Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator

NPCA POSITION DESCRIPTION

Date: April 15, 2022

Position Title: Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator

Grade: L

Job Status: Full Time (2 year term) FLSA: Exempt

Department: Midwest Region, Regional Programs Location: Chicago, IL

Immediate Supervisor: Lynn McClure, Senior Director, Midwest Region

Managers Supervisor: David Lamfrom, Vice President, Regional Programs

Incumbent / New Position: New, two-year term

Salary: mid to upper $50k commensurate with experience

Primary Purpose of the Position:

The Calumet Region extends along Lake Michigan from Pullman National Monument on Chicagos south side to the eastern boundary of Indiana Dunes National Park. This bi-state region is a densely populated, highly industrialized and fragmented landscape, but contains rare dunes and swales, plant and animal life. Protecting this urban, industrialized, yet natural landscape is work that NPCA has been involved in for more than a decade. The Calumet Region is one of NPCAs 18 priority national park landscapes (https://www.npca.org/articles/2862-7-places-worth-saving) .

NPCAs role in the Calumet is focused on:

• Leading, convening and collaborating on establishing policy, funding and regional support for protecting land and water in national park landscapes;
  
• Developing relationships, campaigns and approaches that will mitigate threats and maximize opportunity in the Calumet, and;
  
• Building awareness and advocacy among students and others to protect the region and its two national park anchors.
  

The Calumet Conservation Coordinator will play a direct role as convener and advocate-builder by working with partners to implement portions of the recently completed Calumet Conservation Action Plan. The Coordinator will help advance the established restoration goals of public and private land managers in and around Indiana Dunes National Park, collaborate with partners to connect Pullman National Monument to nearby natural areas, and build and empower student advocates to support conservation in the Calumet and protection of our national parks.

Essential functions and percent of time

Lead NPCAs efforts in the Calumet Region to protect and enhance the landscape: 60%

The Calumet Conservation Coordinator leads NPCAs work to implement key elements and initiatives found in the draft Calumet Conservation Action Plan (CAP). This plan, in final draft stage, was compiled by nine non-profit collaborative partner groups in the Calumet, including NPCA.

• Participate in this non-profit collaborative representing NPCA in implementing goals of the CAP and specifically track, monitor, and assist in developing rapid response approaches to threats and opportunities in the landscape;
  
• Advance widespread acceptance and adoption of the CAP among government entities cities, towns, counties, forest preserves, etc.
  
• Co-lead with Save the Dunes the Land Manager Group in the Indiana Dunes landscape to coordinate their restoration work;
  
• Collaborate with partners in efforts to acquire land within or adjacent to Indiana Dunes National Park and in the park landscape;
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner groups in the bi-state Calumet including NPS staff, organizations and other entities that will help in fulfilling the goals of the position;
  
• Work with fellow Midwest team members and NPCAs Development, Government Affairs, Communications and Landscape Conservation teams to fulfill the goals of the position and to keep audiences apprised about NPCAs work in the Calumet, including donors, Congressional staff and the general public of park supporters.
  

Build national park and conservation advocates among students: 25%

• Represent NPCA in our work to build student advocates in several Northwest Indiana colleges and universities.
  
• Implement Civic Voice Workshops (advocacy trainings) for students at these schools with fellow NPCA staff;
  
• Connect interested students with advocacy for Indiana Dunes, Pullman, Calumet, and national park issues;
  
• Grow the number of students and/or colleges and universities we work with and keep interested students and instructors apprised of issues and opportunities in the Calumet;
  

Support work of the Midwest Region: 15%

• Assist Midwest team members with other functions, including, but not limited to, interacting with regional councils, foundations, and donors; researching park issues and policy; supporting NPCAs Great Lakes efforts; meeting and event organizing.
  
• Support NPCAs work and representing Midwest priority work in organizational goals related to protecting park landscapes, park funding, etc.
  

Other: Promote policies that are sensitive to the needs of a diverse workforce. Respect employees regardless of their position or background. Participate in activities of the Midwest Region, which include staff, team, and organization meetings, training programs, and organizing goal-oriented meetings or convenings as necessary to accomplish goals. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position.

Minimum Work Schedule: 34-hour work week. Flexible hours scheduled between 8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Friday. (all times central) Occasional weekend or evening work is required.

Travel: Regional travel for meetings, events, and outreach, which includes frequent travel to and from Indiana Dunes National Park and Pullman National Monument to work with partners. Travel occasionally required for NPCA activities or functions, such as lobbying, retreats, etc. All travel will occur in a safe environment and at the discretion of the employee and their manager.

Minimum Scope of Position: The Calumet Coordinator will work with other NPCA Midwest staff to implement work to protect the Calumet landscape. This will mainly focus on Indiana Dunes National Park, but also include the entire bi-state Calumet, especially in the landscape around Pullman National Monument. Building and maintaining genuine relationships with people to inform and support our advocacy positions, and us support theirs where there is alignment, will be an essential part of the work. The Coordinator will primarily work with the Midwest Regional Director and Senior Outreach Coordinator, with some contributions to the work of the Great Lakes Program Manager.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

• Knowledge of the Calumet Region is critical. A background that includes conservation, understanding of land use or restoration techniques is highly desired;
  
• Proven ability to convene and work well with people of diverse backgrounds, communities, government agency staff, and/or elected officials is necessary. NPCA is committed to staff working toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion both internally and in our work with people outside of staff colleagues;
  
• Minimum work experience of 2-3 years in areas relevant to the job description;
  
• Experience in and/or understanding of advocacy and lobbying is preferred;
  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively on a team and independently to implement campaign or project work is a must;
  
• Must be able to manage projects and meet deadlines, and to execute results-oriented work. Must work collaboratively as part of a closely-knit team of professional colleagues.
  
• Excellent presentation, communication and writing skills are essential.
  

Core Values: NPCA employees have pledged to live, honor, and own the organizations Core Values. These are:

Commitment: We are passionate about NPCA and dedicated to achieving excellence through our work and mission. We seek to improve our performance by taking opportunities for professional and personal development and encouraging reasonable risk-taking and innovation.

Inclusion: We value diversity of thought, background, experience, and opinion. We create a culture of empowerment by welcoming and encouraging meaningful participation from all people and promoting an environment that embraces different perspectives.

Integrity: We hold ourselves accountable to each other, our members and partners, and our mission. We evaluate the impact of our work and strive for honesty and transparency across the organization. We operate ethically in the organization's best interests.

Respect: We collaborate in results-oriented teams based on trust and consideration for each other. We promote harmony between our work and our personal lives. We foster a healthy and positive workplace culture and work collaboratively with external partners.

Physical Effort and Dexterity: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Physical Environment: The Hamill Calumet Conservation Coordinator will work in an office in Chicago and/or from home, predicated on safe practices according to CDC, state orders, and NPCA policy. Travel within Illinois and Indiana to national parks and gateway communities will be routine, also according to previously mentioned orders and policies. Occasional travel to other parts of the region, Washington D.C, or other parts of the country.

Prepared by: Lynn McClure, Senior Director

Employers Rights: NPCA reserves the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not a contract for employment implied or otherwise, other than an at will relationship. Incumbent will be evaluated in part based upon the performance of the tasks listed in this position description.