ABOUT THE POSITION
CEC is seeking an experienced professional to build on our successes in advancing nature-based solutions that reduce carbon emissions from the agricultural sector and protect against the impacts of climate change. This position is a member of CEC’s Management Team.
The Climate Smart Agriculture Program Manager will initiate new projects, manage existing projects, inform policy strategy, and lead financing and funding opportunities. To advance this work, they will engage directly with landowners and managers and agricultural practitioners, as well as with supervise an internal CEC team (i.e., program associates, fellows, interns), and external stakeholders (i.e., climate finance specialists, local governments, advocacy groups, special districts, agricultural businesses, technical assistance providers, nonprofits, and the community at large). This position builds on several years of leadership in regenerative agriculture and carbon farming that have led to multiple policy wins and on-farm pilot projects across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop pilots and partnerships to advance innovative financing models for nature-based climate solutions (i.e., private carbon markets, investment funds, ecosystem service payments, government-funded subsidies and incentives).
- Lead and manage projects advancing annual priorities and regional land-based policy campaigns, including defining scope and goals, developing detailed work plans and timelines, coordinating cross-functional teams and stakeholders, managing budgets and resources, mitigating risks, measuring outcomes, and reporting results.
- Collaboratively develop programmatic materials, i.e. websites, blogs, e-blasts, articles, videos, annual impact report and other items as requested.
- Manage and review annual program budget, revenue goals and expenses.
- Ensure alignment with CEC’s Strategic Plan by helping define clear success metrics and developing systems to track, measure, and report progress toward strategic goals.
- Supervise, provide mentorship, and support CEC Associates, fellows, interns, and subcontracted partners to design and implement equity-centered climate action projects that enable our region.
- Support long-term planning for the project portfolio with CEC’s leadership.
- Collaboratively develop applications for government and nongovernment's grants.
- Serve as a representative to our network of program partners, providing leadership on committees and supporting the coordination of network activities as needed.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as a member of the Management Team to set policy, lead staff meetings and maintain a positive organizational culture
- Track and report on progress toward CEC’s internal DEIJ goals.
- Coordinate with other CEC programs to seek program alignment, occasionally serving as a team lead for specific projects outside of normal reporting structure when appropriate.
- Attend and provide information as needed for the Board of Directors and other stakeholders, including contributing to staff reports and preparing program-specific presentations
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