Current Opportunities

Current Opportunities

We’re looking to hire an Operations Manager to join Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Save the Boundary Waters. 

 

SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS OVERVIEW

The Boundary Waters, the largest Wilderness Area east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades, is America’s most-visited Wilderness, uniquely accessible and beloved for recreation. It is the sixth most critical region in the lower 48 to protect for climate resiliency. A major threat looms: proposed copper mining in the headwaters, where pollution would flow downstream into and through the heart of the Wilderness, with cascading effects across the ecosystem. 

Save the Boundary Waters, founded and led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness based in Ely MN, is a national coalition of 400+ businesses, conservation, and hunting & angling organizations, camps and access programs united to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining proposed in the headwaters of these treasures.

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness Mission: A world in which the integrity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is preserved and the health of the greater Quetico-Superior region thrives. 

Our Vision: To protect and preserve the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and greater Quetico-Superior region now and for future generations. 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Wilderness and the pursuit of its protection should be made to be welcoming and accessible to all. Protecting Wilderness relies upon public engagement which cannot be expected when people are disenfranchised, unwelcome, hurt or tokenized due to their sexuality, race, age, ability, size, gender identity, gender expression, culture, religion, political affiliation, or anything else. The pursuit of permanent protection for the Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore copper mining and other threats is no different. Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Save the Boundary Waters is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all aspects of the organization as it works to protect this special place for everyone and for generations to come.

 

OPERATIONS MANAGER 

POSITION SUMMARY

This cross-functional position sits at the heart of our day-to-day operations, supporting leadership, programs, fundraising, and the broader team. You'll be a reliable point of contact across a wide range of administrative, operational, and development support needs. No direct reports — but your work quietly enables everyone else's. Confidentiality, accuracy, and genuine care for our mission are critical.
 

KEY JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

OPERATIONS & FACILITIES

Oversee day-to-day office operations, manage vendor relationships, coordinate supply procurement within budget, and maintain facilities in line with health and safety standards. Help document operational processes and support grant administration and workflows.
 

HR & PEOPLE SUPPORT

Coordinate onboarding and offboarding workflows, maintain employee and volunteer records, assist with scheduling performance reviews, and support compliance training tracking. Serve as a warm and knowledgeable first point of contact for general HR questions.


TECH & SYSTEMS SUPPORT

Act as first-line support for staff technology issues and liaise with external IT partners for escalations. Assist with equipment setup, maintain software licenses and access permissions, and help maintain data security practices across systems.

ADMINISTRATION & GOVERNANCE

Assist in maintaining organized records in line with nonprofit compliance and audit requirements. Draft internal communications, reports, and donor-facing materials as needed. Serve as the primary point of contact for general inquiries, managing the organization’s info@ inbox and main phone line, including responding to, routing, and returning emails and calls in a timely and professional manner. Coordinate team-wide meetings, arrange travel logistics including flights, hotels, and ground transportation for staff as needed, and take accurate minutes for staff meetings. 


FUNDRAISING & GIFT PROCESSING

Support the development team with timely and accurate gift entry, acknowledgment letters, and donor record maintenance in the CRM. Process checks, online gifts, and in-kind contributions; reconcile gift reports with finance; and help ensure donors receive prompt, accurate tax receipts. Assist with data hygiene and list pulls for appeals and campaigns.

 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • 5+ years in an admin, ops, or office coordination role — nonprofit experience strongly preferred
  • Experience with gift processing, donor databases, or development operations (EveryAction, Salesforce NPSP, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, or similar)
  • High accuracy and attention to deadlines and detail — especially when handling financial data or donor records
  • Demonstrated discretion when handling sensitive personnel, financial, or donor information
  • Strong written communication; proven ability to produce accurate minutes and professional correspondence
  • Comfortable shifting priorities - Time management skills and responsiveness to a wide variety of team needs.

Nice to have

  • Familiarity with IRS acknowledgment and gift receipting rules

  • Nonprofit board governance knowledge

  • Experience in Canva, EveryAction

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The Operations and Administrative Manager is a full-time, salaried position – $65,000-$75,000 annually, commensurate with experience. 

  • Compensation includes competitive wage and benefits package with coverage and a monthly stipend for health, dental, and vision insurance; a 403b retirement plan with matching; 9 paid flexible holidays; phone, travel and expense reimbursement; $2,000 in reimbursed funds for professional development and Wilderness travel; 18 “Personal Time Off” (PTO) paid days per year, which increases with time accrued at the organization. 

 

TO APPLY Please email your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to kelsey@savetheboundarywaters.org with the subject line “Operations Manager” by May 8, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. 

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Save the Boundary Waters are committed to equal opportunity in employment.

Outreach Intern - Ely

Our hiring process for the 2026 season is now completed. Applications generally open in January of each year prior to the internship. Refer back to this page in January 2027 for more details.

This position’s focus is helping with organizing events, presentations, organizing volunteers, and other outreach opportunities in the Ely area.

For questions and more information, email Gillian Fitzgerald at gillian@savetheboundarywaters.org

 

We invite anyone interested to let us know you'd like to be considered for our board! Please fill out this brief form to indicate your interest in being considered for the NMW board. This form is open at any time, and we further consider new board applicants as board roles become available on a limited basis. You may also reach out to Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, at Ingrid@savetheboundarywaters.org