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Does the opportunity to devote your talents to a cause much greater than yourself excite you? Are you energized by building structure, managing complexity, and creating momentum? The Arbor Day Foundation is a place where you can do work that matters, with people who care. As we say at the Foundation: life is short, love where you work.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. We foster a growing community of more than one million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by our bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees.

Join the Arbor Day Foundation as an Operational Initiatives Lead. As an Operational Initiatives Lead, you will be a critical driver of cross-functional alignment, execution, and accountability across strategic initiatives. You will drive and manage projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and effectiveness, leading cross-functional teams through planning, execution, and delivery. This role is ideal for someone who is action-oriented, skilled at bringing structure, clarity, and calm to complex initiatives, and passionate about continuous improvement.

This role is based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and reports to the Director, Mission Delivery. Team members are expected to work in the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, with optional remote work on Wednesday and Friday.

What you’ll do:
Project Planning and Execution

  • Develop and maintain clear project plans and timelines across multiple initiatives
  • Stage activities with milestones, dependencies, and decision points to drive forward momentum
  • Ensure resources, ownership, and expectations are aligned at every step

Program and Deliverable Management

  • Track key deliverables, assign owners, and manage interdependencies
  • Follow up regularly with contributors to maintain accountability and momentum
  • Provide consistent reporting on status, risks, blockers, and upcoming milestones

Clear Process Thinking and Continuous Improvement

  • Map out internal processes to reduce ambiguity
  • Organize and lead efforts to improve internal processes, applying a structured yet flexible approach to solving complex operational challenges
  • Identify and prioritize technology needs in collaboration with teams, partnering with BAs to translate them into clear, actionable requirements

Stakeholder Management and Communication

  • Coordinate and facilitate cross-functional meetings and working sessions
  • Set clear agendas, guide conversations, and capture next steps and decisions
  • Maintain ongoing communication across stakeholders to ensure visibility, alignment, and engagement

Risk and Change Management

  • Identify potential risks or misalignments early and escalate when needed
  • Help prevent scope creep by documenting change requests and ensuring alignment before adjustments are made
  • Support disciplined decision-making through documentation and version control

What you’ll bring:

  • Our ideal candidate has 5+ years ofexperience in project or program management, ideally within a cross-functional and fast-paced environment.
  • A track record of leading complex initiatives from start to finish, keeping teams focused and engaged while managing evolving scope and priorities.
  • Strength in process design and continuous improvement—you’ve mapped workflows, eliminated roadblocks, and implemented scalable systems that stuck.
  • Clear thoughtful communication—able to facilitate alignment and influence without authority across diverse teams and personalities.
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity—you're solution-oriented, structured in your thinking, and driven by outcomes rather than checklists.

Love Where You Work:

  • Our work changes the world. We find deep purpose in our daily work, we’re helping to shape the planet for future generations.
  • We're in this together. A culture focused on a genuine interest in the wellbeing of others, collaboration, and the intrinsic shared purpose to do what's right.
  • We pride ourselves on the culture we’ve built. We love it, and we know you will too.
  • We care about your health. We offer competitive healthcare (health, dental, vision) coverage for you and your loved ones matched with a wellness incentives program.
  • We invest in your future. Company paid short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, life insurance and 401k with company match are available.
  • We know the little things matter. Team members receive a monthly parking stipend, a fully stocked kitchen, and access to a plethora of benefits at Arbor Day Farm.
  • We care about your growth. We allocate 40+ hours annually for our team members to focus on learning and development.
  • We want you to unplug when needed. We believe in taking your time off without guilt, including the week between Christmas and New Years that we close our Lincoln Campus to recharge.
  • We'll round out the experience. We put our culture first, and we host events and experiences throughout the year to show that we care about you (and your family).