Senior Program Manager - Tennessee Urban Programs
Trust for Public Land
Chattanooga, TN United States
How to Apply
URL: https://tpl.catsone.com/careers/13305-General/jobs/16855409-Senior-Program-Manager--Tennessee-Urban-Programs/JOB DESCRIPTION
Who We Are:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
Position Summary:
Building on more than 30 years of conservation, park, and community development leadership in Tennessee, Trust for Public Land seeks a Senior Program Manager, TN Urban Programs to advance equitable access to parks, public spaces, trails, schoolyards, and welcoming community places in Tennessee's urban and growing communities.
The Senior Program Manager will lead a portfolio of urban park, public space, schoolyard, trail, and community development initiatives across Tennessee. Working under the direction of the Tennessee State Director and in close collaboration with Tennessee program staff, the Senior Program Manager will translate statewide priorities into coordinated workplans, cultivate municipal partnerships, apply subject-matter expertise to complex program challenges, and inform program design and innovation in execution.
The position will serve as a primary relationship manager for municipal and community partners, independently engaging local governments and organizations to help them leverage TPL's national expertise, technical assistance resources, conservation tools, and implementation capacity. Working across Tennessee's major metropolitan regions and emerging urban centers, the Senior Program Manager will engage municipal staff, department directors, city managers, elected officials, school district leadership, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to identify opportunities, navigate competing priorities, and advance community goals.
The Senior Program Manager will work closely with Tennessee philanthropy, land protection, community strategy, and capital project management staff to coordinate resources and deliver integrated support to local partners. The role will identify risks outside the norm, recommend process improvements, and consider how project decisions affect other functions and the broader Tennessee program. While the position will help guide projects from concept through implementation, responsibility for technical design, construction oversight, and capital project delivery will reside with dedicated project management staff and consultants. Success will be measured not only by delivery of new public spaces, but by stronger civic participation, belonging, trust, and community influence for residents who will call these public spaces their own.
BENEFITS
As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. The anticipated hiring range for this position is $91,078 – $105,000.