Colorado Operations Manager

ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED

Trout Unlimited (TU) takes care of the waters on which trout, salmon, and communities around the country depend. We are a nationwide network of volunteers and staff dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers and streams for the benefit of coldwater fisheries. TU has 300,000 members and supporters and a staff of approximately 200 across the country. In Colorado, TU has a robust conservation team which develops and oversees on-the-ground stream restoration projects, funded by federal, state, local, and private sources. 

POSITION SUMMARY

Trout Unlimited (TU) seeks to hire a Colorado Operations Manager. The Operations Manager will help oversee grant applications and grant management, procurement, contracting, and other activities related to restoration projects and special initiatives. In particular, the Operations Manager will help project managers, program managers, directors, and grant accountants achieve success by helping to manage public and private funding awards throughout their lifecycle, from proposals, to grant execution and contracting, to invoicing and reporting and project closure.

The Operations Manager will work closely with the Colorado State Director, Rocky Mountain Regional Vice President, and staff from the legal, compliance, procurement, grant accounting, and development teams. Coordinating between multiple teams, the Operations Manager will ensure effective and efficient processes and systems are in place. The individual in this position must be a self-starter with excellent organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to problem-solve and multitask. 

This is a hybrid position. The role has flexibility to work remotely from home. The position must be based in Colorado, and the successful applicant will be expected to travel occasionally to team meetings and other events. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grants management:

• Coordinate and support the management of publicly funded grants, agreements, and contracts, including grants from state and federal agencies, and federal pass-through entities. 
• Support project managers with public grant opportunities by tracking grant solicitations and supporting proposal development. 
• Support conservation staff and grant accountants to efficiently report on publicly funded grants, agreements, and contracts.
• Work closely with grant accountants to support timely invoicing, reimbursement, and reporting processes. 

Compliance and procurement: 

• Manage post-award contract administration including dissemination of award information and other required documents such as insurance certificates, audits, license information, and budget information.
• Support internal compliance with procurement, contracting, and grant management policy and regulatory requirements.
• Support the development of vendor contracts and purchase orders. 
• Support the development of subawards and subrecipient management. 
• Support conservation staff in navigating compliance and procurement systems and processes, and meeting policy and regulatory requirements. 
• Work closely with the legal and compliance teams to support file organization, template development, systems updates, and other administrative needs. 

Business operations: 

• Manage development, upkeep, and delivery of staff training and resources to ensure proficiency in key processes.
• Maintain SharePoint sites, email lists, and Teams channels as necessary to organize and share information across staff. 
• Track and report on annual conservation metrics. 
• Interface with IT staff to resolve or enhance software issues .
• Interface with accounting staff to ensure data consistency.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with conservation teams across multiple states and occasionally support the development of systems or processes to create efficiencies across multiple states. 
• Act as a liaison within and across teams, facilitating efficient collaboration and information exchange on operations matters.
• This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of an associate's degree
• 5 years of experience in a relevant field 
• Service-oriented perspective and desire to help a team reach broader conservation goals 
• Experience with grant preparation and management; contracting and procurement; project management; budgets; and non-profit management 
• Experience with OMB Uniform Guidance for Federal Grants 
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively 
• Strong time-management and organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to effectively and nimbly manage and adapt to changing circumstances 
• Ability to quickly synthesize or translate technical requirements into lay terminology
• An ability to work well and remain flexible in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• An ability to represent TU clearly and professionally through excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to organize and manage diverse activities, set priorities, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs
• The position does not require knowledge of river conservation techniques, but it does require high energy and a passion for rivers, fish, people and conservation.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. The starting salary range is $59,000-$70,000 annually, depending on qualifications, experience, and locality, with opportunity for salary growth over time.

At TU, we value diversity, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and healthy rivers and streams. 

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of three references to Trout Unlimited via our online job application system. We will begin reviewing applications on April 15. The position will be open until filled.