Careers

Job Title: Project Manager
Reports To:
Director, Center for Natural Resources
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Location:
Combination of in person and remote work, with geographic proximity to one of our offices in Denver or Keystone, CO

SUMMARY
Keystone Policy Center is seeking a Project Manager to provide non-advocacy support for strategic collaboration on natural resources policy, planning and management. This position will work specifically on topics of climate resilience and energy transitions; public lands conservation and recreation; and equity, diversity and inclusion in natural resource management in Colorado and the U.S.

ABOUT KEYSTONE POLICY CENTER
Keystone Policy Center is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that brings together crucial teams of stakeholders who have diverse individual perspectives but recognize a common need to address urgent issues with lasting solutions. For more than 45 years, Keystone has helped leaders move beyond fixed positions toward collaborative, action-oriented approaches to problem solving. Keystone has built a portfolio of substantive work in designing effective
forums for stakeholders to address complex and often contentious issues in Colorado, throughout the United States, and internationally in the areas of natural resources, agriculture, education, health, and Tribal and Indigenous engagement. We engage participants in producing actionable outcomes. In all our work, we maintain an unwavering commitment to our statement of independence.

Keystone’s Center for Natural Resources fosters collaborative and equitable stewardship of our lands, wildlife, water, and energy resources. We work in areas of climate resilience, wildlife and habitat, public lands recreation and conservation, energy systems and transitions, water systems, and emerging technologies. Our efforts support stakeholder, community and public engagement to inform management decisions; local, state, federal and Tribal/Indigenous
coordination; fair, equitable and inclusive resource access and management; public and private resource stewardship; and consideration of diverse values and interests associated with resource conservation and resource use.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that this description is not designed to cover nor contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the position. Specific duties and will vary by project.

Project Manager: A Project Manager will have the below responsibilities with an emphasis on growing skills and competencies in an early-career role while supporting senior directors.

Project facilitation and design

  • Facilitation of collaborative discussions of diverse perspectives.
    • Support Center Director and/or project directors on complex and/or contentious projects, for example by providing support facilitation for specific
      elements, groups or workstreams within these projects.
    • Lead, facilitate and manage projects of low to moderate complexity/conflict with minimal strategic oversight from Center Director or senior director.
    • Ideally, grow over time to independently develop and lead projects of increasing complexity.
  • Adaptive project design and implementation for complex, multistakeholder efforts.
    • Support design and management of task forces and advisory groups, coalitions, public/community meetings, and online comment periods.
    • Design and conduct issues assessments, surveys, public comment periods, policy research, and stakeholder interviews.
    • Support integration of technical/scientific and values-based/societal information and inputs within complex science/policy discussions.

Project documentation and communications

  • Draft and edit project documents and communications such as agendas, work plans, surveys, participant communications.
  • Draft and edit meeting summaries, consensus recommendations, and final reports; conduct analysis of and synthesize participant input.
  • Interact and communicate professionally and in a third-party manner with participants and funders in written and verbal formats.

Project management and coordination

  • Support the project director in the management and tracking of project tasks, work plans, and teams.
  • Coordinate project logistics for in-person, virtual and hybrid meetings.
  • Assist with management of project contact lists, web platforms, and other tools.
  • Assist with social media and websites.
  • Take meeting notes.
  • For larger projects supported by a coordinator, work with the coordinator in the delegation and implementation of the above logistics and support tasks.

Project and program strategy and development

  • Contribute to Center for Natural Resources program strategy.
  • Support project development efforts, including researching emergent issues, developing concept notes, and responding to RFPs.
  • Contribute to project development, client and participant relations, and ensuring that projects are implemented effectively and within budget.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with diverse experiences and perspectives are encouraged to apply.

Project Manager: Project managers will typically have 3-10 years of relevant combined professional and/or graduate level academic experience in:

  • Natural resource policy, planning or management, particularly in climate resilience and energy transitions; public lands conservation and recreation; and/or equity, diversity and inclusion in natural resource management in Colorado and the U.S.
  • Serving in a third-party capacity in supporting multi-stakeholder processes or other related efforts.
  • Project management of efforts involving internal project teams and diverse external clients and/or participants.

Project managers should have the following proven competencies and abilities:

  • Synthesize complex and diverse information and perspectives.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • Communicate effectively with diverse communities and with public sector, private sector, academic, non-governmental audiences.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships.
  • Navigate technical and social dimensions of science-policy issues in natural resources.
  • Independent, creative, critical thinker.
  • Identify and resolve problems effectively and adaptively.
  • Exhibit objectivity and openness to other’s views; exercise excellent diplomacy and judgement especially in highly sensitive situations.
  • Manage multiple workstreams at once with excellent organizational skills combining big picture awareness, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively in executing tasks within a larger team setting.
  • Contribute to a positive and inclusive team environment.
  • Work effectively in remote, hybrid and in-person environments.
  • Multilingual skills, qualitative analysis skills (survey analysis, coding, etc.), understanding and competencies in GIS, and/or website management skills a plus.

TRAVEL
This position will require 25-30% travel throughout the year, depending on office location.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for the Project Manager position is $55,000 to $75,000. Salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. Keystone Policy Center offers a full suite of benefits including generous sick and vacation leave, as well as health and dental benefits, and a 401k matching program.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ADA SPECIFICATIONS
This is a largely sedentary position with minimal physical requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
The Keystone Policy Center and Engage are equal opportunity employers. The Keystone Policy Center and Engage prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, sickle cell trait, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
Keystone Policy Center is committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provides equal opportunity for employment and advancement throughout our Keystone Policy Center. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff and the groups we serve.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)
The Keystone Policy Center and Engage are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities, which includes providing reasonable accommodations where appropriate.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Please submit your application to Sue Wilcox at swilcox@keystone.org by March 15, 2024. Early applications are encouraged.

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
  3. Writing Sample – Please provide a sample of your writing within the past 12 months
    that is related to one of Keystone’s natural resources issue areas.
  4. References – Please provide at least two references from current or former employers,
    faculty members degree granting institution(s), or others who can speak to your
    professional qualifications for this position. Keystone will not accept personal
    references.
  5. Availability to start employment (can be included in cover letter and/or cover email).