California Desert Program Manager

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How to Apply

section for application instructions.

4 Sep 2025

We’re protecting and enhancing America’s National Park System for present and future generations.

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the nation’s oldest and largest national parks nonprofit advocacy organization. NPCA has an exciting opportunity for a California Desert Program Manager to join our Pacific Regional Office
.

When you join NPCA, you will become part of a highly supportive community that believes in respect through understanding and is guided by our core values:
Commitment
, Inclusion
, Integrity and Respect
. Our core values embolden us to achieve excellence, unite us and fuel our commitment to become leaders fulfilling our shared mission of protecting and enhancing America’s national parks for present and future generations.

Grade: M

Salary: $65k – 75k (based on experience and location)

Work Status: Full-time (32 hours per week);
Exempt

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for this role including a four day, 32-hour work week, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and paid sabbaticals for staff after seven years of service. Learn more about our benefits /jobs.

Position Overview:

The Program Manager of the California Desert is a trusted leader in the region who protects national parks and public lands, such as Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks, Mojave National Preserve and Mojave Trails National Monument. The work includes building community and political support for park issues, managing and serving as lead staff on multiple campaigns, serving within a team environment as a community leader, media voice and community organizer on behalf of desert park issues, building and managing relationships with decision makers, and supporting NPCA efforts in the desert and at a national level.

Essential Functions:

Community Organizing and Outreach: 35%

Work with existing partners and develop new relationships to protect national parks. Engage local leaders and change-makers in desert park issues to influence outcomes and build relationships/coalitions. Establish collaborative working relationships with local desert park stakeholders, including tribes, gateway area businesses, local elected officials, social justice organizations and other conservation organizations. Build and manage creative, diverse and effective coalitions to advance NPCA goals and objectives.

Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations: 30%

Research issues that affect the desert parks and develop appropriate positions and courses of action. Be able to understand scientific and policy related documents and how proposals impact national parks and their resources. Collaboratively draft position papers, public comments and briefings for staff and allies and formal submission on important issues. Cultivate excellent working relationships with NPS staff in the three desert parks and other agency (BLM, USFS, DOI) and elected officials whose decision-making affects the parks.

In collaboration with a staff team, develop campaigns, campaign plans, and manage actions to protect parks and their resources. Develop and maintain relationships with targeted local, state and federal elected officials and staff. Serve as a trusted source of information for and actively educate members and/or their staff about issues related to the desert national parks and actions the members can take to help the parks.

Be able to manage multiple campaigns at once, moving each effectively forward.

Build community around desert park issues: 15%

Attend community meetings, conduct informational public forums, undertake speaking engagements and devise and carry out other forms of community education and community building that promote and advance campaign goals about park protection and its relationship to sustainable local economies and ecosystem integrity. Build relationships with a diverse set of new allies.

Communications: 15%

Work with the Communications Department in the…