Preserve Manager, Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra Atoll, Hawaii, USA.

PALM

Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 79 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

Located 1,000 miles south of Hawai'i, Palmyra Atoll is one of the most spectacular marine wilderness areas on Earth. Palmyra Atoll has 580 acres of emergent land with 480,000 acres of lagoons, coral reefs, and submerged lands and is a US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wildlife Refuge out to 12 nautical miles offshore and a Marine National Monument out to 50 nautical miles. The Nature Conservancy owns 230 acres of land and manages this property as the Palmyra Preserve in partnership with the USFWS. TNC owns and operates research support facilities on the Preserve.

The Palmyra Program relies upon seasonal staff to support natural resource management and advance TNC goals and to support shared resource management objectives with the USFWS on the Preserve. A primary focus of the Palmyra Program is scientific research by leading Conservancy scientists and world-renowned institutions through Palmyra's Climate Adaptation + Resilience Laboratory (CA+RL). Fundraising and donor engagement constitute other core priorities of the Palmyra Program. Preserve staff are hired for approximately 3 months at a time. Board and lodging are provided while on-island. The Preserve is supported by staff based in Hawaii.

The Preserve Manager must possess, or be able to obtain a valid Passport with an expiration date later than the term of the assignment, proof of a physical examination showing good physical health, a current tetanus vaccination, and proof of health insurance.

The Preserve Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management, supervision of seasonal staff and volunteers, and safety of the Preserve operations and staff. The PM is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of Preserve facilities and equipment including generators, marina & boats, photovoltaic, runway, and the oversight of galley and housekeeping services. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong facilities management and project management skills and experience, and the proven interpersonal savvy to build and maintain effective relationships with staff, partners and guests (donors, researchers, visiting vessel's crews & passengers). The PM will report to the Atoll Manager who is based in Hawaii.

DUTIES:

• Supervises maintenance, marine, and hospitality staff to ensure efficient and effective service.
• Organizes staff and prepares facilities in support of research, conservation action, facilities maintenance, and donor trips to ensure successful outcomes. Ensures preserve staff and volunteers understand daily tasking and significance of Palmyra to TNC conservation success.
• Leads first aid, emergency, and rescue response to minimize injury and reduce risk to staff and facilities.
• Ensures compliance with all TNC and USFWS policies and procedures to foster a safe and professional work environment.
• Promptly communicates preserve operations and compliance issues and concerns to the Atoll Manager. Also identifies and communicates opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce risk.
• Provides preserve orientation, safety and other training for all visitors, employees and volunteers.
• Ensures a reliable point of contact for all communications systems, including satellite and daily on-island radio contact with researchers and staff who go out in the atoll for research or recreation.
• Tracks supplies, food, operations and equipment inventory and communicates priority needs promptly to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Ensures and confirms receipt of all items on incoming cargo manifests.
• Ensures runway maintenance, minimizes seabird strike risk, and communicates weather and environmental conditions to pilots and flight service representatives.
• Coordinates safe and efficient loading and unloading of flights and ships.
• Acts as Spill Prevention Coordinator, ensuring spill prevention and maintenance of fuel and chemical storage.
• Ensures HAZMAT compliance for all chemicals used in preserve operations and research.
• Monitors renewable energy hybrid microgrid consisting of solar P.V., battery storage, back up diesel generator and wind turbine generator.
• Performs as host for all guests including designated US Coast Guard flights and visiting vessels with USFWS approval.

• Works 6 days per week, in variable weather conditions (hot, humid, wet), at a remote location, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions will involve considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain, frequent possibility of injury, long hours in isolated settings, exposure to petroleum products, paint and fuels, employees to assist with community chores even on days off.
• Supervises seasonal staff to ensure performance and compliance with TNC policies and procedures.
• Works and communicates effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, field station staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information to ensure smooth operations.
• Optimizes preserve operation efficiency and ensures progress toward project timelines; Ensures all decisions made to reduce risk and improve efficiency at Palmyra are compliant with TNC policies and communicated to program staff and partners.
• Consults with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems.
• Identifies and disseminate lessons learned, best practices and methods, tools, consistencies and inconsistencies across seasons.
• Ensures One Conservancy approach to support team-centered operations.
• Sets preserve staff objectives, manages performance, motivates team members, provides timely constructive feedback.

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years' experience in remote facilities management and operations or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with supervising staff to support the smooth running and safety needs of a remote facility. Experience setting objectives, managing performance, and motivating team members.
• Experience overseeing the construction or maintenance repairs of a building or facility, including working knowledge of maintenance and repair of: diesel and gasoline engines; generators; outboard motors; water filtration and plumbing systems; hydraulics; refrigeration systems; energy systems, preferably experience with photovoltaic and battery storage, and a working knowledge in use of common hand and power tools.
• Experience overseeing the galley, housekeeping, and inventory control services.
• Cumulative 1-year experience working in a confined community such as aboard a ship, field camp, or remote field station.
• Must have valid driver's license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Current working knowledge of or ability to positively support science and conservation activities.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
• Experience boating and working with boating operations, preferably in a marine environment.
• Experience assessing complex situations and developing innovative solutions as needed.
• Experience producing quality results with limited resources, changing time availability, and unexpected circumstances.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances in pursuit of shared goals.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

If you have a personal passion for conserving and protecting the natural world with a belief in The Nature Conservancy's mission, then please go to www.nature.org/careers and apply online with a cover letter & resume to job opening #48300. Please explain how you meet the minimum qualifications listed. The application deadline is open until December 31, 2021. If you experience technical problems with the site or application process, please contact [email protected] and include the job opening #48300.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.