Program Coordinator- Restoration

Position Background:

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, a non-profit grantmaking organization, seeks a Program Coordinator for our Annapolis, MD, location. Serving on the Restoration Team, the Program Coordinator performs a wide variety of tasks to implement our award programs. This role reports to the Program Manager that oversees several restoration programs in Maryland (state, county, city) and throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This is a hybrid position with an anticipated one to two days per week in the office, and the others may be remote.

This person will be a key member of a high-energy, collaborative team of more than 40 professionals who work diligently to advance the Trust’s mission: Empowering people. Restoring nature. Daily consideration is given to the Trust’s core values of learning, science and innovation, grantee focus, diversity and inclusion, fiscal responsibility, and transparency and accountability. This is a full-time, salaried position (40 hours per week), recently established to support the organization’s growth.

The Restoration team manages several award programs and partnerships that support the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater management practices, as well as research and small-scale rebate programs. The Restoration Program Coordinator will manage grants across the team’s portfolio, support existing and emerging initiatives, and lead grant programs with an opportunity for professional growth within the team. Key responsibilities include supporting restoration managers with both ongoing and new special projects; assisting applicants as they develop project proposals; participating in proposal reviews; preparing award agreements; managing awarded projects; supporting awardees throughout project implementation, including conducting restoration site visits; and using the Trust’s online award management system. This role contributes to advancing the Trust’s restoration-focused portfolio, including stormwater retrofits, climate resilience, native plant and habitat enhancement, applied research, and clean water outcomes for communities.

Established in 1985, the Chesapeake Bay Trust uses grantmaking as a method to promote community-based participation in the restoration and protection of the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region. In the past fifteen years, the Trust has doubled its grant-making five times through new revenue from a wide range of partners, with current annual grant-making of approximately $25 million. The Trust currently allocates these grant funds through 350-400 awards per year to entities who apply through open, competitive calls for proposals as well as programs such as the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Restoration Program Coordinator will play a pivotal role in driving the Trust's mission forward through the following responsibilities:

• Support administration of the Restoration team’s award programs focused on stormwater management and restoration best management practices (BMPs), climate resilience, native plants and habitat enhancement, research, and clean water outcomes for communities.
• Support the refinement and/or development of Requests for Proposals and other program materials.
• Conduct outreach across the Chesapeake Bay watershed to encourage new and diverse applicants and provide technical assistance.
• Support applicants to develop strong proposals that consider future climate conditions and sustainable practices.
• Facilitate the analysis and review of grant applications.
• Administer awards in a wide range of sizes ($5,000 to potentially as large as $200,000), including preparing grant agreements and contracts, assisting awardees, reviewing status and final reports, reviewing scope of work revisions, and approving payments.
• Work with awardees throughout their projects to identify and overcome obstacles; conduct site visits to assess the restoration projects; provide technical assistance; and report successes to funding partners, the public, and/or the Trust staff.
• Prepare summary reports and analysis for Technical Review Committees, funding partners, and the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
• Develop a suite of professional development activities, which may include participating in and presenting at conferences, at seminars, at symposia, and/or in publications.
• Advance recommendations received from the Trust’s external diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice advisory committee and the Trust’s internal action team.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Strategic thinking skills, including the ability to set priorities and balance short-term and long-term objectives.
• Exceptional project and time management skills, with the ability to manage and meet tight deadlines and milestones.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in team settings.
• A high level of proficiency in the Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated success managing complex administrative tasks, tracking and synthesizing data, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and communicating clearly – ideally in the context of environmental programs and funding.
• Familiarity with ecological restoration practices such as watershed planning, native plant knowledge, and stormwater management; ability to review stormwater practice designs; experience installing restoration projects (e.g., small rain gardens, tree plantings); and/or active participation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed or stormwater professional community.
• Interest in the restoration and environmental field is required. This can be demonstrated by a combination of relevant education, volunteer or professional experience, independent learning, or personal projects that show preparedness to contribute to restoration and stormwater-related work.
• Experience engaging underserved and/or historically excluded communities.
• Ability to conduct site visits to project locations (personal vehicle or access to a vehicle/transportation) and a valid driver’s license or access to transportation options required to facilitate site visit travel and travel to the office.

If you have most of the qualifications and skills listed above plus a willingness to learn, you are encouraged to apply. This position provides support for the full Restoration team and leads independent projects.

Salary and Benefits: $56,000 to $61,000 with an excellent benefits package and opportunities for related professional development.

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance with choice of medical plan and prescription, dental, vision, and life and disability insurance options, along with flexible spending accounts
• 401K retirement savings program with match
• Starting at 10 accrued vacation days, 7 accrued sick days, and 4 personal days annually
• Compensatory time available for overtime hours worked
• Eleven paid holidays per year
• Individual Professional Development fund

A successful candidate with less experience in some of the responsibilities listed above will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of this range. A successful candidate with more experience in the responsibilities listed above will be considered at a higher starting salary.

Application Instructions and Deadline:

The position will remain open until filled and for best consideration apply by February 28, 2026. Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please address your ability, based on your skills and experience, to accomplish the specific duties of the position as outlined. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application: In your cover letter, please address your ability to accomplish the duties of the position that are listed. We recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, education, employment, and volunteer experiences. Do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a strong match specifically for this position, and why this position is a match for you.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Our values guide us to create a workplace where everyone is respected and valued. The Trust strives to recruit, retain, and promote employees that reflect the communities we engage in our work Applicants must have a residential address in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington D.C and must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Trust does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas.

Our accessibility statement is available on our website at Accessibility Statement - Chesapeake Bay Trust.