Senior Director
Organization: Coastal Quest
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Organization Description:
Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit working collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science, and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, and facilitation of public-private partnerships. We are purposefully nimble and designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.
Essential Functions:
This new leader will be a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and will collaboratively lead the organization’s efforts to articulate and implement a 2024-2027 strategy to transform equitable multi-benefit coastal solutions philanthropy for people, nature, and climate that aligns with Coastal Quest’s theory of impact. The Senior Director will take a leadership role in organizing public and philanthropic partnerships to support the organization’s programs and shift the field’s resources toward strategies that achieve our mission.
The coastal ecosystems-focused Senior Director will provide support for Coastal Quest’s work to achieve our two goals – 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The Director will support projects focused on building community-driven, resilient coastal ecosystems and nature-based solutions. The Sr. Director will lead and deliver on work – in coordination with the Coastal Quest team and our partners – to strengthen capacity and enhance coastal management for people, nature, and climate. The Sr. Director will lead and support the Organization as we grow and build innovative programs that tell compelling stories and enhance our impact in the coastal and climate space. This role involves overseeing and implementing existing projects and working with the Coastal Quest team and partners to grow additional projects to achieve our goals. The role involves being a representative for Coastal Quest, as well as overseeing and working on a wide range of projects and programs for the organization. The Senior Director will need excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Although this position works on cross-cutting coastal issues, expertise in sea level rise adaptation, water quality, restoration and management, blue carbon, as well as eDNA and other cutting-edge solutions is beneficial.
The Senior Director has outstanding leadership and development skills and the desire to help grow our team. They flourish in a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and nimble working environment and thrive in a position with a wide variety of partners, clients, projects, and job responsibilities.
The new Senior Director will be a politically astute partner who can bring in public financing and a philanthropic organizer who is excited by the opportunity to leverage the power of public financing and philanthropy in support of diverse, high-impact partners on the ground who will determine the ability of the coastal movement to make concrete progress over the next decade.
The main duties of the Senior Director include, but are not limited to:
- Providing strategy, vision, and leadership to the next-level build of a strategic partnerships function for Coastal Quest.The Senior Director will work closely with the Executive Director to lead a strategy centered around equity, nature-based solutions, and coastal resilience. The Senior Director will collaborate with the Executive Director to create and implement a multi-year public financing and philanthropy strategy to guide the organization’s growth and transform coastal climate adaptation philanthropy. They will develop close collaborative partnerships with ally organizations to ensure alignment with the needs of the organization and our mission, goals, grantees, and fiscally sponsored projects. The Senior Director will be a thought partner to the Executive Director and the programmatic staff and will be capable of developing and implementing partnerships and fundraising plans that align with Coastal Quest’s theory of change.
- Successful candidates will deeply value racial equity and justice and will ensure that all narrative building and fundraising strategies center the unique capacity of Coastal Quest to build the power of communities to successfully advance and implement ambitious and equitable multi-benefit coastal solutions for people, nature, and climate.
- Programmatic partnership, stewardship, and implementation.The new Senior Director will effectively leverage the Coastal Quest model to lift up the organization, Initiatives, grantees, and fiscally sponsored projects and establish relationships with a diverse array of partners who will both support the Coastal Quest’s internal development and its growing programs, grantees, and fiscally sponsored projects across California, the Pacific, and beyond. The Senior Director will identify emerging opportunities in the field for the cultivation of new aligned partnerships with public agencies, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and other philanthropic entities. The Senior Director will encourage and support an environment of continuous learning across the organization. The Senior Director will set strategies and workplans for implementing large-scale initiatives and projects, as well as developing and maintaining multi-year plans that support lasting relationships between partners. The Senior Director will also provide guidance, vision and oversee implementation of workplans for complex grant-making and implementation projects. The person holding this position will also lead or support managing specific Initiatives as necessary, including the Intertidal Marine DNA Library, partnership with State Parks sea level rise adaptation, Orange County Climate Resilience Partnership, and other nature-based solutions and 30×30 coastal Initiatives.
Qualifications:
Strategic Vision and Core Knowledge:
- Broad knowledge of the public financing and philanthropy field and an understanding of the historical context, institutions, and systems.
- Ability to apply a macro view on relevant trends in environmental and climate change philanthropy and fundraising with a strong curiosity and interest in tracking the needs and developing areas of the field focused on coastal solutions.
- A proven thought leader who understands and can articulate the value proposition of an intermediary funder within the ecosystem it operates in.
- A track record of designing Initiatives and project funding strategies to raise resources at scale over multiple years and the ability to operationalize that strategy through aligned and engaged partnerships for 501(c)(3) programs.
