Thriving Communities. Thriving Landscapes. Action and impact are core to Delta as we strive to create a Midwest and Great Lakes region with a healthy environment, robust economy, and vibrant communities. Delta creates programs that show how policies, ideas, and resources can be harnessed for a more sustainable and resilient region. We take a systems view on how businesses, communities, and government and are impacted by the environment and economy and create comprehensive solutions that pull these pieces together. Delta is proud to have a multidisciplinary team, and we strive to attract a diversity of experience, skillsets, and perspectives to enable us to challenge assumptions and create new approaches to long-standing problems.
Functional Hive – Programs
All Midwest communities and landscapes thrive through an integrated approach to environmental, economic, and social challenges. Our work is organized into distinct initiatives that move our mission forward, clearly define our work, and articulate impact. The programs functional hive strives to successfully address the challenges and creatively assist in sustainable solutions.
Core Skillset
A Director manages and provides leadership to a staff team delivering projects in multiple program areas, multiple administrative or organizational development functions or manages the day-to-day implementation of multiple programs for the Delta Institute. Directors play key leadership roles representing the organization, developing new programs and obtaining funding and other resources for the work within their assigned responsibilities. Other core skillset attributes are:
- Lead and strategize programs team and projects
- Lead, direct and advise team with programmatic implementation
- Articulate a vision for meeting Delta’s mission in strategic priority areas
- Work in a timely and collaboratively manner on multiple deliverables
- Developing new strategies that advance Delta and its mission
- Manage multiple aspects of Delta’s work portfolio
- Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills as well as written and verbal skills
- Have advanced knowledge of environmental and economic issues not only in the Great Lakes region but globally
Director, Programs
Position Specifics
A Director provides strategic, technical, programmatic and analytical leadership for Delta’s programs team. A Director provides leadership and mentorship to their team and is accountable for all activities and processes for their functional area. A Director provides oversight and management to initiative Leads and all functional hive staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality, on-time, and on-budget work scopes. A Director stewards the implementation of the strategic plan, and works closely with the CEO to create, implement, and iterate effective strategies to meet the goals of the organization. A Director serves as a member of the executive leadership team and collaborates with other Directors and Chiefs on a consistent basis to identify organizational issues for continuous improvement and impact. In this role, they collaborate with the CEO, other Directors and project teams to implement tasks as assigned. A Director raises funds for implementing project work that creates impact on Delta’s strategic priority areas and serves as an external representative of the organization A Director is accountable for the management and implementation of their budget for their entire portfolio.
A Director should be at home tackling difficult environmental and social problems with often unclear paths to success or take iterative approaches with a long-term goal of seeking solutions to larger social and environmental issues. They will also need to be comfortable working by yourself, with multiple types of personalities, on tight deadlines, in ambiguous and circuitous circumstances, and have an overall positive outlook on the change that can happen in the world. A Director will also be expected to provide and accept feedback, welcome and adapt to change, challenge the status quo and be committed to the success of others.
As part of a truly multidisciplinary organization, a Director will also interface and support other projects that require unique skills and knowledge; and, have a knack translating complex ideas to a variety of audiences both internally and externally.
What you’ll be doing:
Program Development and Implementation
- Develop and lead the strategy for one or more the program areas of Delta Institutes Strategic and Implementation Plans
- Develop business plans to support the operations for the implementation team
- Lead, direct and advise implementation team on programmatic initiatives, deliverables, budget and development
- Identify development opportunities to advance innovative new programs and services to achieve Delta’s mission
- Conceptualize and develop proposals and engage team members in proposal development
- Manage multiple projects as necessary to ensure high quality deliverables and on time and on budget completion
- Work closely with Program Leads to develop work plans with tasks, timeframes, milestones, resources, and dependencies
- Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across the team
- Keep informed of key policies and environmental, economic and social conditions that affect the organization. Understand near-term and long-range plans and determine how to best be positioned to achieve the mission
Financial Management
- Understand Delta’s strategic areas and identify revenue sources to drive the vision
- Plan, develop and accomplish budgets for programmatic work
- Oversee efficient allocation of resources in conjunction with other team members
- Communicate financial status and obligations of projects to CEO and management team
Staff Management
- Inspire, motivate and guide others toward goal accomplishments. Encourage and facilitate cooperation within the organization and with stakeholder groups
- Support an inclusive environment where diversity and innovation are valued and embrace a culture of continuous learning
- Mentor staff and model productive working relationships
Relationship Management
- Grow and maintain key professional affiliations in support of organizational and professional development goals
- Leverage talents and networks of board members and key stakeholders to build organizational support and growth
- Communicate and manage relationships with clients and stakeholders
What you’ll have:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field with Master’s degree desirable or equivalent experience;
- At least 10 years of management experience
- Strong record of accomplishment as an effective manager and a skillful, innovative leader capable of delivering results
- Deep knowledge of environmental and economic development
- Strong demonstrated fundraising experience and/or earned income generation with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including government, foundations, corporate sponsors, and practitioner groups
- Ability to create and nurture a culture of continuous learning, personal accountability, creative problem solving, and collaboration.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills
- Ability to motivate and inspire high performing staff teams, boards and committees, and partners
- Knowledge of and a base of relationships with key stakeholders in the Great Lakes region
- Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for Delta’s mission and commitment to working collaboratively with a leadership team
- Be able to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and manage work in sometimes ambiguous situations
Core competencies are the values and defined behaviors that we believe are central to the ability of every employee to do the work of the Delta Institute. These core competencies are a combination of knowledge, skills and behaviors that are the mark of a good Delta employee. Core competencies are a distinguishing characteristic of Delta employees for our clients, customers and stakeholders. They are a visible demonstration of our shared values and are evident in how we work together. Individuals can be at different levels of ability on a specific core competency which is why we measure ability each year and provide feedback and development suggestions.
All Delta employees have these core competencies:
- Adaptive
- Cooperative
- Equitable
- Passionate
- Pragmatic
- Transparent
- Tenacious
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Continually required to sit
- Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
- Continually required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
- Continually required to talk or hear
- While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 10 pounds
Please email application packet (one PDF) that includes the following:
All as one PDF to: careers@delta-institute.org
Subject line: Director, Programs
Application submission due date: 8/30/21
No phone calls, please.
https://delta-institute.org/position/director-programs-apply-2021/
