The Accelerating Resilience Innovations in Drylands (ARID) Institute is actively hiring for a Program Manager to manage and support the newly funded FOR-NM (Forest Research for New Mexico Water and Carbon Management). The project brings together researchers, land managers and local communities to improve understanding and management of New Mexico’s forests and woodland watersheds. Current knowledge about how forest management and disturbance affect water resources, carbon storage, and forest health on watershed scales is limited. This project integrates expertise in ecology, hydrology, community engagement, and rural economics to create management solutions, spur economic development, and provide educational and job opportunities statewide. The research, education, and workforce development components of FOR-NM will enable collaborative engagement among NM institutions and organizations including UNM, New Mexico State University, Western New Mexico University, Asombro Institute for Science Education, the Bosque Environmental Monitoring Program, and New Mexico State Forestry. Our collaboration will serve as a model for forest, water, and carbon management throughout the Southwestern United States and dryland forests globally.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees the administrative and daily operations of FOR-NM, including coordination of the four FOR-NM thematic areas, budget tracking, deliverable tracking, and meeting planning/coordination.
• Assists with community and stakeholder engagement activities with communities in Santa Fe and Gila watersheds.
• Designs and develops or assists with design and development of FOR-NM activities and initiatives, including coordination of cross-theme activities.
• Oversees and/or coordinates the collection, compilation, and analysis of FOR-NM  data. Writes, edits, and coordinates development of FOR-NM documents and deliverables to funding agency and community partners.
• Supervises FOR-NM student workers, field technicians, and other staff and volunteers. 
• Manages grant funding of $7 million over 4 years; approves and monitors budget expenditures; prepares budget revisions; provides interim status reports on all accounts to theme leads and PI. 
• Assists in development of outreach materials to members of the public, lesson plans for K-12 students, and policy briefs linking scientific findings to management priorities.
• Assists in establishing and implementing short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures.
• Represents FOR-NM and UNM-ARID at public outreach events and external meetings.
• May perform specialized activities of a programmatic nature in direct support of the accomplishment of FOR-NM objectives and processes.

See the Position Description for additional information.

High school diploma or GED; at least 6 years of experience 2 of which are management level experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated outstanding interpersonal and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a large variety of stakeholders with different technical/scientific backgrounds.
• Exemplary organizational and planning skills, with the ability to track multiple timelines and deliverables.
• Ability to interact with students, faculty and/or staff in a team environment.
• Knowledge of project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
  
• Advanced analytical, evaluative, and objective critical thinking skills and the ability to effectively summarize and present information.
• Flexible, innovative, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Program planning and implementation skills.
  
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals.
• Excellent written, oral, and electronic communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, accept accountability and meet deadlines.
• Project management skills.
• Ability to lead and train assigned staff.
• Familiarity with forest and watershed ecosystems and management in New Mexico, particularly with flux towers.
• Experience managing teams in the field collecting ecological data.
• Experience working in highly interdisciplinary teams.
• Highly motivated to work with community partners across the region.
• Experience with facilitating meetings and workshops.
• Knowledge of UNM processes and procedures.
• Experience managing federal grants and contracts.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.