Grant and Project Administrator

Join the Adventure at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!

Are you ready to embark on a wild journey with a team that's as passionate about the desert's wonders as you are? The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking a motivated, driven, and collaborative individual to join our Conservation Education & Science Department team as a Grant and Project Administrator.

Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please understand that if offered a position, you will be required to provide a satisfactory 3-year Drivers History Record, successfully complete a criminal background check, and pass a pre-employment drug screen as a final condition of employment.

Job Title: Grant and Project Administrator

Department: Conservation Education and Science

Reports To: Associate Director for Conservation

FSLA Status: Exempt

Compensation:  Anticipated Starting Salary $48,025 – $50,850 per year DOE, plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business, sick leave, and vacation.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum and art institute with a long history of and commitment to conservation science and action. With the launch of the Sonoran Desert Cooperative Weed Management Area (SD-CWMA), the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has become a center of invasive species education, control efforts, and research in southern Arizona. The main focus of the SD-CWMA is to reduce the impact of well-established invasive plant species that are changing the Sonoran Desert ecosystem (e.g., buffelgrass, fountain grass, red bromes) and emergent plant species with the potential to drastically change the local ecosystem (e.g., stinknet). The Grant and Project Administrator will primarily support the Museum’s invasive species projects, but will also assist with its other conservation programs in native bees and arid-adapted foods. The position has five main functions:

SD-CWMA Management: As part of the administration of the SD-CWMA, they will facilitate development of network goals and strategies, coordinate CWMA meetings, trainings, and events, and manage project implementation and reporting.

Outreach and Education: They will work collaboratively with members of the SD-CWMA and Museum staff to build invasive species outreach and education programs that target a wide variety of audiences. They will coordinate the annual “Save our Saguaros” events, including media contacts, messaging, partner coordination, field site selection, and volunteer engagement.

Grant Administration: They will provide administrative and technical guidance and support to staff seeking outside funding on Invasive Species and other projects. They will coordinate with the Museum’s Finance Department on processing of proposals, expense tracking and grant reports. They will initiate and administer contracts and will help assure compliance by staying current on relevant regulations, guidelines, and standards.

Invasive Species Project and Data Management: Manage invasive species data systems and provide reports relevant to grants and research projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

SD-CWMA Management

• Develops program goals, strategies and objectives with network partners, which include representatives from federal, state, county and city agencies, research institutions, and citizen groups.
• Organizes, manages and administers the activities of the SD-CWMA
• Establishes and maintains liaison relationships with public and private agencies, organizations and groups involved in invasive species control efforts.
• Fosters and maintains positive, respectful communications as well as a flexible attitude, which is required to support groups of stakeholders with diverse management objectives in professional meetings and other settings.

Invasive Species Outreach and Education

• Builds and maintains invasive species outreach and education programs that target a wide variety of audiences.
• Leads volunteer projects and delivers public education and training events.
• Plans and manages Museum and partner activities, including a strategic outreach and education campaign for “Save our Saguaros Month”.

Grant Administration

• Works with Finance Department to plan, design, implement, and support financial systems and processes needed to manage the revenue and expenditures of invasive species and other grants.
• Works with science staff to write, review and submit grant applications.
• Reviews and tracks incoming award agreements and works with Finance Department to ensure awards/contracts are executed properly.
• Prepares grant reports.
• Identifies opportunities for new funding and collaborations.
• Prepares budget plans and projections, including grant spending and match. Provides projections on spending to Project Leads and Science Manager on grant accounts as requested.
• Prepares sub-awards and contracts, monitors contractor compliance and performance, Coordinates with Finance Department on documentation and payments.

Invasive Species Data Management

• Works with science staff to assist invasive species related research and curation of resulting data. Tracks and documents project deliverables.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job may supervise program assistants, interns and volunteers.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree from four-year College or university; or four to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have at least three years of experience as a database user. In addition, the individual should have knowledge of spreadsheet, budgeting and word processing software. Basic GIS skills, with desire and ability to improve skills.

Certificates

• Must have an Arizona Driver’s License.

Other Skills and Abilities                                             

• Excellent organizational skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to speak effectively to the general public.
• Detail oriented.
• Ability to organize and motivate professional networks.
• Ability to train and supervise field assistants, interns and volunteers.

Desired Skills and Abilities

• State of Arizona Certified Pesticide Applicator License.
• Invasive plant field skills, including identification and knowledge of and ability to apply control methods,
• Ability to work in the field in rugged terrain and in challenging environmental conditions.
• Spanish language skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and navigate uneven terrain and slopes. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The individual is occasionally required to work in high, precarious places and be able to deal with outdoor weather. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships and position requirements for this job classification.  It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.

IDEA Commitment

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.

We believe inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Ways in which commitment is demonstrated include continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively addressing bias.

The Museum’s IDEA Coalition consists of staff members who are driving our efforts to build a culture where people feel they belong and have a voice.

ABOUT US
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to the conservation and research of the Sonoran Desert region with the goal of making the Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable and valued. We are a fusion experience zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, art gallery, natural history museum, and research institute. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has recognized the Desert Museum for over 25 years of continuous accreditation.

The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.