Director of Operations - St. Paul

About NRP

NRP is an ecological restoration and land management company based in Minnesota. Following our Light on the Land philosophy, we conserve and restore native habitat through best management practices — doing what is right by the land first. We are a team of dedicated ecologists, equipment operators, fire practitioners, and nature lovers who are passionate about leaving a healthier landscape for generations to come.

We value hard work, reliability, and resilience in ourselves, our company, and our industry. If you care about conserving native habitat and aren't afraid to get your hands dirty to get the work done, we'd love for you to join our team.

NRP is seeking an experienced ecological restoration leader to serve as Director of Operations at our West Saint Paul location. This senior leadership role oversees the Twin Cities-based field operations branch — managing active restoration contracts, supervising Project Managers, supporting business development, and ensuring the highest standards of ecological practice across all assigned projects.

The ideal candidate is a proven field practitioner who has grown into an operational leader. You bring deep technical knowledge of restoration practices, a strong track record managing complex multi-project portfolios, and the organizational ability to keep multiple contracts and crews moving forward simultaneously.

This role is both field-forward and operationally complex. You'll be on-site regularly — up to 40% of your time — while also managing project financials, forecasting, and contributing to NRP's company-wide leadership team.

60–70% - Active project oversight — leading Project Managers and field crews; managing project financials and forecasting; ensuring on-time, on-spec, on-budget delivery; daily problem-solving
20–30% - Field work — conducting site assessments, pre-project visits, and hand‑on restoration support alongside crews
10–20% - Business development — completing assigned bids for new project work
~10% - Administrative, outreach, sales, and HR duties

The following duties are normal for this position. This list is not exhaustive or all-inclusive.

• Oversee multiple concurrent habitat restoration projects from planning through close‑out
• Complete bidding activities as assigned
• Maintain monthly‑to‑quarterly project forecasting and profitability reporting
• Track and manage project expenses for assigned Project Managers
• Conduct monthly scheduling for all assigned projects
• Assist Project Managers with solution‑finding, escalated issues, and reporting

• Conduct in‑field restoration activities as needed: invasive species management, brush removal, tree felling, seeding, planting, prescribed fire, and related tasks
• Maintain technical proficiency with all restoration activities; provide guidance and training to Project Managers and field staff
• Conduct pre‑project site assessments and pre‑work site visits
• Provide leadership in specialized areas such as: prescribed fire, heavy equipment, drone operations, and wildfire
• Promote a safety‑first culture and maintain situational awareness for all team members

• Supervise assigned Project Managers; provide operational direction, coaching, and performance feedback
• Assist with staff hiring, onboarding, and training as needed
• Mediate interpersonal issues and support a healthy team culture
• Maintain company and personnel confidentiality

• Maintain and develop client relationships appropriate for the assigned branch
• Conduct client communications and documentation throughout each project
• Participate in networking, outreach, and relationship‑building activities to support business development

• Ensure smooth, appropriate communication across all levels of NRP — from Executives to field Technicians
• Participate in company‑wide meetings and contribute to NRP standards, policies, and continuous improvement
• Maintain proficient knowledge of company software:
  Google Workspace, project management tools, CRM, and…