Education Budget Manager

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks an Education Budget Manager in the Education Department to be based at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center located in Annapolis, MD. THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATIONEstablished in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.CBF has a staff of approximately 230 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 14 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary. CBF's headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia. CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 200,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTIONEnvironmental EducationCBF’s Environmental Education provides field experiences, teacher professional learning, and student leadership for over 25,000 participants each year. The Bay, and its watershed, is our classroom and CBF environmental educators are responsible for bringing the Bay alive to students. We strive to make a lasting impression about the excitement and vulnerability of the Bay. Each of CBF's 14 education programs has its own individual character. The field experience options run the gamut from our urban boat programs in Baltimore and Hampton Roads to Pennsylvania canoe programs to remote island-based centers. We use hands-on experiential teaching techniques to educate students about the health of the Bay and connect them back to their local environment. Educators promote and develop knowledge about the Bay by providing unforgettable field investigations that inspire participants with a commitment to take action for the restoration of the Bay.The education department is comprised of Student Field Programs, Teacher and Principal Professional Learning, and Student Leadership. All of these components work closely to educate and empower participants to take action towards "Saving the Bay."CONTEXT OF THE POSITION The Education Budget Manager is responsible for the accounting services, budget, and operations management processes for the education department. This position provides support for all accounting services including billing, coding invoices, reconciling credit cards, checking and expense reports, grants, contracts, and time sheets. This position requires a conceptual understanding of and professional experience in financial and customer relationship management systems to work on both routine oversight of expenses as well as complex assignments that require a general understanding of databases and workflows. Additionally, the Education Budget Manager is part of the Education Operations Team and works collaboratively to support all aspects of that team.This position is based at CBF’s headquarters located in Annapolis, MD with opportunities to work remotely. Essential functions include:Accounting Services–Manage department credit card, expense, and center checking reports to ensure accuracy and proper coding.Code submit and review invoices on a regular basis, in accordance with the operating budget and grant deliverables.Provide timely and accurate information from event management to the finance department.Manage department contracts.Manage timesheet accountability reports.Serve on grants team and participate in grant budgeting and processing.Support the Education Operations Senior Manager to develop and provide staff training on expense and time coding to appropriately track departmental spending. Streamline processes to ensure efficiency and thoroughness.Monitor the EDU payables email.Be proficient in all operational software and continuously adapt to changes.Budget Management- Collaborate with the Vice President of Education and the Director of Education Operations in coordinating, preparing, and administering all aspects of the annual budget process:-Department liaison with the Finance Department.-Prepare for all required budget reports and meetings.-Budget forecasting throughout the year.-Monitoring expenditures and revenue.-Analyzing variances & initiating corrective actions.-Ensure alignment of budgets with workplan priorities.Prepare monthly report for the Finance department to explain budget variances.Prepare updates for Education Directors detailing departmental revenue & expenses and other financial reports as needed using the finance department’s budget calendar. Track organization’s budget cycle to ensure department is on schedule for deliverables, proactively schedule meetings for budget review with VP and Director of Operations, and efficiently plan work schedule to maintain deliverables.Operations-Become proficient in all software systems that are vital to the support of the education department (Event Management, Customer Relationship Management, GIS)Support field staff with scheduling, finance, and statistical recording inquiries.Assist in the scheduling process, which follows the format of answering teacher inquiry → receiving participant application → assigning dates → confirming date→ sending pre-trip information → billing →reporting data. Assist the Operations Assistant in maintaining the scheduling team collaborative email, voicemail, and online application system.Work collaboratively with the scheduling team to maintain the field schedule for fall, summer, and spring seasons.Assist with providing information and statistics about education programs to meet reporting requirements for grants and contracts ..Work closely with other members of the operations/scheduling team daily. Most tasks amongst the team are interrelated and interdependent.Participate in field programs at least 1-2 times per year to understand the unique features of the programs and prepare teachers for their experience. Attend department trainings and retreats.Other duties as assigned.PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONSProfessional degree in business administration, operations management, accounting or computer science. Experience can be considered in lieu of a degree.2+ years knowledge and demonstrated experience in database management and basic accounting/finance that includes use of databases, MS Office software (especially Excel), Event Management Software, Customer Relationship Management Software and Accounting SoftwarePossess excellent oral and written communication skills.Proven ability to work on multiple projects, often concurrently, to produce deadline driven work. Capable of working collaboratively as well as solving problems independentlySincere interest in the Bay and the mission of the Environmental Education department, a bonusPhysical Requirements: * Ability to travel to attend trainings and meetings that requires occasional work away from home for multiple-day periods throughout the year.*Must possess a valid driver’s license, submit a driving record, and have an acceptable driving record.Salary Range: $58,000 - $61,000To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than April 19, 2024. CBF offers a 36-hour work week, a flexible telework policy, a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICEJust as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share. To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; andFight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.