Project Director Coastal Ecosystems

Project Director Coastal Ecosystems

Project Director Coastal Ecosystems

Organization: Coastal Quest

Position Type: Full-time

Location: San Diego, CA at Coastal Quest office

Organization Description: Coastal Quest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit working collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast by increasing inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. Coastal Quest works around the world, from white water to blue water, on lakes and shorelines, and at the land-water connection. We provide project management, science and technical expertise, connect partners with financial and human resources, contract management, grantmaking, and facilitate public-private partnerships. We are purposefully nimble, designed to solve multifaceted and complex coastal issues. We are here to achieve resilience goals, reduce threats, and implement solutions.

Essential Functions:

The coastal ecosystems focused Director will provide support for Coastal Quest's work to achieve our two goals 1) build multi-benefit solutions for healthy and resilient coasts and 2) increase coastal resiliency for vulnerable communities and economies. The Director will support projects focused on building community-driven resilient coastal ecosystems and nature-based solutions. The Director will lead and deliver on work in coordination with the Coastal Quest team and our partners to strengthen capacity and enhance coastal management for people, nature, and climate. The Director will lead and support the Organization as we grow and build innovative programs that tell compelling stories and enhance our impact in the coastal and climate space. This role involves overseeing and implementing existing projects and partnerships, and is anticipated to spend ~50% time leading and working with the California State Parks San Diego Coast District to deliver adaptation planning solutions, including coastal ecosystem restoration, and nature-based and grey-green climate adaptation projects for public access and park infrastructure. In addition, the Director will lead other projects in Southern California, and work with the Coastal Quest team, Fiscally Sponsored Projects, and partners to develop and grow new projects to achieve our goals. The role presents an exciting opportunity to build out Coastal Quest's physical presence and on-the-ground work in Southern California. The Director will establish and staff Coast Quest's new office in San Diego and be a representative for Coastal Quest, as well as oversee and work on a wide range of projects and programs for the organization. The Director will need excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Although this position works on cross-cutting coastal issues, expertise in project management for design and implementation projects, coastal permitting, procurement (especially for public projects), construction contracting, familiarity working in coastal habitats with sensitive species, climate adaptation and resilience, water quality, protection, community engagement, and other areas related to coastal solutions is valued.

The Director has outstanding leadership and development skills and the desire to help grow our team. They flourish in a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and nimble working environment and thrive in a position with a wide variety of partners, clients, projects, and job responsibilities.

The main duties of the Director include, but are not limited to:

• Performing partner and program/project area oversight (including scoping, work planning, and budgeting).
• Managing programs and projects and ensuring delivery on time and budget.
• Performing projects tasks such as designing and running workshops and webinars, and effective community and California Tribe engagement for complex planning process; managing grant programs; developing planning documents; research and writing; and overseeing and providing technical assistance with partners.
• Presenting project findings and/or performing technical facilitation to various stakeholder groups, both informally and formally.
• Performing and coordinating QA/QC to ensure that the quality of deliverables are of the consistently high standard necessary to show achievement when reporting on grant goals, targets, and deliverables and to obtain more funding.
• Contract and grant management, government invoicing, reporting and oversight (in close coordination and communication with the Finance Department).

• Managing and developing junior- and mid-level staff to deliver programs and projects on time and budget.
• Communicating and coordinating with the Finance and Operations team on project operational needs and with the Communications and Outreach team on project community and partner engagement and education needs.
• Demonstrating leadership and upholding Coastal Quest's core values.

Qualifications:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong facilitation skills, conflict management skills, and experience and comfort working with and bringing together diverse stakeholders.
• Strong demonstrated project management and contract management skills. Experience winning and managing large public grants.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated partnership-building skills.
• Strong demonstrated experience leading complex projects and diverse partners through project development.
• Proven track record of leading coordination of and writing winning grant proposals, putting together workplans, managing multiple workstreams, delivering programs, and reporting. Subject matter expertise in climate resilience topics and sectors (e.g. ecosystems, built environment, air and water quality, disaster resilience, wildfire management, etc.)
• Strong experience with drafting contracts and grant agreements and management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and a working knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, PowerPoint, and basic statistical functions in Excel.
• The ability to be a self-starter who assumes hands-on responsibility, balances competing priorities and deadlines, and demonstrates sound judgment and good problem-solving skills.
• Possession of an analytical, strategic, and creative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to produce products in a timely fashion through collaborative processes.
• Demonstrated experience helping teams organize, track, and manage work through work planning.
• Experience in manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting financial data.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Interdisciplinary training in natural and social science, resource conservation and management, and/or policy. PhD with at least 7 years of relevant experience or Masters/MBA with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Critical analytical thinking experience, including quantitative and analytical skills, problem-solving, and adaptability. Significant area of expertise established related to Coastal Quest programs and strategies.
• Experience in managing complex projects or multiple projects and timelines, including workloads, contracts, budgets, and finances under deadlines.
• Experience with running and facilitating meetings.
• Experience researching, critically analyzing, and evaluating information from divergent sources and compiling it into cohesive reports and recommendations for strategy and action.
• Experience in partnership development with Tribal nations, business, nonprofit partners, community groups, and/or government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience writing winning proposals and reporting on impact.
• Applicable experience with grants and contract management.
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Experience with government regulations related to grants and contracts.
• Experience, coursework, or other training with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, and standard contract clauses.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a resume along with the following in 1 pdf to info@coastal-quest.org:

• 1 page cover letter and resume
• 1 writing sample
• 3 references

Salary: $95,000-$135,000 depending on qualifications and experience Benefits: Competitive package, including health, eye, dental, 401k, paid time off, holidays and sick leave Closing Date: Open until filled and start reviewing resumes December 10th, 2025 Location: Headquarters in Oakland, CA in-person office hours expected in 2026 with regular travel across San Francisco Bay Area.

Coastal Quest is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.