Outreach and Education Program Officer

Job Description

Job Description

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust), a non-profit grantmaking organization, seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Program Officer on our Outreach and Education Team. The Program Officer will support the Outreach and Education team’s programmatic work through administering grant programs and initiatives that focus on advancing environmental literacy across Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Program Officer will support the Environmental Education Program (-education/), Youth Environmental Education Program (-environmental-education-grant-program/), and several other initiatives focused on advancing regional environmental literacy. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to a regional mission, connecting people with the resources to advance environmental literacy in Maryland and the watershed.

An individual in this role will support applicants as they develop project proposals, oversee proposal reviews, compile grant award agreements, manage awards, help awardees throughout their programs, and use the Trust’s online award-making system. Beyond program administration, individuals in this position will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with educators, community organizations, and other partners working towards environmental literacy across the Chesapeake Bay. A successful Program Officer in this role will be a trusted resource to applicants and awardees helping them navigate challenges, maximize their impact, and serve their community.

The Program Officer will be expected to work a minimum of one to two days in-person at the Trust office in Annapolis, Maryland, during the initial probationary period, with the remainder of the time worked from a remote location. After a successful 6-month probation period, there will be an opportunity to reassess the number of in-office and remote workdays. The Program Officer will report to the Program Manager for Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development and be a key member of a 40+ person staff that supports the Trust’s core values of learning, science and innovation, engagement of our awardee community, diversity and inclusion, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

About the Trust  

Established in 1985, the Chesapeake Bay Trust uses grantmaking as a method to promote community-based participation in the restoration and protection of the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region. In the past fifteen years, the Trust has doubled its grant-making five times through new revenue from a wide range of partners, with current annual grant-making over $25 million. The Trust currently allocates these grant funds through 350-400 awards per year to entities that apply through open, competitive calls for proposals as well as programs such as the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps.

Specific Responsibilities: 

• Support administration of the Outreach and Education team’s award programs focused on, but not limited to, environmental education and initiatives that advance systemic environmental literacy on a local and regional scale.
• Sustain collaborative partnerships with non-profit, state, federal, and community partners to support grant programs and initiatives.
• Support the refinement and/or development of Requests for Proposals and other program materials for programs managed.
• Advertise widely across the state of Maryland and Chesapeake Bay watershed (depending on the funding source) to identify potential applicants to the award programs, identify what help these applicants might need to apply and successfully complete a project, encourage them to apply, and provide help as they develop project ideas and proposals.
• Reactively, respond to potential applicants who have expressed interest in the grant programs, and aid with the application process including the incorporation of sustainable practices considering future climate change impacts, and management of contractors to provide technical assistance.
• Facilitate the analysis and review of program applications received by the Trust.
• Prepare grant summary reports and analysis for Technical Review Committees, funding partners, and the Board of Trustees.
• Administer awards that vary in size ($2,500 to potentially as large as $150,000), including preparing grant agreements and contracts, assisting awardees with project issues, reviewing status and final reports, approving payments, reviewing revision requests, and more.
• Work with awardees throughout their project to report successes, discuss and overcome any obstacles to the outcomes, where relevant, management of contractors to provide technical assistance for current or future awardees/partners, and report products to funding partners, the general public (e.g., in newsletters, on the website), and/or the Trust staff.
• Develop a suite of professional development activities, which could include participating in (and presenting at) conferences, at seminars, at symposia, and/or in publications.
• Advance recommendations received from the Trust’s external diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice advisory committee and the Trust’s internal action team.

Qualifications and Skills:

• A minimum of three years of demonstrated experience and a track record of success with supporting, coordinating, or implementing environmental education, environmental literacy, or related programs and initiatives.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders, using strong communication and interpersonal skills to advance shared goals.
• Experience engaging and supporting under-engaged, under-represented, and/or historically excluded communities is preferred.
• Strong organizational and strategic thinking skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balance short-term and long-term objectives, and think creatively to develop innovative solutions that increase program effectiveness and impact.
• Exceptional project and time-management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage complex processes with attention to detail.
• Experience managing budgets and contracts, maintaining accurate financial and programmatic records.
• A high-level of proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of programs, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and the ability to learn and effectively utilize online grant-management systems.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

If you have most of the qualifications and skills listed above plus a willingness to learn, you are encouraged to apply.

Salary and Benefits:

$64,000 to $70,000 with an excellent benefits package and opportunities for related professional development.

Benefits include: 

• Health Insurance with choice of medical plan and prescription, dental, vision, and life and disability insurance options, along with flexible spending accounts
• 401K retirement savings program with match
• Starting at 10 accrued vacation days, 7 accrued sick days, and 4 personal days annually
• Compensatory time available for overtime hours worked
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Individual Professional Development fund  

A successful candidate with less experience in some of the responsibilities listed above will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of this range. A successful candidate with more experience in the responsibilities listed above will be considered at a higher starting salary.

Application Instructions and Deadline 

The position will remain open until filled, for best consideration please apply by October 23rd, 2026. Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please address your ability, based on your skills and experience, to accomplish the specific duties of the position as outlined above. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application. We recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, education, employment, and volunteer experiences. Please do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a strong match specifically for this position, and why this position is a match for you.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Our values guide us to create a workplace where everyone is respected and valued. The Trust strives to recruit, retain, and promote employees that reflect the communities we engage in our work Applicants must have a residential address in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington D.C and must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Trust does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas. Our accessibility statement is available on our website at Accessibility Statement - Chesapeake Bay Trust .