Director, San Francisco Estuary Partnership

Job Description

THIS POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED

FIRST CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WHO SUBMIT

A LETTER OF INTEREST AND RESUME BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2026

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY

Be ready to rethink your assumptions about the public sector. Dedicated and motivated colleagues? Beautiful, high amenity building for on-site work and collaboration? Flexible schedules and hybrid work options? Yes, yes, and yes!

ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP
The San Francisco Estuary Partnership (Estuary Partnership) is a regional program with a federal mandate to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of the San Francisco Estuary. Established in 1988 under the Clean Water Act, the Estuary Partnership is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program, a place based, non-regulatory initiative created to protect and restore estuaries of national significance across the country.


The Estuary Partnership is locally hosted by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area's two principal regional planning agencies, which are jointly administered through an integrated staffing structure. ABAG serves as the region's council of governments, focusing on land use, housing, and environmental planning, while MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization responsible for regional transportation planning and investments. Through this hosting arrangement, Estuary Partnership staff are employed and supported within the joint ABAG-MTC organization, allowing the program to align its work with broader regional planning and policy efforts while maintaining its distinct federal mandate and governance structure.

The Estuary Partnership leads the Estuary Blueprint, a comprehensive, collaborative strategy for the Estuary's future that spans the "upper Estuary" of the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta through San Francisco Bay and toward the Pacific Ocean. Working hand-in-hand with communities, funders, and a wide range of public and private partners, the Estuary Partnership helps coordinate restoration, advance innovative solutions, and adapt to the dynamic environmental and social needs of the Estuary and its watershed communities.

The Estuary Partnership's day-to-day activities include facilitating partnerships; providing technical assistance to local governments and project proponents; supporting planning and design of multi-benefit restoration and resilience projects; and helping coordinate funding opportunities across federal, state, regional, and local sources. The Estuary Partnership also emphasizes community engagement, working with organizations and communities to elevate local priorities, build capacity, and ensure that Estuary protection and resilience efforts deliver environmental and public benefits across the region.

OUR IMPACT

The Estuary Partnership manages over $100 million in planning, design, implementation, and community capacity-building projects, enacting 25 priority actions outlined in our regional 2022 Estuary Blueprint (sfestuary.org/estuary-blueprint/).

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director, San Francisco Estuary Partnership is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the Estuary Partnership, including overall fiscal management, staff and work plan development and management, short- and long-range planning, and fund development. The Director oversees the implementation and updating of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (the Estuary Blueprint), guided by the strategic direction set by the Implementation Committee.

The Estuary Partnership is hosted by ABAG/MTC, with the Director reporting to ABAG/MTC's Deputy Executive Director of Metro Planning and Policy. The Director builds and maintains professional relationships with local, regional, state, and federal partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Within ABAG/MTC, the Director collaborates with regional planning, legislation and public affairs, and business operations staff to ensure the Partnership's work is carried out efficiently and effectively.


The San Francisco Estuary is home to communities with varied lived experiences whose perspectives are essential to shaping resilient, environmental solutions. We value team members who can help us engage effectively and respectfully with all communities across the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead a staff of 17 professionals with a variety of skillsets to build a strong team, achieve annual workplan objectives, and further the objectives of the National Estuary Program and the Estuary Blueprint
• Build and maintain strong relationships with myriad partners including from agencies, communities, Tribes, non-profits, business and academia
• Lead implementation and updates to the Estuary Blueprint, and communicate environmental outcomes and relative progress of Estuary Blueprint Actions using a variety of tools and methods
• Exercise responsibility for the fiscal health of the Estuary Partnership, including developing and managing multi-million dollar budgets, and identifying and applying for public and private funding and in-kind resources to support staff and advance projects and programs that increase the health and resiliency of the San Francisco Estuary
• Foster an inclusive community among the team and with partners
• Support the Estuary Partnership's Management Conference (the "Implementation Committee") in fulfilling their statutory role under the federal Clean Water Act and aligning with strategic objectives
• Work closely with ABAG/MTC leadership and with agency operations and finance sections
• Advance cross-agency collaborative efforts within ABAG/MTC that support the agency's strategic framework
• Comply with congressionally mandated reporting and program advancement as directed by US EPA, including developing an annual workplan and budget
• Work closely with US EPA headquarters and Region 9 San Francisco Bay Program staff to advance projects and programs consistent with the Clean Water Act
• Collaborate with National Estuary Programs across the county and perform duties as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of National Estuary Programs

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education : Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental science, natural resource management, planning, civil engineering, public administration, business administration, communications, or a related field is required.

Experience : Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience leading and managing programs or initiatives related to environmental protection, natural resource management, sustainability, or public sector or nonprofit operations, including at least four (4) years in a supervisory or senior management role with responsibility for strategic planning, project oversight, budgeting, and staff leadership.


Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and working collaboratively with governmental agencies, community-based organizations, Tribes, or other partners is required. Experience in environmental policy, environmental science, or natural resource management is critical.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental science, natural resource management, planning, civil engineering, public administration, business administration, communications, or a related field is preferred.
• 8+ years of program management and supervisory experience, including strategic planning and managing multiple complex projects.
• Extensive working experience in natural resource management, with a preference for estuary-specific experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-sector strategic initiatives that align diverse partners around a shared vision and measurable outcomes.
• Deep understanding of environmental policy and science.
• Ability to effectively oversee operations including budgeting, performance management, and workforce development.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing funding from governmental and non-governmental sources.
• Ability to supervise and support senior leadership staff, build high-performing teams, and lead organizational change initiatives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with a wide variety of partners.
• Experience working with communities of all backgrounds, Tribes, or community-based organizations, and a demonstrated commitment to ensuring all communities share in environmental benefits.

LOCATION

This position is located at the Bay Area Metro Center, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, at the offices of ABAG/MTC.

COMPENSATION

The annual salary range is $230,930-$287,132, plus a generous benefits package.

BENEFITS

MTC offers attractive employee benefits programs that include:

• A robust slate of healthcare options (medical, dental and vision) for staff and eligible dependents
• CalPERS Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) pension
• Optional employee-paid payroll savings plans (tax-deferred compensation plans)
• Twelve paid holidays, plus vacation, sick and personal business leave
• Pre-tax healthcare and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Monthly transit/parking subsidy
• Optional supplemental life insurance
• Optional accident, cancer and dental indemnity plans

Benefit plans provided by the agency, at no cost to employees:

• Life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• Identity Fraud Protection
• Employee Assistance Program
• Annual Bay Wheels bike share membership

HOW TO APPLY

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants who submit a letter of interest and resume by Friday, June 5, 2026.


To be considered, please email a resume and letter of interest to Michele James at this email address: View email address on click.appcast.io. Your resume must include detailed experience and dates of employment. Your letter of interest must outline why you are interested in the position and your relevant accomplishments.


Do not use the APPLY NOW button at the bottom of the posting. Follow the instructions above to apply.

QUESTIONS

Please contact Michele James, President, Avery James Inc. by email at: View email address on click.appcast.io

Website:

For more information about the San Francisco Estuary Partnership visit:

For more information about the Association of Bay Area Governments visit:

For more information about the Metropolitan Transportation Commission visit:

About Us

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). For more information about MTC, visit

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER


The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.

About the Team

THE FOLLOWING ARE AMONG THE BENEFITS OFFERED TO REGULAR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF MTC:

• California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) Pension; requires a contribution from both the employer and employee. Employee contributions are based on your CalPERS membership category: Classic or PEPRA (Public Employees' Pension Reform Act) New . The current contribution rate for PEPRA New members is 7.25% and for Classic members is 7.004% of eligible earnings (as a pre-tax deduction).

• Medical Benefits Insurance through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS); premiums are shared between MTC and employee. Employee currently pays 5% and MTC pays 95% of the monthly premium.

• Agency-paid Dental Insurance; dependent coverage shared by the employee and MTC.

• Agency-paid Vision Care Insurance for employees only; dependent coverage is paid in full by employee.

• Agency-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance.

• Eleven (11) paid holidays and one (1) cultural holiday per year.

• Thirteen (13) vacation days per year; increases one additional day per year for each year of service, to a maximum of 25 days per year. During the first year, you will accrue 4 vacation hours per pay period (26 pay periods in a year).

• Paid Sick Leave; accrued at one day per month (equivalent to 8 hours a month) with no limit to the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated. Employee may cash out up to 240 hours of accumulated sick leave upon separation from the Agency.

• Personal Business Leave; up to 24 hours per year (pro-rated the first year depending upon date of hire). Then you will receive up to 24 Personal Business hours per calendar year starting January 1st of the following year.

• Transit/Parking Subsidy of up to $340 per month to be used for eligible transit fare and/or associated transit parking fees when commuting to and from work. This monthly non-taxable amount is subject to change and is based on IRS limit.

• Voluntary Deferred Compensation 457 Plans; two vendors to choose from. These optional investment plans enable employees to defer income until retirement. These plans are offered in addition to our defined benefit (pension) retirement plan. Employees may enroll at any time during the year.

• Two voluntary employee-paid pre-tax flexible spending accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care) are available for employees to participate in.

• Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance.

• Identity & Fraud Protection; available to you and eligible dependents at no cost.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS


Successful completion of a background check, professional references and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.


DISABILITY
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.

All MTC employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.