Forest Resilience Project Manager - Limited Service

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Forest Resilience Project Manager will coordinate all aspects of the Growing Vermont's Forest Resilience grant for Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.  The grant is focused on elevating the role of management for forest products to enhance resilience.  Partners include UVM Extension, Vermont Woodlands Association, Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC), Vermont Coverts, Vermont Audubon and others. The position involves coordinating the project's implementation, coordinating partners, managing sub-awards, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. The Project Manager will ensure that all deliverables are met on time and that detailed reporting requirements are satisfied, working closely with the US Forest Service and other stakeholders.

This is a limited-service position, envisioned to be funded to the end of the project in Spring 2029. The position will support both strategic planning and day-to-day operations. 

This position requires skills and experience in project management, grant administration, stakeholder coordination, and communications.  Familiarity with, and passion for, forest stewardship and natural resources is preferred.

This position is conditional on federal funding.

Key Skills and Responsibilities:

Project Leadership
o    Develop and maintain relationships with partners, staff, landowners, and professionals that will enable successful completion of the grant.
o    Cultivate a shared vision and strategy for the project to advance forest resilience through management for forest products.

Work Plan and Budget Development and Accountability:
o    Develop and maintain the Project Work Plan, including a detailed timeline of activities and deadlines.
o    Maintain the budget for the overall project, subawards, and contracts, including budget development, expenditure tracking, cash-flow and spending projections, reimbursement and invoicing coordination, reconciliation, subrecipient budget monitoring, variance analysis, budget modifications, and ensuring expenditures remain allowable, allocable, and aligned with grant requirements and project objectives.

Communication and Facilitation:
o    Act as the principal point of contact for all partner organizations, landowners, and key stakeholder groups, addressing questions or issues related to the partner agreements and associated deliverables.
o    Facilitate regular communication and ensure alignment between all partners and sub-awardees, including organizing and leading periodic coordination meetings.

Deliverable and Invoice Management:
o    Oversee the timely and accurate submission of all required deliverables, including written reports, data, and financial documentation.
o    Hold all project partners accountable to their roles and responsibilities, tracking progress and identifying and collaboratively supporting resolution of any potential delays or issues.

Sub-Agreement Processing and Compliance:
o    Manage the timely processing of sub-agreements with implementing partners, ensuring compliance with both grant guidelines and state/federal regulations.
o    Monitor and ensure compliance of grant requirements by both Forests, Parks and Recreation Department (FPR) and its partners in fulfilling contractual obligations.

•    Reporting and Documentation:
o    Ensure detailed and frequent reporting to US Forest Service and other funding bodies, adhering to strict timelines and expectations.
o    Compile, draft, edit, and finalize reports, ensuring content is accurate, comprehensive, and aligned with the grant's goals and regulatory requirements.

Work is performed primarily in an office setting and in a variety of field situations including large group meetings. Some private means of transportation should be available since occasional travel outside of the worksite will be required. Meetings with various advisory committees, public interest groups, municipal officials and program staff as well as basic position functions may entail significant evening hours. Urgent deadlines can be anticipated.