The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) was founded by amateur naturalists in 1874 and has played a major role in conservation in our region. The Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and completed a strategic plan focused on encouraging a love for nature, leveraging our science and collections for conservation, and using our voice on behalf of nature.

The Nat is seeking an experienced Project Director who will help the museum lead efforts, with a diverse set of stakeholders, to better understand the technical and social aspects of dune and canyon nature-based solutions for coastal resilience. The Project Director will also lead work to help stakeholders develop actionable, sustainable, and science-led local restoration plans in the county for canyons and dunes.

The Project Director will be at the heart of the project, playing the lead role in ensuring the project is a success. Your focus and energy will build and maintain the project’s momentum and ensure outcomes are met. You will do so by setting up relevant structures, providing day-to-day project management, and working closely with The Nat’s broader team and other partners in line with the funder’s requirements.

This position is responsible for coordinating all activities associated with an awarded, two-year grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to enhance coastal resilience in dunes and canyons, including: grant and project management, stakeholder engagement, network formation and operations, running an oversight committee, development and execution of workplans, inventories of technical information on prior canyon and dune coastal resilience techniques, development and presentation of trainings on nature-based solutions and planning, and restoration planning. This is a capacity-building and planning grant and will not directly carry out restoration projects. Grant outcomes will emphasize community-led capacity building and results-oriented planning. This position reports to the Vice President of Science and Conservation, will work collaboratively with many departments and organizations, and will be an integral part of the Nat’s new strategy to catalyze conservation throughout the region.

Principal responsibilities:

1. Lead all grant activities- 70%

• Oversee budget, reporting, and subgrants
• Co-lead inventories of prior wok in nature-based solutions for coastal resilience; needs analyses, gap assessments, and guidelines on nature-based solutions
• Co-lead nature-based solutions trainings and restoration planning workshops
• Form and manage oversight committee of regional stakeholders
• Develop and manage workplans and adaptive management systems
• Provide bi-weekly updates to partners and coordinate meetings
• Provide project-related logistics and administrative support
• Work closely with all departments at The Nat, and all partners, to ensure long-term coastal resilience successes, including fund-raising

2. Supervise a part time Project Specialist for Nature-Based Solutions and manage two sub-grants, including support of 10 paid Climate Resilience Fellows, to ensure all grant elements are successful, integrated, and sustainable - 15%

• Oversee and support a part-time Project Specialist for Nature-Based Solutions to complete work on science assessments, nature-based solutions guidelines, development of training materials, and delivery of trainings
• Manage two sub-grants including budgets, workplans, reporting, and their successful completion of key tasks and outcomes
• Work with partners to ensure 10 grant-funded Climate Resilience Fellows are supported and integrated into training and restoration planning programs

3. Embed the work within existing regional programs and work through existing and strengthened partnerships - 15%

• Integrate grant elements into existing regional networks and organizations
• Work with partners and stakeholders to recruit and train 125 professionals
• Work closely with SANDAG, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative (SDRCC), and other partners to coordinate work that leads to 50 miles of new canyon restoration plans and 15 miles of new dune restoration plans
• Attend and support local and regional planning programs, meetings, and organizations to ensure grant deliverables are integrated into broader processes
• Supplement existing organizations with additional support as appropriate
• Ensure local canyon and dune coastal resilience solutions are integrated into larger coastal resilience planning processes and are actionable and sustainable

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in project management, ecological restoration, planning, natural resource management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Three years successful project management experience, leading a complex and multi-stakeholder program
• Experience with partnership leadership, formation and management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to lead diverse stakeholders
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organization and time-management skills
• Ability to work well independently and to motivate and lead a multi-organization team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regional coastal resilience or regional planning processes
• Knowledge of nature-based solutions science and practices, ideally in canyons or dunes, or demonstrated aptitude to be a fast learner
• Some proficiency in Spanish
• Data management and analysis
• Science led policy/planning
• Supervisory experience
• Fund-raising experience

This is a full-time, exempt position for two years, with the possibility of extension. The position includes benefits such as health insurance, vacation, sick-time, 15 paid holidays, free admission into all of Balboa Park’s museums, and more. 

This position requires you to work on site in Balboa Park no less than four days per week, with the option to work remotely one day per week.

Salary: $75k - $80K