Program Operations Manager

Location : RemoteSupervisor : Director of Program OperationsStatus : Full-time, exempt, 1 year term

About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas - places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.

Guided by our commitment to Waters for All, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation connects people to the ocean and Great Lakes through education, conservation, and community engagement.

As the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we support 18 marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. We protect these iconic places, care for marine wildlife and habitats, honor our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote the enjoyment of public waters by all Americans.

Through public fundraising and partnerships, we invest in community stewardship and engagement, on-the-water conservation and restoration, education and outreach in visitor centers and gateway communities, and cutting-edge scientific exploration.

For more than 25 years, we’ve strengthened people’s connections to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes - our shared history, culture, and maritime heritage, and built partnerships with coastal communities and businesses tied to over 629,000 square miles of public waters that belong to all Americans.

About the National Marine Sanctuaries

America’s national marine sanctuaries are living classrooms, laboratories, and community assets that protect the waters shaping our shared future. Managed by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), this network of 18 marine protected areas is multi-use by nature and spans more than 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes - from coral reefs and kelp forests to historic shipwrecks and whale migration routes.

In partnership with marine research institutions, universities, and private-public partnerships, activities in each sanctuary are sources of solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Sanctuaries safeguard marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, power coastal economies, and inspire stewardship through science, education and outreach, and outdoor recreation from boating to fishing. Many sanctuary gateway communities include visitor centers and community partnerships with zoos, aquariums, and museums that extend this impact - serving as hubs for conservation, innovation, commerce, and tourism where people engage directly with the ocean and Great Lakes.

Together, these sites demonstrate how healthy waters and thriving communities are inseparable - and why protecting them is essential.

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking a

Program Operations Manager

supporting the Sanctuary Community Engagement portfolio, a position responsible for the daily management and administration of operations of the assigned portfolio of programs supporting the current national initiative to designate six national marine sanctuaries. The Program Operations Manager will work closely with the Foundation’s staff as well as federal partners in the National Marine Sanctuary System and throughout NOAA to operationalize project work and provide detailed review and sustained analysis for programs and projects under their portfolio, including managing applications and review processes for grant and contract awards made by the Foundation, particularly operationalizing a new grant initiative to support grants to sanctuary community partners.

This position supports the operational and award management aspects of cooperative work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for national, regional, and local initiatives that engage the public in the designation process for sanctuaries. The Program Operations Manager will initially support the operational management of and monitor the pace of completion of federally funded projects but is intended to grow to include privately supported programs.

The Program Operations Manager for Sanctuary Community Engagement will play a critical role in growing our restoration programs. You will be expected to troubleshoot program implementation issues, as well as manage the tracking of funds, including developing and executing spending priorities for several funded projects. You will be the point of contact for technical program managers and other staff on program implementation and communicate guidance on compliance and procurement. The Program Operations Manager will help administer the Foundation’s project and award management database to enhance the efficiency of workflow throughout programs and track metrics and results.

The Program Operations Manager for Sanctuary Community Engagement supports the scope of a federal cooperative agreement between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries that focuses on public engagement in the designation process of new national marine sanctuaries.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

What You’ll Do

Program and Award Management

Develop positive relationships and host check-in meetings with program managers and field liaisons to help facilitate program implementation and foster progress toward project completion according to planned timelines, award compliance, and budgetary goals. Help identify cross-functional opportunities between internal departments including federal partner programs and privately funded programs.

Program Implementation

Ensure program implementation, including overseeing competitive grant programs, is compliant with the Foundation’s policies and procedures and aligns with the strategic plan. Supervise procurement, logistics, and administration, and coordinate across divisions and teams as needed to ensure operational support systems including spend plans and metrics for all field activities under portfolio. Act as the primary point of contact with grantees, contractors, and subrecipients, maintaining positive awardee relationships, troubleshooting issues, and tracking compliance; develop and track agreement details; conduct risk check-ins as may be required by internal determination. Work on special projects that align with organizational, departmental, and project-related goals.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Track and analyze reported results from grantees and contractors using a project management database. Influence and provide support for annual budget process in relationship to funded projects in portfolio. Support coordination with relevant programs and foster growth by recommending to senior leadership partnership and leadership opportunities aligned with strategic goals and objectives. Conduct any necessary monitoring and site visits, regular phone/video-conference check ins, and internal document audits of programs and projects in the portfolio.

Compliance & Knowledge Management

Keep up-to-date with OMB and agency-specific federal financial assistance award procedures and review and update federal award compliance guidance and procedures documents as needed. Reviews invoices, agreements, and other field documentation to ensure compliance. Work with the project teams to ensure proper document collection and storage. Identify needs among the staff related to technology, compliance, procurement, etc., and implement solutions. Convey processes and procedures to staff and partners to maintain alignment with award and internal compliance policies.

Supervisory

Supervise Foundation project employees working in partner agency locations and build an inclusive environment. Assist in the development of annual SMARTIE performance and professional development goals, support and monitor progress towards goals, and conduct annual performance evaluations. Approve travel requests, timecards, and time off requests.

Who You