Program Assistant, HECHO

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

From southwestern deserts to northern forestland, Hispanics throughout America have strong connections to our nation's public lands and waters. Founded in 2013, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) has worked diligently to safeguard these lands and watersheds so that future generations can enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and other outdoor activities for generations to come.

As a fiscally-sponsored partner and program with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) since 2017, HECHO plays a key role in both uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife and people thrive in our rapidly changing world and uniting and mobilizing Hispanic leaders to engage their communities in the conservation of our public lands and waters. Through our engagement of Hispanic local and elected leaders from Southwestern states and elevating their perspectives at the national level, we are an effective conduit for connecting local voices to federal conservation policy decision-making opportunities. While our focus is on the protection of public lands and waters in the American Southwest, our work has a national scope and impact. 

About the Position:

The HECHO team is seeking an experienced Program Assistant who will be responsible for providing organizational, program, and logistical support to the HECHO Executive Director and for ensuring effective internal communications and systems. The Program Assistant will track program results and deliverables, plan events and provide logistics, and be called on to support grant reporting and writing. This full-time position will serve as a key partner to the Executive Director assisting her with HECHO’s day-to-day management and program delivery as well as outreach and engagement of HECHO’s Advisory Board.  The Program Assistant will play a key role as a hub and connector, supporting a team culture that is welcoming and accountable to shared goals and results.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide support to the Executive Director in managing HECHO’s day-to-day operations including correspondence, scheduling, internal communications, along with special projects, as needed.
• Support Executive Director in managing and engaging HECHO’s Advisory Board and assisting with regular communications/updates, meetings and retreats.
• Maintain and improve systems to track program results, collaboration, and grant deliverables, including using tools like Asana, AirTable, weekly staff digests, and quarterly work plans.
• Ensure consistent, well-run staff meetings by preparing agendas, taking and distributing notes, and capturing and communicating with staff on follow up/action steps on a weekly basis.
• Assist with grant writing and reporting, as needed.
• Organize, coordinate logistics, and carry out tasks to ensure HECHO meetings, calls, conferences, webinars, and other events are effective and well run, including events with the Hispanic Leadership Conservation Council.
• Maintain and enhance staff onboarding and standard operating procedures, including creating a library of key organizational materials and internal HECHO documents/processes.
• Carry out additional duties, as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• Proven track record in organizational and project management skills, with a minimum of 2 years of experience supporting operations or programs in a professional setting.
• Must be collaborative and motivated to support and be part of a highly functioning, fast-paced team.
• Ability to manage and execute tasks independently, remotely, and on time.
• Significant experience tracking deliverables and deadlines using computer-based organization systems and processes, such as Asana, AirTable, Dropbox, and Microsoft Office, with the ability to implement or refine organizational systems effectively.
• Substantial experience organizing and coordinating calls, meetings, events, conferences and/or retreats, including managing all aspects of logistics, creating detailed agendas, capturing meeting outcomes, and executing follow-up communications to ensure success.
• Capacity to communicate effectively with both internal and external audiences and experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds.

This is a Full-Time, Remote position based in the United States. The HECHO Program Assistant will report to the Camilla Simon, Executive Director, HECHO, based in Richmond, Virginia. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but we expect to begin phone interviews by the beginning of February 2025.

The hiring salary range for this position is $62,000 to $68,000

We aspire to be an inclusive multicultural organization that celebrates the rich dimensions of diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical ability, and religious and political belief. Diversity at the National Wildlife Federation translates into understanding and valuing each other's perspectives.

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). 

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however.  Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Travel Requirements

This position may include in-person travel across the West and to D.C. and can anticipate 2-3 trips per year, 4-6 nights per year.

Location and Work Mode:

In this position, the employee may work remotely to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers

Compensation and Benefits:

The starting salary range for this position is $62,000-$68,000 and is commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits in 2021!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end-of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

If this opportunity excites you and aligns with your experience and passion, please submit your up-to-date resume along with a cover letter responding to the following questions, in PDF format:

1. What experience do you have supporting organizational operations or managing tasks like scheduling, correspondence, or tracking deliverables?
2. Describe a time when you organized and supported a project, event, or meeting. What tools or processes did you use?
3. Have you coordinated group travel or planned a retreat? What steps did you take to ensure it went smoothly?

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.