Environmental Project Manager-BCP Visitor Center Operations Manager

Travis County Natural Resources is seeking an innovative, self-motivated Visitor Center Operations Manager to open and operate the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Visitor Center. Expected to open in 2028 the BCP Visitor Center is situated on 96-acres of juniper-oak woodlands adjacent to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. The site includes 3 miles of trail, an outdoor amphitheater, nature play area, an ADA accessible constructed cave, exhibit hall with static and digital panels, a classroom, a meeting/event space, 3-story observation tower and more. The site is part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve; a regional collaborative preserve formed in 1996 to manage land in partnership with the City of Austin and other partners for endangered species conservation.

The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Visitor Center will be a world-class destination for community engagement and connection to nature; it will serve as a “Gateway to the Preserve.” It will increase the capacity of our Community Outreach and Education team to provide services that align with our primary function: provide community engagement experiences that interpret the function of and values associated with the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and the Habitat Conservation Plan.

We currently do this through: BCP neighbor and community-wide outreach, volunteer programs, citizen science and ecological restoration, guided hikes, night sky programs, and open houses. The VC will add capacity for new functions including school field trips, self-guided tours of the VC grounds, public meetings & symposia, and fee-based event rentals. The Operations Manager will lead long-term planning for and direct daily operations of the site and its amenities including stewarding the site’s natural and cultural resources, maintaining facilities and exhibits, maintaining gift shop and vending services, maintaining the facility according to SITES accreditation standards, and managing staff and contracts.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in the following areas:
• operating a Visitor Center of comparable scale
• contract scoping and management
• developing standard operating procedures and policies for a Visitor Center
• supervising staff that support facility, site and grounds operations including but not limited to: a centralized reservations system, gift shop operations and sales, developing systems to manage special events, and facility and grounds maintenance contracts
• reporting on metrics and outcomes

The Visitor Center Operations Manager will coordinate with the Natural Resources Division Managers to ensure that the VC site operations are aligned with the biological monitoring, ecological restoration, fuels mitigation, and other land and habitat management activities that are necessary to achieve the mission of the BCP, the Habitat Conservation Plan, and TNR. They will communicate with internal and external partners and stakeholders to look for mutually beneficial program alignment. This includes but is not limited to County and City divisions, nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities. This will be a hybrid position with some work required on nights and weekends.

• Performs as project manager, develops, implements, oversees, manages or administers projects, budgets, codes, specifications, policies and procedures for countywide programs, projects and improvements.
• Supervises support staff, evaluates staff job performance, coordinates and prioritizes schedules and assignments, and authorizes staff productive and non-productive work hours. Orients and trains staff.
• Provides environmental expertise and support for development design, construction, improvements, and maintenance. Monitors grant projects for compliance with funding agency regulations.
• Acts as liaison on environmental matters. Performs County, interlocal and code enforcement coordination. Advises County staff, citizens and other agencies and consultants on environmental matters relevant to County programs and projects. Resolves problems.
• Performs tasks as assigned in annual work-plan. Works with staff to develop and implement. Prepares and conducts environmental compliance training; oversees annual reports.
• Conducts environmental assessments, investigates and analyzes problems and advises methods to mitigate adverse environmental impact of all County operations. Monitors existing and proposed federal, state and local laws and regulations relevant to environmental aspects of County programs and projects and ensures compliance with such laws and related County policies and procedures.
• Develops, reviews, and recommends annual fiscal year expenditures involving contracts for capital improvement projects, grants, construction design, construction, maintenance, compliance issues, and general items to complete projects within policies and procedures.
• Manages and oversees the preparation and submission of grant applications for new and continued funding of programs through Federal, State, Local and County sources. Develops and prepares contract documents.
• Drafts projects bid specifications and performs plan review. Reviews and identifies potential environmental compliance problems with engineering design, construction plan activities and site assessments. Conducts research, provides recommendations, resolves issues and conveys information. Provides environmental compliance oversight in grant projects. Makes recommendations to resolve issues and conflicts in coordination with consultants, staff and other agencies.
• Serves as subject expert by advising Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads, County staff, general public and other agencies, and consultants on environmental matters relevant to programs and projects.
• Assists in the development of long range County plan for natural resources/environmental related programs and projects. Develops, reviews and recommends budget expenditures for County projects and grants, working with project managers and staff.
• Coordinates with Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads for programs.
• Represents the County in attending meetings, advisory groups, neighborhood groups, boards and commissions, seminars, conferences, professional associations meetings, private organizations, and participate on related committees. Responds to difficult citizen inquires and complaints.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Technical Writing, Resource Economics or a directly related field AND four (4) years of experience in natural resources/ environmental analysis and grant management, including program and project development, implementation and grant administration, and including one (1) year of mid- to senior level supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Depending on assigned duties may require grant/certification writing, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification, International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Erosion Control. Specialist Certification, Water Supply Operator Certification or Pest Control License.

Preferred:
• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Operations Management or Project Management.
• Experience working with Habitat Conservation Plans.
• 3+ years of managing a facility or major program at a visitor or nature center.
• 3+ years of managing a staff of 5 or more.
• Experience developing and implementing plans including facility master plan, operations plans, business plan for a park or natural resource program, or interpretive plan.
• Experience developing or leading revenue generating programs, managing contracts for goods and services, coordinating large special events, working with volunteers, maintaining a visitor center or nature center, and maintaining interpretive exhibits.
• Experience managing contracts, projects, budgets, and developing long range goals and strategies.
• Professional certifications related to Facility Operations, Interpretation, Leadership/Supervision, Parks and Recreation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of environmental and natural resource protection.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• State and Federal environmental regulatory or administrative grant requirements and practices.
• Implementation of environmental engineering techniques and specifications and management practices relating to water quality, storm water pollution control, erosion control, restoration, land and vegetation management, hazardous materials, waste management.
• Principles of local land development, transportation and roadway design.
• Implementation of environmental procedures within an organization.
• Construction practices.
• Grant guidelines, procedures and of funding agencies.
• Grant technical writing, project management, and environmental specifications.
• Governmental grant programs.
• Project and contract management.
• Budget preparation and office management.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, ArcView GIS hardware and software, and related applications.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Supervisory/management issues, including planning and managing teams.
• Using biological monitoring and censusing, and wildlife control equipment.
• Conducting environmental assessments and studies.
• Interacting with all levels of government (Elected Officials), management, employees, multiple outside agencies, and outside contractors.
• Exercising independent judgment under minimal supervision.
• Performing technical writing tasks, including successful grant writing.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Public speaking and content delivery.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Assess the impacts of proposed land development and/or maintenance practices upon water quality, land resources, and biological resources.
• Analyze and interpret mapped and graphic data and plans for land management and capital improvement projects.
• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, and implement environmental research and projects.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke on prescribed or wild fires. Maybe subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 PM

Location: 11920 Wilson Parke Ave, Austin, TX 78726

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required. 

For updates or questions on this position, contact [email protected]. 

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.