- Demonstrated passion for and investment in advancing justice and equity. Highly developed critical consciousness and a combination of professional and lived experience aligned with Coastal Quest’s mission and values.
Programmatic Partner and Implementation Work
- A track record of building and maintaining strategic partnerships.
- Strong convening and facilitation skills and an authentic interest in listening to and learning from others; ability to establish trust with a diverse set of stakeholders and a commitment to honoring and elevating community expertise and wisdom.
- Demonstrated experience creating strong and sustainable relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders; adept at identifying and cultivating strategic public and private partnerships and funders.
- Superb communication and external relations skills and demonstrated success in building an organization’s profile and reputation in local, regional, national, and professional communities.
- Performing partner and program/project area oversight (including scoping, work planning, and budgeting).
- Manage programs and projects and ensure delivery on time and within budget.
- Performing projects tasks such as event and meeting planning, research, and writing.
- Present project findings and/or performing technical facilitation to various stakeholder groups, both informally and formally.
- Performing and coordinating QA/QC to ensure that the quality of deliverables is of the consistently high standard necessary to show achievement when reporting on grant goals and targets and obtaining more funding.
Management and Team Leadership:
- Experience mentoring, developing, and providing leadership to high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and partners. Engage staff to achieve project/program goals.
- Prioritizes a relational work environment that builds trust and seeks to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity.
- Manage and develop junior- and mid-level staff to deliver programs and projects on time and within budget.
- Contract and grant management and oversight.
- Communicate and coordinate with the Director of Finance and Grant Administration on project operational needs.
- Commitment to creating a strong and healthy workplace that reflects internally the values of Coastal Quest externally and that centers on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Additional Qualifications:
- Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes.
- Strong written and oral communication skills and a working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, PowerPoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel.
- Excellent project management experience, including managing contracts and federal and/or state grant agreements.
- Proven track record of writing, winning, and overseeing the delivery of multi-million-dollar grant proposals and programs.
- Acts independently on assigned tasks and exercises independent judgments based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
- The ability to be a self-starter who assumes hands-on responsibility, balances competing priorities and deadlines, and demonstrates sound judgment and good problem-solving skills.
- Experience working with diverse and inclusive audiences.
- Ability to manage sensitive and proprietary information with discretion and confidentiality
- Strong personal commitment to realizing the mission of Coastal Quest.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Interdisciplinary training in natural and social science, resource conservation and management, communications, and/or policy. PhD or MS/MBA with at least 10-12+ years relevant experience.
- 15+ years’ related professional experience or equivalent combination.
- Experience in managing complex or multiple projects and timelines, including staffing, workloads, contracts, budgets, and finances under deadlines, and consulting experience is strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of managing public grants.
- Proven track record of managing grant-making and capacity-building programs.
- Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
- Experience managing and leading a growing programmatic team.
- Experience setting up and overseeing QA/QC systems and evaluation of impact.
- Proven track record of running and facilitating meetings.
- Experience researching, critically analyzing, and evaluating information from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports and recommendations for strategy and action.
- Experience in partnership development with businesses, nonprofit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.
- Proven track record of writing winning proposals and reporting on impact.
- Critical analytical thinking experience, including quantitative and analytical skills, problem-solving, and adaptability.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
Application Instructions: Please submit the following in one (1) PDF to info@coastal-quest.org:
- 1-page cover letter and resume
- 1 writing sample
- 3 references
Please write your subject line as “Coastal Ecosystem Senior Director”
Salary: $129,000-$160,000 depending on qualifications and experience, no relocation package
Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave
Date Review: We will start reviewing applications on November 22nd, 2024
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Coastal Ecosystem Project Manager
Organization: Coastal Quest
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Organization Description:
Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate solutions, building resilient coastal communities for people, nature, and the climate. We work collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science, and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, and facilitation of public-private partnerships. We are purposefully nimble and designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.
Primary Responsibilities:
The coastal ecosystem Project Manager will provide support and leadership for Coastal Quest’s work to achieve our two goals- 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The Manager will support, lead, and deliver on work – in coordination with the Coastal Quest team and partners – to strengthen capacity and enhance coastal management for people, nature, and climate. The Manager will support the Organization as we grow and build innovative programs that tell compelling stories and enhance our impact in the coastal and climate space. This role involves implementing existing projects and working with the Coastal Quest team and partners to grow additional programmatic areas. The role involves being an on-the-ground representative for Coastal Quest. The Manager will work on a wide range of projects and programs for the organization and will need excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Although this position works on cross-cutting coastal ecosystem issues, expertise in restoration, sea level rise adaptation, protected areas, funding and sustainable financing is appreciated. The Project Manager will support efforts in the Bay Area and across California and Pacific working with government agencies and community and non-profit partners and expert to accelerate solutions and help get resources on the ground. The Project Manager will support the Ocean Protection Council MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program, Restoration work in Orange County, partnership with Water Boards, 30×30 nature-based solutions work, and Intertidal Biodiversity Library, and fiscally sponsored projects, amongst other efforts. At least 60% time will be supporting grant writing, reporting, and administration. The main duties of the Project Manager will be, but are not limited to:
- Support the development and implementation of Coastal Quest’s two goals (listed above) and implement projects independently, with the Coastal Quest team, and partners.
