Green Infrastructure Operations Manager
TreePeople
The Operations Manager serves as the operational and financial backbone of the Green
Infrastructure Department. This role is responsible for overseeing the integrated management of
the department’s portfolio of contracts and grants (“projects”), ensuring alignment across scope,
schedule, budget, staffing, compliance, and reporting.
Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Director of Green Infrastructure, this
position ensures that projects are delivered on time, on budget, within scope, and in compliance
with funder requirements. The Manager provides financial oversight, portfolio-level coordination,
and proactive risk management for the department, allowing the Director to focus on strategy,
partnerships, and external leadership.
This role interfaces regularly and collaborates closely with Contracts & Grants, Finance,
Development, consultants, subcontractors, and the PMO to ensure seamless cross-functional
coordination.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Oversee and coordinate a portfolio of 10+ active contracts and grants within the Green
Infrastructure Department.
In collaboration with the Director and Design Principles, development, maintain, and
monitor integrated project workplans, timelines, and milestone tracking across the department.
Identify and communicate overlaps, resource conflicts, scope changes, budget variances, and scheduling constraints in real time
Monitor project performance (on time, on budget, within scope, and quality standards)
Proactively identify risks and develop mitigation strategies
Escalate material issues to the Director with recommended solutions
Manage project budgets in partnership with the Director, Design Principals, and Finance
Monitor actuals vs. budget and forecast spend across the portfolio
Track burn rates, cost allocations, and indirect recovery
Analyze and explain budget variances
Ensure project implementation plans, including staffing, contracts, and direct costs, remain within approved budgets within and across projects
Support financial reporting for funders and internal dashboards
Interface directly with Contracts & Grants and Finance to ensure compliance, cost allowability, and documentation
Support construction project planning and sequencing
Track, manage, and receive bids
Track consultant and subcontractor deliverables and payment schedules
Work with department staff to ensure contract compliance and milestone completion from external vendors
Monitor construction-related budgets, change orders, and contingency usage
Ensure documentation aligns with grant and contract requirements
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Serve as primary coordination point between:
Department staff
Contracts & Grants team
Finance
Development (for proposal support and reporting)
PMO
Ensure smooth handoffs between proposal development and implementation
Support accurate and timely narrative and financial funder reporting
Contribute to improved organizational project management systems
Systems & Process Improvement
Implement and maintain project tracking tools and dashboards
Improve portfolio-level visibility across scope, staffing, and financial performance
Standardize department project workflows
Support development of organization-wide best practices in project and budget
management
Supports the management of project execution within approved scope and budget
Recommends budget adjustments and resource reallocations
Escalates strategic or material financial risks to Director
Does not independently commit the organization to new financial obligations
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, construction management, public administration,
environmental studies, or related field
5+ years of experience in project management across multiple concurrent projects
Demonstrated experience managing project budgets within and across multiple projects
Experience working with grants and/or contract-funded programs
Strong financial literacy (budget tracking, forecasting, accrual accounting, variance
analysis)
Proficiency in project management and financial tracking software
Exceptional organizational and communication skills
PMP certification or equivalent
Ability to work in organizational operational systems that are in development and evolving
with flexibility and grace
Systems thinker with strong attention to detail
Financially disciplined and analytically rigorous
Comfortable operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Proactive risk identifier
Clear communicator across technical and non-technical teams
Able to balance multiple high-stakes priorities
Preferred
Experience coordinating consultants or subcontractors
Experience with construction management or capital improvement projects
Experience in nonprofit or public-sector grant environments
Familiarity with cost allocation and indirect rate structures

