NH LAKES Conservation Program Coordinator Position Announcement

September 5, 2024

New Hampshire has been home to some of the most pristine lakes in the country—until now. All of our 1,000 lakes are facing devastating threats impacting their health, our health, and the health of New Hampshire. Our lakes need bold statewide solutions and individuals, communities, businesses, and local and state officials working together to restore and preserve them.

This fall, NH LAKES is looking forward to hiring a Conservation Program Coordinator to join our fun, collaborative, and hardworking team. Together, we inspire and help people live, do business, and govern in a lake-friendly way. Helping others do their part to ensure our lakes are clean and healthy today and into the future is meaningful work and is vitally important for our way of life, environment, and economy here in New Hampshire.

Position Overview:

The Conservation Program Coordinator will lead the coordination of our aquatic invasive species education and spread prevention program–the Lake Host Program—and assist with coordinating our LakeSmart Lake-Friendly Living Program.

Through the Lake Host Program, we partner with approximately 80 local community groups by placing 600+ Lake Host Courtesy Boat Inspectors (300 seasonal employees and 300 volunteers) at boat ramps throughout the state to help boaters take simple actions to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals into our lakes. Since 2002, we have inspected nearly 1.6 million boats and made nearly 1,600 invasive species ‘saves.’

Through the LakeSmart Program, we partner with local community groups to help property owners live in a lake-friendly way.

This position is best suited for someone who loves working with people, has exceptional customer service and organizational skills, a high level of attention to detail, and a sense of humor. Previous experience training and managing volunteers and staff will help set this individual up for success.

The full position description is provided below.

About NH LAKES:

Working for NH LAKES is challenging, exciting, and rewarding. We’re always learning, adapting, and innovating to better meet the needs of our lakes, partners, and supporters. We encourage our team members to have fun, be creative, ask for help when needed, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and never underestimate the importance of their work. Our employees are our most important asset, and everyone plays a critical role in empowering NH LAKES to achieve its goals.

NH LAKES, established in 1992 by two organizations that came together—a lake advocacy group from the Lake Sunapee Region and a lake education group from the Lakes Region—is the only statewide nonprofit organization looking after all of New Hampshire’s 1,000 lakes. Learn more about the organization at nhlakes.org.

Compensation and Benefits:

• This position is eligible for paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and parental leave.
• This position is eligible for the organization’s health and retirement benefits and short-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
• Flexible work hours and remote work options are available.
• Paid professional development opportunities.
• Mileage reimbursement for using a personal vehicle for work purposes.
• Stipend offered for the use of personal cell phone for work purposes.
• Dog-friendly office.
• This position is hourly and subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• The starting pay rate for this position ranges from $21.50 to $24.00 per hour, based on experience.

Full Position Description:

Title:               Conservation Program Coordinator (1 FTE)

Reports to:     Director of Programs

Works with:   All Departments and Programs

Supports:       Conservation Project Partners and Volunteers

Updated:        September 5, 2024

Job Summary

The Conservation Program Coordinator is a full-time, year-round position (40 hours per week) responsible for coordinating and assisting with various Conservation Program projects. Reporting to the Director of Programs, this role supports initiatives to increase public awareness and engagement with the organization’s mission. The position is based at NH LAKES headquarters in Concord and requires statewide travel.

Essential Responsibilities

• Coordinates one primary project of the Conservation Program (currently, there are two primary projects – one focused on aquatic invasive species prevention and one on lake-friendly living)
• Coordinates, trains, and supports a seasonal staff assistant and network of volunteers statewide (for the aquatic invasive species programming, this includes up to 300 seasonal staff and 85 volunteer local coordinators)
• Coordinates activities and related timelines for established project goals
• Contributes to evaluation activities to measure project results and prepares associated reports for the management of the projects
• Enters, manages, and analyzes data maintained in project-related platforms/databases
• Compiles, manages, and distributes a variety of reports, training materials, and communications
• Helps develop and maintain project budgets
• May assist with the daily operations of other Conservation Program projects not assigned to coordinate
• Assists with the development of new conservation projects and activities
• May assist with the preparation of requests for project funding
• Represents NH LAKES at external events (lake association meetings, community events, professional meetings) during and outside of normal office hours (including evenings and weekends)
• Assists with promoting conservation programs, projects, and actions through various print and digital outreach channels and activities
• Works with the entire NH LAKES staff on collaborative projects and events

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse constituency, including youth and adults, volunteers and seasonal employees, and academic, state agency, and business professionals
• Ability to effectively lead workshops and training sessions and develop outreach and training resources
• Strong administrative and organizational skills and an ability to handle multiple shifting, changing, and often conflicting priorities are essential
• Excellent customer service skills and attention to detail
• Superior written, verbal, email, and telephone communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Office, G Suite (Google Apps), and project management platforms
• Strong database and data management skills and advanced knowledge of Excel and/or Google Sheets (Airtable experience is a bonus)
• Must be a team player and have a willingness to work closely with all staff in a small office setting
• Willingness and ability to work early morning, evening, and weekends (with advance notice provided)
• Comfortable using social media for outreach and brand promotion
• Experience using, or interest in learning, ArcGIS and other ESRI applications for displaying and analyzing data preferred
• Experience using digital tools and social media platforms for outreach and communication
• Basic graphic design skills or an interest in learning and developing these skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resource management/conservation, environmental education, or communications, or equivalent
• One to three years of project experience in the field of natural resource conservation or management, environmental education, or communications
• A working knowledge of lake ecology and best management practices for conserving lake health or a willingness to learn
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and provide training and support to partners, staff, volunteers, and program participants
• Demonstrated ability to work in an office setting
• Previous experience working with a nonprofit organization is preferred but not required
• Ability to lift and carry bins weighing up to 25 pounds for short distances for various event needs
• Ability to work outside, sometimes under adverse conditions
• Ability to do field work involving walking properties
• A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable automobile