- Managing, Coastal Funding Database, which includes identification of grants, uploading to communications and evaluation of impact.
- Grant, proposal, report writing, as well as editing and review of similar documents for Coastal Quest.
- Provide grant writing, fundraising, program, and administrative technical assistance for a wide range of partners and fiscally sponsored projects.
- Support developing virtual and in-person conferences and workshops from start to finish, including marketing material, contact management and outreach, conference logistics, virtual and in-person support.
- Work with partners to collaboratively design, assess, and test solutions for coastal resilience and sustainability for people, nature, and climate, including budgeting, contract management, project management, research and monitoring, data and technical needs.
- Partner with and support equitable coastal multi-benefit solutions, and specifically work with community-based organizations, government agencies and Tribal nations.
- Support multiple projects with the ability to work independently, set deadlines, and ensure personal accountability.
Qualifications:
- The ability to be a self-starter who assumes hands-on responsibility, balances competing priorities and deadlines, and demonstrates sound judgment and good problem-solving skills.
- Possession of an analytical, strategic, and creative approach to problem solving.
- Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes.
- Strong partnership building skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and a working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, PowerPoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel.
- Strong project management experience, including managing developing work plans, labor cost accounting, budgets and contracts and federal and/or state grant agreements. Consulting experience strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of writing winning grant proposals and delivering programs.
- Acts independently on assigned tasks and exercises independent judgements based on analysis, experience.
- Experience working with diverse and inclusive audiences.
- Strong, personal commitment to realizing the mission of Coastal Quest.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a multidisciplinary background (social science, biology, ecology, environmental economics and business, environmental law, etc.).
- 5+ years professional experience working in relevant field.
- Knowledge of, and experience working with, state and/or federal agencies and environmental regulations a plus.
- Experience in managing complex or multiple projects and timelines, including staffing, workloads, contracts, budgets, and finances under deadlines.
- Preferred experience with running and facilitating meetings.
- Experience researching, critically analyzing, and evaluating information from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports and recommendations for strategy and action.
- Experience in partnership development with Tribal nations, business, nonprofit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.
- Demonstrated experience writing winning proposals and reporting on impact.
- Critical analytical thinking experience, including quantitative and analytical skills, problem solving, and adaptability.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
Application Instructions: Please submit the following in 1 pdf to info@coastal-quest.org:
- 1 page cover letter and resume
- 1 writing sample
- 3 references
Salary: $75,000-95,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave
Closing Date: Open until filled and start reviewing resume April 7, 2025
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Coastal Resilience Project Manager
Organization: Coastal Quest
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Organization Description:
Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate solutions, building resilient coastal communities for people, nature, and the climate. We work collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, facilitation of public-private partnerships, and fiscal sponsorship services for mission aligned projects. We are purposefully nimble, designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.
Primary Responsibilities:
The community focused coastal resilience Project Manager will provide support and leadership for Coastal Quest’s work to achieve our two goals- 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The Manager will support, lead, and deliver on work – in coordination with the Coastal Quest team and partners – to strengthen capacity and enhance coastal management for people, nature, and climate. The Manager will support the Organization as we grow and build innovative programs that tell compelling stories and enhance our impact in the coastal and climate space. This role involves implementing existing projects and working with the Coastal Quest team and partners to grow additional programmatic areas. The role involves being an on-the-ground representative for Coastal Quest. The Manager will work on a wide range of projects and programs for the organization and will need excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Although this position works on cross-cutting coastal community issues, expertise in sea level rise adaptation, funding and sustainable financing, economics and policy is appreciated. The Project Manager will support efforts in the Bay Area and across California working with local jurisdictions and communities to accelerate solutions and help get resources on the ground. The Project Manager will support the Ocean Protection Council SB 1 TA program, our Climate Smart Communities Initiative projects, and fiscally sponsored projects, amongst other efforts. At least 70% time will be supporting grant writing for Coastal Quest and partners. The main duties of the Project Manager will be, but are not limited to:
- Manage projects that achieve Coastal Quest’s two goals (listed above) and implement projects independently, with the Coastal Quest team, and partners.
