Director of Environmental Programs

Supervised By: GVMC Executive Director
Supervises: Environmental Programs Staff

The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) is the regional council of governments serving communities throughout West Michigan. Through planning, technical assistance, regional coordination, and implementation support, GVMC helps member communities address shared challenges and improve quality of life.

The Director of Environmental Programs provides strategic leadership for GVMC’s Environmental Programs Department, ensuring its programs, services, and partnerships deliver meaningful value to member communities and regional partners.

As a member of GVMC’s leadership team, the EP Director leads department staff, secures sustainable resources, administers programs, develop collaborative partnerships, and advances regional environmental initiatives that help communities address shared environmental challenges through regional collaboration.

Success in this role is measured by the department’s ability to administer programs in a fiscally sustainable manner, support member communities, develop staff, strengthen partnerships and deliver collaborative environmental solutions that improve the Environment throughout the region.

Full-time position, $90,000 – $110,000 depending on experience and qualifications.

• GVMC Employees enjoy a full array of benefits including insurance, retirement funding, holidays and vacation.

An employee in this position may be called upon to perform any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all the duties the employee may be expected to accomplish. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to execute each essential job function satisfactorily.

• Provide strategic leadership for GVMC’s portfolio of environmental initiatives, ensuring programs remain financially sustainable, responsive to member needs, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Current areas of focus include but are not limited to:
  • Municipal Stormwater (MS4/NPDES) coordination
  • Leadership for LGROW (Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds)
  • Watershed planning and implementation
  • Water quality and green infrastructure initiatives
  • Community engagement and environmental education
  • Other environmental programs and partnerships that advance GVMC’s mission
• Collaborate with the GVMC Executive Director and leadership team to advance organizational priorities.
• Develop departmental goals, annual work programs, budgets and performance measures.
• Promote innovations, continuous improvement, and organizational excellence
• Supervise departmental staff engaged in environmental programs. Participate in recruitment and hire; plan, assign and coordinates workloads; evaluate performance and oversees training and professional development.
• Work closely with the GVMC Executive Director, GVMC Board of Directors, Environmental Programs committees and LGROW Board of Directors.
• Oversee/Conduct searches for federal, state, and local grant opportunities to match goals;
  Establish relationships with local funders;
  Track grant revenues and expenditures;
  Complete all reporting requirements.
• Manage Budget; develop strategies to meet strategic plan goals; promote fee for service projects.
• Establish, build, and maintain strategic partnerships, which include local, state and federal governments, community businesses and organizations.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Requirements include the following:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, Planning, Natural Resources, Engineering, Public Administration, or closely related field. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Seven years’ progressively responsible professional experience in environmental programs, watershed management, planning, sustainability, public administration or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience leading…