Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.
NWF is seeking a Project Manager to join our Operations and Technology department. The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the successful implementation of technology-related projects. The role requires strong project management skills, expertise in system implementation, requirements gathering, documentation skills, and excellent communication skills. The Project Manager plays a critical role in the successful implementation of technology-related projects for the National Wildlife Federation, ensuring that the organization’s technology solutions are effectively deployed, aligned with strategic goals, and contribute to the overall success of the organization’s mission. The Project Manager will be a part of The National Wildlife Federation’s Operations and Technology department, reporting to the Senior Director of Data and Systems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage technology-related projects from initiation to completion, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, operations, finance, and programmatic teams, to gather and analyze project requirements and ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic goals.
- Develop detailed project plans, including tasks, timelines, and resources, and ensure that project progress is tracked and reported regularly to stakeholders.
- Provide technical expertise in system implementation, including software applications, databases, and infrastructure, and ensure that all technology solutions are effectively integrated and aligned with the organization’s overall technology roadmap.
- Lead requirements gathering efforts, including conducting stakeholder interviews, facilitating workshops, and documenting functional and technical specifications.
- Create comprehensive documentation, including project plans, business process flows, user manuals, and training materials, to ensure that all project deliverables are well-documented and accessible to stakeholders.
- Manage risks and issues throughout the project lifecycle, and proactively identify and address potential obstacles to ensure successful project outcomes.
- Foster effective communication and collaboration among team members and stakeholders, and serve as a liaison between technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure clear understanding and alignment on project goals, progress, and outcomes.
- Provide leadership and guidance to project team members and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to achieve project objectives.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends and best practices, and provide recommendations on how to leverage technology to improve the organization’s operations and programs.
Required Qualifications:
- Proven experience in project management, including planning, executing, and closing technology-related projects.
- Demonstrated skills in requirements gathering and documentation, including creating project plans, business process flows, user manuals, and training materials.
- Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and manage relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks and issues.
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development, including participation in relevant industry conferences, workshops, and training programs to stay updated with the latest technology trends and project management best practices.
- Proactive mindset and ability to identify and implement process improvements to optimize project management methodologies, tools, and techniques for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, actively listen to their needs, and provide timely and effective solutions.
- Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility to navigate ambiguity and changing circumstances, and the ability to lead and motivate teams through complex challenges and uncertainty.
- Commitment to the mission and values of The National Wildlife Federation, with a genuine passion for making a positive impact in the wildlife conservation community.
Desired Qualifications:
- Expertise in system implementation, including software applications, databases, and infrastructure.
- Experience working in a nonprofit organization; knowledgeable of nonprofit operations and technology solutions.
- Experience implementing complex, relational databases dealing with large data sets.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or other Agile and/or Scrum certification a plus.
Core Skills and Competencies:
- Act as a role model in the Operations and Technology department for The National Wildlife Federations’ core values and departments’ principles of critical-thinking, strategic decision-making, and proactive approach to work outcomes.
- Reflect the staff values of The National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
- Team player able to work proactively and collaboratively with staff, stakeholders, and vendors.
- Self-starter, ability to think outside the box and manage multiple projects from start to finish.
NWF Values:
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:
- Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized.
- Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions.
- Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them.
- Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
- Passion for and commitment to NWF’s mission
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s required equity competencies at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Location and Work Mode:
This position is based out of our Headquarters in Reston, VA. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work in the office, in a hybrid manner, or fully remote, to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000, commensurate with experience.
We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.
We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:
- Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
- We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
- Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
- Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
- Therapist available at no cost
- Pet insurance and discount perk program
- Annual wellbeing allowance
In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:
- Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
- Annual year end retirement contribution
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
- Pet adoption stipend
- Student Loan management
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
COVID Consideration:
The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities. Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.
For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.
We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.
Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.