Trails Program Manager

Montana Nonprofit Association; Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

GVLT (Gallatin Valley Land Trust) seeks a Trails Program Manager to lead recreation planning and trail development in the Gallatin Valley. You will facilitate collaboration among governmental agencies, non-profits, landowners, and trail user groups to advance GVLT's trail mission while overseeing on-the-ground construction and maintenance projects.

The role reports to the Trails Director and collaborates across the GVLT team.

Qualifications

• Experience in recreation planning, natural resources, project management, landscape design, and community-building.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with community partners and landowners to identify priority trail projects and opportunities.
• Manage new trail construction projects, permits, budgets, timelines, and contractors.
• Secure and manage grants and private funding for land acquisitions and trail construction.
• Oversee trails staff, volunteers, and AmeriCorps members.

Job description

The Staff and Board of GVLT seek a highly motivated, creative, organized self-starter with a passion to bring people together to accomplish community trails projects. In this role, you will help facilitate trail and recreation planning initiatives across the Gallatin Valley, while also managing on-the-ground trail construction and maintenance projects. This individual will represent GVLT to diverse constituents and stakeholders and will be responsible for helping to develop and maintain strong community partnerships with governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and trail user groups. The Trails Program Manager will be responsible for oversight of GVLT's current trail projects as well as helping to plan, prioritize, fund, and implement new trail projects. This position reports to the Trails Director and will work closely with the Trails Project Manager and the entire GVLT team. While having trail-building experience is helpful to this position, we encourage professionals with proven recreation planning, natural resources, project management, landscape design, and community-building experience to apply.

Job Duties

Project Development and Implementation (45%)

• Collaborate with community partners, stakeholders, recreational users, and landowners to identify and pursue priority trail projects and strategic opportunities to achieve GVLT's trails mission.
• Manage new trail construction projects and assist with contracted trail maintenance projects, including management of permits, budgets, timelines, and contractors.
• Secure and manage grant and private funding to complete land and easement acquisitions, and trail construction projects.
• Oversee trails staff including full-time, seasonal, part-time, AmeriCorps members, as well as volunteers.

Community Relationships (25%)

• Identify, pursue, and engage in collaborative partnerships to help accomplish GVLT's trails mission.
• Assist in GVLT's efforts to help local communities and private landowners across the Gallatin Valley plan for and implement recreation and trails infrastructure.
• Represent the trails program at a variety of citizen advisory boards, stakeholder, and other groups, including outside of normal business hours.
• Provide leadership and education in the community regarding the importance and value of trails, including reviewing community trail plans and proposed residential subdivisions, as appropriate.

Oversight and Stewardship of GVLT Recreational Lands and Trails (20%)

• Support the Trails Project Manager in conducting spring trail assessments, assisting with the development of annual maintenance plans reflecting responsibilities detailed in land use licenses, trail easements, MOUs, and other agreements.
• Ensure compliance with easement requirements and incorporate maintenance, signage, and monitoring needs into Trails work plans.
• Perform hands-on stewardship work including physical trail work, recreational lands stewardship, routine trailhead maintenance, amenity improvements, natural resource enhancements, etc.
• Support volunteer project coordination and on-the-ground volunteer projects. Provide technical training to seasonal workers and volunteers.

Other (10%)

• Support the Trails Team and collaborate with other departments and partners on GIS mapping, trail infrastructure database, and analysis.
• Assist the Trails Director with Committee meetings and administration.
• Assist with the preparation of the organizational budget.
• Organize and manage weekly Trails team meetings.
• Participate in bi-weekly staff meetings and bi-monthly Board meetings to keep colleagues and directors apprised of issues as they arise.
• Assist with donor support activities and events as needed.
• Assist with administrative and office responsibilities as needed.