Project Manager

Are you an experienced Project Manager with a passion for the great outdoors? Come work for the state’s oldest agency to put your expertise towards protecting Oregon’s state-owned lands and water! Apply to be our next Project Manager (Project Manager 1) by November 24th, 2024. This Limited Duration position is based out of our office in Charleston, Oregon with telecommuting available 1-2 days per week. The position is expected to become permanent once funding is secured.

Make a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As our next Project Manager, you will too.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide contract and project management support for the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. The successful candidate will coordinate and assist with implementing the department’s Strategic Plan, South Slough Management Plan, Wasson Restoration Project and other procurement, acquisition and construction projects. Learn more about the South Slough Reserve on our YouTube Channel!

What’s in it for you?

• Join an organization with collaborative and engaged co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, communities, and their co-workers.
• Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• Accrue 8 hours of sick leave and 8 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years (provided permanent funding for this position is secured).
• Receive 11 paid holidays, 1 floating holiday, 3 personal business days and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• Automatically enroll into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after 6 months of full-time service.
• Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $4,993- $7,641 for employees new to public service. After 6 months, you will receive a 6.95% increase with 6% going to your PERS retirement.
• Current PERS employees start at the monthly range of $5,340- $8,172. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

This position requires regular office hours, reporting to our South Slough Research Reserve in Charleston with occasional telecommuting. This is a full time, Limited Duration and is represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The position is funded through the end of the current biennium ending in June of 2027 and is expected to become a permanent position for the following biennium.

Working Conditions:

Much of the work is in an office setting; but fieldwork along waterways or on rough terrain may occur and be needed to complete assigned work. Extended work hours may occur with exposure to inclement weather and road conditions. Work can at times be in remote locations. Work hours during fieldwork can be irregular and sometimes long. Visits to on-site locations may be by vehicle, watercraft, or on foot. Site visits may involve walking over uneven terrain or in wet muddy ground without pathways in all types of weather.

What you will be doing:

As our Project Manager, you will have the opportunity to:

• Coordinate, evaluate, and manage the activities of the project teams to ensure projects progress on schedule and within the prescribed budget.
• Adjust and revise project schedules through coordination and consultation with project teams to improve project performance.
• Analyze and prepare budget reports to track project expenses and identify excessive expenditures.
• Manage projects including developing and maintaining master project plans, coordinating individual work tasks, schedules, budgets, and progress reports.
• Lead meetings with project team members and stakeholders to communicate and manage scope of projects, including time frames, funding limitations, project methods, and any project phases.
• Evaluate project performance and deliverables to make certain project results meet the intended goal and objectives and satisfy quality standards and stakeholder expectations.
• Provide internal coordination and support for implementation of Strategic Plan initiatives.
• Work with procurement staff to develop procurement documents, run procurement processes, prepare project budgets, and track budget expenditures.
• Work with Department communications staff to develop and implement plans to communicate with and involve project stakeholders.
• Perform occasional field research pertaining to project work, to ensure projects are proceeding on schedule and expected outcomes are being achieved.

For a full description of the duties and working conditions, please email Tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov to request the position description.

Minimum Qualifications- to be considered for this position, please ensure you have one of the following 4 combinations of education and/or experience:

Three years of progressively responsible paraprofessional or technical experience in project management, permitting and/or procurement and contracts;

OR

An Oregon Project Management Associate Certification AND two years of progressively responsible experience in project management, permitting and/or procurement and contracts; 

OR

A bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, public administration, or a closely related field;

OR

A Project Management Professional Certification awarded by the Project Management Institute.
 

Desired Attributes- tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your cover letter:

• Experience in natural resource management, including permitting, contract administration and land use.
• Technical resource management knowledge and experience in grant writing, budget management, monitoring and reporting.
• Knowledge and experience regarding State of Oregon procurement and contracting laws and process.
• Oregon Procurement Advanced Certification (OPAC) or ability to obtain certification is preferred; not required.
• Knowledge of project management principles, processes, and techniques.
• Knowledge of team management principles and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to manage tight timelines and project challenges to quickly solve problems as they arise.
• Experience operating complex databases, gathering and organizing data, and preparing statistical reports.
• General understanding of the South Slough Reserve programs.
• Basic knowledge of the outdoors (plants, birds, and fish) in the local area.

**You must attach a resume and a cover letter of no more than two pages explaining your experience in the above desired attributes to be considered.

The Oregon Department of State Lands is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse working environment. The Department hires staff interested in supporting environmental justice by including communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes. We encourage members of these communities to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired attributes. The Oregon Department of State Lands understands that an authentic focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace will in turn create a workforce aligned to meet the challenge of serving all Oregonians.

Additional Information:

• This position may be used to fill future vacancies.
• If you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the application or selection process, please contact tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov and please be sure to include the job requisition number. 
• For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website at: www.oregon.gov/jobs
• This position is subject to a fingerprint background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.
• This position may be contingent upon the outcome of a driving records check.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources, or call Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
• After you apply, you may be asked to provide additional optional information. Please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section. Be sure to check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• As an employer, DSL complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience. For more information on pay equity, click here.
• DSL does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• For questions about the job duties or application process, please contact tricarico.schwartz@dsl.oregon.gov or call 971-304-5881 to speak to our recruitment team.