Are you invested in the health of the Chesapeake Bay region?
The Chesapeake Bay Trust shares a bold vision for a restored and protected Chesapeake Bay watershed and other natural resources in our area—from the Coastal Bays to the Chesapeake to the Youghiogheny River. We uniquely empower local community-based groups on the ground with the resources they need to take on a meaningful and measurable role in restoring these systems. Healthy natural resources benefit everyone. We know that everyone can make an impact and hundreds of thousands of individuals have come together to improve forests, streams, rivers, bays, wildlife, and more in their own communities.
The Trust empowers these groups by providing grants and technical assistance. Every year, about 400 groups are awarded project money or provided other assistance to accomplish environmental education, community outreach, and local watershed restoration projects. We currently average $20-30 million in grant funding annually. Since our inception in 1985 by the Maryland General Assembly, the Trust has awarded more than $160 million in grants and engaged hundreds of thousands of resident stewards in projects that have a measurable impact.
The Trust is supported by the sale of the Chesapeake vehicle license plate (affectionately known as “the bay plate”); donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form; donations from Maryland’s online boating, fishing, and hunting license system; contributions from individuals and corporations; and partnerships with private foundations and federal, state, and local governments. The Trust has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator for over two decades: on average 90 percent of the Trust’s expenditures are directed to its restoration and education programs.
Current Open Positions
Senior Compliance Officer
The Chesapeake Bay Trust, a non-profit grantmaking organization, seeks a Senior Compliance Officer to provide support to the Program and Administration teams by ensuring compliance of our grantmaking policies, procedures and documentation with federal and other regulations as well as requirements set forth by funding partners. The Senior Compliance Officer will work independently to identify and mitigate compliance risks and ensure adherence to all legal and regulatory obligations including 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). This role reports to the Vice President of Finance and Administration. This position requires at least one day in the office, while the others may be remote.
This person will be a key member of a high-energy, collaborative team of 30+ professionals who work diligently to advance the Trust’s mission and daily consider the Trust’s core values of grantee focus, accountability and transparency, inclusiveness, collaboration, and innovation. This is a full-time, salaried position (40 hours per week).
Due to ongoing growth of the organization (in the past fifteen years, the Trust has doubled its grant-making five times through new revenue from a wide range of partners), we have added staff and therefore have the opportunity to make our compliance processes more efficient. The right candidate will have the opportunity to showcase his/her/their skills by designing the most efficient and effective processes to meet the requirements of the Trust’s funders. These new processes will transform the way the Trust manages its incoming and outgoing awards and will enable the program team to specialize, focusing more on programmatic efforts rather than compliance monitoring.
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, with current annual grant-making of approximately $25 million. The Trust currently allocates these grant funds through 350-400 awards per year to entities of all sizes and capacities who apply through open, competitive calls for proposals as well as programs such as the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps. Part of the Trust’s mission is to help community-based grantees, some of whom are new to grant-seeking and have not been served before by natural resources grant programs, access resources (and be compliant with any requirements), thereby increasing the number of people and entities who are participating in natural resources restoration and protection. Governments can do a lot, but everyday people and groups are an important part of the solution. The compliance team at the Trust ensures that we can grow the base in a compliant manner.
Full Position Description and Link to Apply
The position will remain open until filled. Please submit a resume and cover letter to apply. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application. In your cover letter, please address your ability to accomplish the duties of the position as listed above. Please do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a match 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, or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We encourage applications from people of color. 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.
Chesapeake Bay Trust Values
