Southeast Conservation Corps – Individual Placement Program Manager

Title: Southeast Conservation Corps – Individual Placement Program Manager

Starting Salary Range: The starting salary range for this position will be in the 58,800.00-$60,564.00 range, depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position. Please note that the indicated starting salary range describes the range for an incumbent in this position. Most new staff generally start at the beginning of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.

Location: Chattanooga, TN and Partially Remote Eligible.

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Short/Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Retirement, Paid Time Off per Personnel Policies, Supplemental benefits including critical care, pet insurance, supplemental life, and others.

Reports to: Executive Director

Posting Period: Please apply before December 7, 2026

Organizational Summary:

Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit. The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands. These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air and water; thriving people and resilient communities.

Program Summary:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) operates conservation service programs throughout the Southeast that focus on meeting the needs of the natural landscapes while empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and life skills through community service and land stewardship. SECC partners with public land managers to identify, plan and complete projects that improve public access, habitat quality and economic development. SECC crews and individual placements gain hands-on experience, professional development, and the opportunity to positively impact natural resources and communities across the southeast. SECC is headquartered in Chattanooga, TN and supports project work with partners including the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, AmeriCorps, State Parks, local governments, community organizations, and nonprofits.

Position Summary:

The Individual Placement (IP) Program Manager (PM) is responsible for the execution and overall quality of the Individual Placement Program, including supervision of an IP Program Coordinator. They will be responsible for the effective and efficient management of individual placement and intern cohort programs across SECC’s service area. The IPPM will be the primary manager of the programmatic and administrative functions of the IP program, including but not limited to managing the procedures and systems for all administrative and programmatic needs and supporting AmeriCorps IP members within the geographic region served by SECC. They are also responsible for developing programmatic best practices for SECC to add value to its IP programming. Additionally, the PM will work with partners to actively develop IP terms and cohorts with SECC.

The PM is responsible for collaboration with other Conservation Legacy staff on admissions processes, member tracking, and other areas of administrative support. The IP Program Manager reports to the SECC Executive Director but will work closely with other SECC and Conservation Legacy staff and will supervise an Individual Placement Program Coordinator.

The position is approximately 85% office-based and 15% field-based, with field visits and partner meetings that may occasionally include overnight stays. A strong and consistent in-person office presence will be required from the PM, as well as strong online collaboration skills.

Outcomes & Functions of Position:

Management and Supervision

• Oversee SECC Individual Placement program, including supervision of Program Coordinator.
• Supervises, supports, guides, and evaluates staff in managing their responsibilities and expectations.
• Works closely with Executive Director and SECC Leadership for smooth facilitation of programming and identify areas of program growth.
• Collaborate with SECC staff across the state to run cohesive programming.
• Approves timesheets, PTO requests and credit card usage of staff.
• Establish weekly check-ins with supervised staff to address questions, ensure procedures are being followed, and foster a collaborative work environment.
• Work with program staff to coordinate distribution of responsibilities, and step in as necessary to cover staff responsibilities when a staff member is unavailable.

Program Support and Administration

• Develop, oversee, and implement effective and efficient administrative systems for recruitment, enrollment, evaluation, exiting, reporting, and marketing.
• Work with SECC Leadership and Conservation Legacy staff towards the development of general SECC IP social media material and ensure updates to SECC’s IP program information on the SECC webpage in coordination with the Communication Coordinator.
• Collect and compile information and draft reports and informational packets.
• Oversee the ongoing support for all members including the development and implementation of orientation, training, and member development opportunities.
• Work closely with other staff to identify areas of additional support needed and meet needs as applicable.
• Ability to be flexible, adjust work tasks, and work on diverse range of projects as SECC needs change and grow.
• Ensure the enforcement of program and risk management policies.
• Collect and manage tracking of receipts, expenses, reimbursements, and other basic budgetary needs. Ensure IP expenditures do not exceed allocated amounts per agreement.
• Complete partner and agency driven reports in coordination with SECC and CL staff.
  Implement, monitor, and enforce all SECC policies and procedures.
• Oversee and manage the credit card request, training, and approval process for members, including monitoring individual agreement budgets for members and monthly reconciliation processes.
• Assist the SECC Leadership Team in guiding and directing the strategic plan for SECC and participate in the planning and execution of staff retreats, hiring SECC staff, and supporting the Executive Director’s goals.
• Lead and participate in organizational-wide teams, projects, and initiatives that support the work of the SECC and CL Strategic Plan goals.

Program Development

• Maintain, strengthen, and grow partnerships with local, state and federal partners.
• Assist in developing new programs that meet the needs and strengths of the communities and participants we serve and help SECC meet our mission.
• Assist with applications for grants and fundraising campaigns to support programming.
  Support a long-term support strategy for members and alumni.
• Develop a long-term plan for the direction of local program operations and support sources.
• Enhance the quality of existing programs by suggesting programmatic changes and leading the development of new IP opportunities.
• Ensure current project partner satisfaction and give responsive customer service, focused on retaining partners by maintaining positive partner relationships.
• Assist with the development of new programs that fulfill SECC’s mission.
• Assist with new partner development as needed.
• Participate in Conservation Legacy’s IP leadership meetings in order to help strengthen IP programs, address Conservation Legacy wide IP concerns, refine and develop policies, and collaborate on other IP related items.

Organizational Advocacy

• Successfully engages, leads and supports a positive work environment for all within the organization and the communities we serve.
• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Reports any potential complaints within the organization as identified in the Personnel Policy Manual.
• Assists or leads other responsibilities, as assigned.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Vanessa Morrison at vmorrison@conservationlegacy.org

Qualifications:

• 4-6 years’ experience working with youth and/or young adults, preferably with direct experience in AmeriCorps IP programming.

• Ability to operate Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.

• Ability to keep others and oneself, in remote locations, accountable to expectations.

• Valid Driver’s License and Insurable Driving Record per Personnel Policies.

• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history check requirements.

• Ability to successfully work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred: Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, or similar.
• Experience/Familiarity with conservation programs and agencies in the Southeast.
• Experience with admissions and recruitment, including in-person and virtual recruitment strategies.

Other Competencies Desired for this Position’s Success: Manage Complexity, Resourceful, Effectively Communicate, Cultivate Innovation, Drive and/or Influence Results, Plans & Aligns.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.