel, approximately 8-15 times per year.
In addition to managing the Mississippi River Network, the Mississippi Program Manager may spend approximately 15% of their time working on Bluestem Communications-related programs. This work requires similar skills and includes similar activities as those listed below.
Responsibilities for the Mississippi River Program:
This is a salaried full time position.
Location
Bluestem Communication’s offices are located at 14 North Peoria St, Suite 4F, Chicago, IL 60607.
Salary and Benefits
Prepare a cover letter detailing how you meet the qualifications listed above with your salary requirements. Email cover letter and resume to Jennifer Browning, jbrowning@bluestemcommunications.org. In the email subject line, write “Mississippi River Program Manager”. No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the position is filled.
The Mississippi Program Manager, an employee of Bluestem Communications, manages the Mississippi River Network (MRN). The MRN is a coalition of 49 organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mississippi River for the well-being of the land, water and people of the country’s greatest River. Bluestem Communications has managed this Network and its component communications and policy strategies since 2008.
Bluestem Communications is a nonprofit organization that designs, implements and evaluates communications, education and outreach initiatives that inspire people to make the connection between their values and environmental causes. Our work motivates targeted audiences to take action to protect and restore the Earth’s natural resources and to use them sustainably.
The Mississippi Program Manager reports to Bluestem Communications’ Executive Director and is responsible for all aspects of the program: short- and long-term planning, staffing, evaluation, MRN member and external relations, budget management, fundraising and general program management duties. This position works with the Executive Director, MRN staff and MRN members to develop all of the programming associated with the Network, primarily the public communications and policy strategies. The Program Manager coordinates and oversees the implementation of these two parallel and interconnected strategies. Additionally, the Program Manager coordinates the efforts of two MRN staff: 1) the 1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator, who implements the public campaign strategy and 2) the Mississippi Policy Coordinator, who implements the policy strategy and manages additional policy staff located in Washington, DC and along the River. The Program Manager ensures that the Network’s communications and policy strategies are strategic and aligned, consistently moving toward programmatic goals.
The Mississippi Program Manager is the primary liaison with Network members and manages three standing committees that meet regularly: Steering, Policy and Public Communications. The Program Manager also plans and organizes all in-person meetings including the annual meeting, the annual policy summit and others. The Program Manager will work to partner with other coalitions and organizations not in the Network to leverage collective resources as efficiently and effectively as possible to achieve large-scale policy changes for the Mississippi River. This job does require travel, approximately 8-15 times per year.
In addition to managing the Mississippi River Network, the Mississippi Program Manager may spend approximately 15% of their time working on Bluestem Communications-related programs. This work requires similar skills and includes similar activities as those listed below.
Responsibilities for the Mississippi River Program:
- Manage the work of Policy Coordinator and 1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator and other staff as assigned
- Guide the execution of the long-term strategic plan, tracking and benchmarking the progress of the Mississippi program
- Build working relationships with MRN members and non-member organizations and coalitions
- Manage MRN budget, and create and implement a fundraising plan for the program
- Supervise grants, manage grant deliverables and reports to major funders; foster relationships with corporate sponsors
- Develop agenda for and plan all meetings, including policy summits and smaller in-person meetings
- Plan and direct the annual meeting
- Develop agendas (or oversee their creation) for and facilitate meetings for the Steering and Public Communications Committees; attend and assist with Policy Committee meetings
- Create agendas for and facilitate all internal MRN program meetings
- Create agendas for and facilitate all internal MRN planning meetings for long-term strategy and last-minute opportunities (including Executive Director, Communications Director, Policy Manager and 1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator)
- Assist with editing Mississippi-related materials, articles, press releases, grants, grant reports, fact sheets, website text and presentations
- Manage media relations for MRN and its various components
- Represent the Network at non-Network meetings
- Give presentations on MRN goals and strategies to partners, funders and peers
- Recruit new MRN members
- Conduct MRN member development (phone calls and check-ins) to ensure that all members are engaged
- Perform other duties, as assigned
- Participate in staff and planning meetings
- Work with Executive Director and Communications Director to offer Bluestem communication services to MRN organizations
- Help with writing tasks as needed
- Assist in Bluestem operations as needed
- 5 years experience working with nonprofit sector coalitions
- 5 years experience working on a large, multi-faceted environmental or policy campaign
- Experience developing and executing large-scale programs
- Understanding of conservation-related environmental issues and advocacy
- Excellent inter-personal skills and a friendly, outgoing manner
- Eagerness to network and meet and build working relationships with new people
- Ability to facilitate meetings, engaging participants in decision making and determining methods for advancing goals
- Adept at managing and coordinating several different projects simultaneously
- Must have previously worked as part of a team and be comfortable with a collaborative approach to management and planning
- Strong writing skills with attention to detail
This is a salaried full time position.
Location
Bluestem Communication’s offices are located at 14 North Peoria St, Suite 4F, Chicago, IL 60607.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary commensurate with experience, starting salary is $45,000.
- Health insurance
- 5% of salary contribution to retirement fund
- Paid Term Life Insurance policy
- Vacation:
- Year 1: 15 days
- Year 2 and on: 20 days
- After 5 years: 25 days
- Nine paid sick days
- Ten paid holidays
Prepare a cover letter detailing how you meet the qualifications listed above with your salary requirements. Email cover letter and resume to Jennifer Browning, jbrowning@bluestemcommunications.org. In the email subject line, write “Mississippi River Program Manager”. No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the position is filled.