National Program Director

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION

Reporting to the CEO, this position will oversee the work of one of our most important assets -- our Outdoor Afro Leadership Team (OALT). With nearly 80 leaders in 30 states from around the country, we connect thousands of people to outdoor experiences, who are changing the face of conservation. Our OALT is at the core of how Outdoor Afro is able to achieve its mission. This individual will work with the OALT across the United States to promote a strong team culture, oversee recruiting for future leaders, ensure compliance, provide training, oversee and expand OALT programming, and work with the partnership director to develop strong corporate partnerships to further the reach of Outdoor Afro's mission.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Outdoor Afro Leadership Team Management (50%)

• Promote team culture in which all leaders feel connected to each other, supported by Outdoor Afro headquarters, and aligned with the mission of the organization. Oversee annual leader recruitment activities. Manage leader onboarding and orientation, including the signing of all policies and legal documents related to their volunteer position with the organization. Maintain an accurate roster with leader contact information. Provide ongoing support for leaders as they conduct regular events and lead outdoor experience. Manage camping reservation support, making reservations and implementing any suggested upgrades for the experiences.  Oversee leader compliance through appropriate risk management methods and protocols; ensure leaders meet their individual requirements as agreed to in their memorandum of understanding; ensure effective operational and risk management protocols are in place and followed across the leadership team; conduct ongoing check-ins with regional leaders through bi-monthly phone calls. Monitor social media activity on the OALT leader Facebook group. Respond to leader questions and ensure posts are appropriate for funders, partners and other non-OALT members who are in the Facebook group. Conduct a weekly review of all Outdoor Afro regional Facebook groups/pages and MeetUp event pages. Manage ongoing OALT training and leadership development throughout the year including the design and leading of regular workshops as well as regular upkeep of the OALT training and best practices manual. Create opportunities for leaders to deepen their professional and outdoor skills, encourage participation in special events with partners, coordinate wilderness first aid for senior leaders, and identify leaders to become regional leads.

• Manage the development and execution of an annual OALT training to include risk management, opportunities for senior leaders to conduct trainings, facilitated leader networking and organic leader interaction, and a camping trip required for all leaders who want to lead a camping event.

Program, Partnerships, and Grants Management (40%)

• Lead regular Outdoor Afro events to ensure all leader protocol is relevant, low barrier and helpful to leaders. Identify trends in leader volunteerism and event participation around the country and report trends to CEO and work with CEO to provide additional budget support as needed. Manage annual “Blackpacking” event and work to develop other innovative program initiatives to engage and elevate the work of the leadership team. Oversee the administration of the Swimmership Scholarship Program with the support of the operations team. Work with Partnership Director to identify gear items that will be helpful and appreciated by leader volunteers. Collaborate on the development and execution of a plan to expand corporate partnerships to elevate the work of the Outdoor Afro and its programs. Collaborate with key team players and the CEO to achieve fundraising goals through grant opportunities. This includes developing grant-seeking goals, proactively seeking new grant opportunities on an ongoing basis, managing grant deadlines, writing proposals, managing relationships with grantors, tracking and managing grant reporting requirements.

Operations (5%)

• Write reports, including quarterly reports to Board of Directors, training evaluation report and end of the year report. Participate in strategy meetings with the CEO and executive management team regarding exigent communications, partnership and large events. Provide relevant information, including photos and trip reports, on OALT events to operations staff. Ensure operations staff has shared access to all Google documents and forms. Attend local meetings with CEO as requested.

Communications (5%)

• Support communications director in identifying OALT members to participate in media interviews and campaigns. Create social media posts that model how leaders should post about their events and participate in social media campaigns, including Opt Outside social media campaigns. Collaborate on innovative social media campaigns and event themes to promote camaraderie and team spirit among leaders, including encouraging leaders to create themed events during Black Music Month, Black History Month. Provide strategic support on tone and messaging of social media posts as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Demonstrated passion for community organizing and nature. Experience working with social justice causes in a nonprofit, government, or related field a plus, but not required. At least 5 to 7 years proven work experience as a program manager or similar with the ability to bring innovative ideas to large multi-faceted efforts; able to prioritize assignments; able to manage people and projects to goals and budget; able to multitask effectively, maintain an attention to detail, and motivate a team of leaders. Proven staff and team management skills, including achieving a strong team culture, adherence to goals, and vision. Skill and comfort in making presentations to groups of varying size. Compassionate nature, strong diplomacy, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Ability to wear many hats and pitch in on various organizational activities. Commitment to excellence, strong attention to detail, and the ability to excel within an organization scaling at a high rate of speed. Proficiency in G-Suite, Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook. Experience with Customer Relationship Management software (CRM), Salesforce, or similar software a plus. Able to travel out of state overnight and work evenings and weekends for special events. California Driver’s License required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, talk, or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Outdoor Afro is an equal opportunity employer. The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.