- Write proposals, reports as well as editing and review of similar documents for Coastal Quest.
- Provide fundraising, program, and administrative technical assistance for wide range of partners and fiscally sponsored projects.
- Develop virtual and in-person conferences and workshops from start to finish, including marketing material, contact management and outreach, conference logistics, virtual and in-person support.
- Conduct social science research, including development of data collection tools, analysis, and reporting
- Work with partners to collaboratively design, assess, and test solutions for coastal resilience and sustainability for people, nature, and climate, including budgeting, contract management, project management, research and monitoring, data and technical needs.
- Develop workplans, manage multiple projects with the ability to work independently, set deadlines for team and partners, and ensure personal accountability.
Qualifications:
- The ability to be a self-starter who assumes hands-on responsibility, balances competing priorities and deadlines, and demonstrates sound judgment and good problem-solving skills.
- Possession of an analytical, strategic, and creative approach to problem solving.
- Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes.
- Strong partnership-building skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and a working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, PowerPoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel.
- Strong project management experience, including work and labor planning, managing budgets and contracts, and federal and/or state grant agreements. Consulting experience strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of writing winning grant proposals, delivering programs, reporting, and invoicing.
- Acts independently on assigned tasks and exercises independent judgment based on analysis and experience.
- Experience working with diverse and inclusive audiences.
- Strong, personal commitment to realizing the mission of Coastal Quest.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a multidisciplinary background (social science, biology, ecology, environmental economics and business, environmental law, policy, etc.).
- 5+ years of professional experience working in the relevant field.
- Knowledge of, and experience working with, state and/or federal agencies and environmental regulations a plus.
- Experience in managing complex or multiple projects and timelines, including staffing, workloads, contracts, budgets, and finances under deadlines.
- Preferred experience with running and facilitating meetings.
- Experience researching, critically analyzing, and evaluating information from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports and recommendations for strategy and action.
- Experience in partnership development with Tribal nations, business, nonprofit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.
- Demonstrated experience writing winning proposals and reporting on impact.
- Social science research and critical analytical thinking experience, including quantitative and analytical skills, problem solving, and adaptability.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
Application Instructions: Please submit the following in 1 pdf to info@coastal-quest.org:
- 1 page cover letter and resume
- 1 writing sample
- 3 references
Salary: $75,000-$95,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave
Closing Date: Open until filled and start reviewing resumes April 7, 2025
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA.
Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Coastal Resilience Program Coordinator
Organization: Coastal Quest
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Organization Description:
Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate solutions, building resilient coastal communities for people, nature, and the climate. We work collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science, and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, and facilitation of public-private partnerships. We are purposefully nimble and designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.
Primary Responsibilities:
The coastal resilience focused Program Coordinator will provide support for Coastal Quest’s work to achieve our two goals – 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The main duties of the Program Coordinator will support our and fiscally sponsored projects focused on building resilient community-driven coastal solutions and work on projects to build sustainable funding at the county scale, and our SB1 Technical Assistance Program in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council, amongst other projects. The main duties of the Program Coordinator will be, but are not limited to:
- Conduct primarily web-based and document background research on a variety of environmental, institutional, and organizational issues and extract relevant information and data
- Design and develop PowerPoint presentations
- Draft and support production of high-quality proposals and other written documents
- Conduct social science research and perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis, under the guidance of senior staff
- Support projects where necessary, including notetaking, work planning, editing, and coordination
- Coordinate meetings with partners, including planning agenda, facilitating agenda items, and feedback
- Perform administrative activities and in some cases managing them from start to finish
- Support grantees with applications
- Support coordination of task forces, advisory bodies, and grant review committees etc.
The ideal candidate has a strong interest in coastal issues, a positive self-starter attitude in performing the range of tasks described above, and some experience with office administration.
Qualifications:
- Possession of a methodical, analytical, strategic, diligent, and creative approach to problem solving
- Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes
- Ability to conduct research efficiently and effectively using online tools, as well as periodicals and other print resources
- Fast typing speed (40+ words per minute)
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- A good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including Sharepoint, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel
- Strong project management experience, including budgeting and managing contracts.
- Strong, personal commitment to realizing the mission and adhering to the values of Coastal Quest
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience or Masters or MBA and one year of work experience
- Interdisciplinary training in coastal and/or marine systems, natural resource conservation/sustainable management, sustainable finance, organizational effectiveness, communications preferred
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
Application Instructions: Please submit the following in 1 pdf to info@coastal-quest.org:
- 1 page cover letter and resume
- 1 writing sample
- 3 references
Salary: $65,000-75,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave
Closing Date: Open until filled and start reviewing resume April 7, 2025
Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA
Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.