Program Administration Lead at Delta Institute
Delta Institute is a Midwest-focused, environmental nonprofit whose mission is to collaborate with communities to solve complex environmental challenges. Our work is organized into distinct initiatives that move our mission forward, clearly define our work, and articulate impact. The programs functional hive strives to successfully address the challenges and creatively assist in sustainable solutions. The program hive staff focuses on the implementation of projects in Delta’s three initiative areas: Resilient Agriculture, Nature-Based Climate Solutions, and Sustainability & Support Services.
To achieve our vision of a thriving region, we partner with communities, governmental organizations and agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and universities throughout the Great Lakes and Midwest. We are multi-disciplinary systems thinkers. We understand that the issues around food, water, air, energy, and waste are all connected. Further, we have multiple leadership-level projects that will be incepted in the year ahead. Now is an exciting time to join us, so that together we positively advance key outcomes in the Midwest.
Functional Hive – Programs
All Midwest communities and landscapes thrive through an integrated approach to environmental, economic, and social challenges. Our work is organized into distinct initiatives that move our mission forward, clearly define our work, and articulate impact. The programs functional hive strives to successfully address the challenges and creatively assist in sustainable solutions.
More information about our programmatic initiatives is included below this job posting. Please refer to our website for a list of current and previously completed projects: https://delta-institute.org/projects-roster/.
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Position Specifics
A Lead provides strategic leadership and vision to Delta’s strategic initiatives with a focus on developing concepts and funding strategies to meet our impact objectives. Leads provide deep technical, analytical and project development leadership across Delta’s strategic priority areas. A Lead develops and helps implement methodological frameworks for projects, as well as related research and relationships. In this role, a Lead collaborates with project teams to implement tasks as assigned. They raise funds for implementing project work that creates impact on Delta’s strategic priority areas.
The Lead, Programs – Administration role will own, oversee, and evaluate all of Delta’s programmatic implementation processes and impact metrics methodologies. The Delta Programs Hive has a continuous improvement mindset and a suite of standardized implementation processes that the Lead, Programs – Administration will manage and keep staff accountable to high-quality deliverables and effective project implementation. Our infrastructure allows for multiple avenues for solving complex environmental challenges that align with our partner and community priorities.
This position will collaborate closely with the other Programs Leads as well as the CEO, and other organizational hives – Development & Communications, and Finance & Operations. The role will make sure that all of programmatic processes are implemented by Project Captains and their teams, that project budgets and workplans are managed and implemented effectively, that institutional knowledge is documented and share across the organization, and that Delta continues to examine effective ways to implement project tasks for optimal impact.
A Lead will also bring strong technical skills, and real world topic experience, to the team including an aptitude for communication, networking and collaboration. A Lead will continue to build expertise in the team’s focus areas. A Lead should be adept at tackling difficult environmental and social problems with often unclear paths to success, or take iterative approaches with a long-term goal of seeking solutions to larger social and environmental issues.
A Lead will also need to be comfortable working by themselves, among multiple types of personalities, on tight deadlines, in ambiguous and circuitous circumstances, and have an overall positive outlook on the change that happens in the world.
As part of a truly multidisciplinary organization, a Lead will also interface with and provide support for other projects that require unique skills and knowledge; and will have the ability to translate complex ideas to a variety of audiences both internally and externally.
What you’ll be doing:
Work with the CEO and Programs Hive to ensure project implementation processes are implemented
Own, evaluate and audit those processes, ensure Project Captains are keeping project budgets, workplans, and other documents up to date
Collaborate with other Program Leads to further develop initiatives by engaging with external partners and funders in coordination with the Chief Development Officer and CEO.
Collaborate with the Programs Hive staff and the CEO, to develop budgets and work plans for proposals
Collaborate with programmatic staff on multiple projects to ensure high-quality, on-time, and on-budget deliverables
Manage complex projects as well as staff, interns, and partners to plan and execute Program strategy.
Collaborate on team planning and implementation meetings
Where project structures require it, take a hands-on approach by developing work plans with tasks, timeframes, milestones, resources, and dependencies; or, when required, a hands-off approach by providing project teams with the resources they need to execute high-quality project deliverables
Develop and maintain key professional affiliations in support of organizational and professional development goals
Build networks and maintain relationships with academic, scientific, business, governmental and other partners; identify program partners and collaborate across boundaries to meet common objectives
Identify and understand the primary users of products, services, and deliverables, and assist in review and creation.
Maintain effective communication with clients and stakeholders managing and meeting project expectations
Be adaptable in occasional ambiguity; and be willing to go the extra mile to get the job done
What you’ll have:
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in planning, program administration, engineering, sustainability, agriculture, environmental science, or related field with Master’s degree desirable or equivalent life and work experience (7-10 years of relevant experience);
Proven track record of engaging foundations, government agencies, nonprofit organization, and businesses across multiple sectors
Strategic and excellent organizational skills, be a self-starter and motivated and enjoy working in a team environment
Ability to apply systems thinking to complex environmental issues
Demonstrated success developing and evaluating program models, and selecting and successfully operationalizing innovative programs
Proficient in using technology as a management reporting tool and experience working with information technology staff to develop and implement program evaluation systems
Ability to organize, analyze and visualize data
Proficient in analyzing data and technical documents to produce deliverables
Strong project management skills managing complex, multi-faceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth
Experience in managing and motivating people to meet high performance standards
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail
Be able to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and manage work in sometimes ambiguous situations
Core competencies are the values and defined behaviors that we believe are central to the ability of every employee to do the work of the Delta Institute. These core competencies are a combination of knowledge, skills and behaviors that are the mark of a good Delta employee. competencies are a distinguishing characteristic of Delta employees for our clients, customers and stakeholders. They are a visible demonstration of our shared values and are evident in how we work together. Individuals can be at different levels of ability on a specific core competency which is why we measure ability each year and provide feedback and development suggestions.
All Delta employees have these core competencies:
Adaptive
Cooperative
Equitable
Passionate
Pragmatic
Transparent
Tenacious
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Continually required to sit
Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
Continually required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
Continually required to talk or hear
While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 10 pounds
Delta offers its employees a competitive salary with a robust benefits package that includes generous paid time off, 401k, and medical, dental & vision insurance. Delta is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please email application packet (one PDF) that includes the following:
Cover Letter
Resume
All as one PDF to: careers@delta-institute.org
Subject line: Lead, Programs Administration
Application submission deadline: July 4, 2025
No phone calls, please.
Grade: 4
Salary Range: $81,541 – 94,086
*Senior Lead salary range: $100,358– 106,630
Lead to job posting: https://delta-institute.org/position/lead-programs-admin/