Trails Have Our Respect Development & Construction Manager Omaha, NE · Full time Company website

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Since 1996, the mission of Trails Have Our Respect (THOR) has been to provide advocacy, education, maintenance, operations, and the creation of natural-surface trails. Our work builds and enhances trails and outdoor spaces for families, runners, riders, hikers, youth programs, and others to explore, challenge themselves, and connect with nature. As regional partners with the International Mountain Biking Association, we believe that trails connect people to nature, support community health, and strengthen neighborhood connections. We partner with cities, states, and private land managers to develop trail systems and ensure trails are cared for, sustainable, and welcoming for everyone.

Who We Are

Trails Have Our Respect (THOR) is the regional non-profit natural surface trail organization and International Mountain Biking Association Chapter (IMBA) partner serving Nebraska, Western Iowa, and Southeastern South Dakota. Founded in 1996, THOR plans, designs, builds, maintains, operates, and stewards natural surface trail networks and bike parks through strong public-private partnerships with state, municipal, and other land managers.

Over the last half-decade, driven by landmark initiatives such as the Omaha Natural Surface Trails Feasibility Study, the Omaha Parks Master Plan, and the Nebraska Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, THOR has grown into a mission-driven regional professional organization with an annual operating budget exceeding $1.5M and an active trail development budget of $1M - $5M annually, with 20+ projects in our pipeline. To meet the demand for our work, we’re building a dedicated team of 15-20 professionals, including our Trail Crew, to support trails and programs, thousands of volunteers, and hundreds of thousands of regional trail users.

Equal Opportunity Employer

THOR is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe our greatest potential for impactful work lies in cultivating the ideas, talents, and experiences of people from diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.

Position Summary

As our Development & Construction Manager, you are the detailed organizer, logistics engine, and construction manager behind our trail development pipeline. While the Executive Director cultivates and channels high-level strategy, partnerships, and funding guided by our mission, board, and community demand, you turn opportunities into trails by taking a lead role in seeing projects through incubation, planning, design, construction, and final handoff. You’ll be supported by and collaborate with the Executive Director and other members of the THOR team throughout each project, but you are the scrum-master, dotter of “i’s” and crosser of “t’s”, striving each day to drive projects forward with clarity, quality, and communication.

You’ll work with our land manager partners, including the cities of Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, Lincoln, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Nebraska Game & Parks, non-profit organizations, foundations, community development organizations, engineering and landscape architecture firms, and program partners to help achieve community, environmental, and economic sustainability, and fully activated trail systems that support thriving trail-based programs.

While your primary focus will be organizing and executing new trail developments across the greater Omaha metro, you will also play a pivotal role in developing trails across Nebraska, Western Iowa, and Southeast South Dakota. You’ll also collaborate closely with the Executive Director, Operations Director, and Trail Services Director on larger trail maintenance, refurbishment, and enhancement projects across our entire network, helping balance team resources and ensuring we meet budget, schedule, and quality targets.

Working alongside our Executive Director, Operations Director, and Finance Team, you will be a key part of THOR’s leadership, helping identify and support our strategic and operational initiatives, and responsible for developing and tracking detailed project budgets and expenses to ensure THOR’s financial integrity, transparency, and sustainability, while advancing its mission.

The ideal candidate is a detail-obsessed project or construction manager with the ability to create, manage, and dynamically adapt project budgets, timelines, and resources; a clear, friendly, and authentic communicator when both writing and speaking without relying on generative AI or LLMs; a team player who finds joy in constant collaboration; with curiosity, humility, and a passion for THOR’s mission to make Nebraska and the region a better place to ride, run, hike, and explore.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Project & Construction Management
2. Execute Project Pipelines: Take approved trail projects from initial site layout and permitting through design, contractor bidding, construction, and final closeout. You will participate in and document community engagement, stakeholder, and pre-project meetings to ensure alignment and execution of project goals.
3. Contractor & Crew Oversight: Serve as the primary point of contact for external trail contractors and civil engineers, and support our internal Trail Services Director and Trail Crews. Conduct regular field visits to verify construction quality, track progress, and ensure adherence to build specifications.
4. Permitting & Agency Coordination: Obtain required permits and licenses.  Meet contractual commitments. Coordinate with municipal and state land managers (such as Nebraska Game & Parks and municipal parks departments) to secure land-use agreements, environmental clearances, and access permits.
5. Scheduling, Budgeting, & Detail Chasing
6. Build & Adapt Construction Schedules: Create, maintain, and dynamically adjust project timelines to account for weather and terrain conditions, contractor availability, and land manager requirements.
7. Financial Tracking & Cost Control: Develop line-item project budgets, track field expenses in real time, reconcile contractor invoices, and ensure project costs stay strictly on target.
8. Reporting & Compliance: Prepare internal and external reports on project statuses. Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual project financial and narrative reports for the Executive Director, board, and funding partners.
9. Funder Support & Partner Collaboration
10. Grant & Funder Support: Provide technical data, timeline estimates, and field documentation to support grant applications and fulfill funder reporting requirements.
11. Partner Communication: Maintain open, regular, and clear communication with local neighborhood groups, city engineers, park directors, and regional stakeholders to keep projects aligned with community goals.
12. Internal Operations Integration
13. Risk Management & Quality: Analyze, manage, and mitigate construction and operational risks. Help ensure quality construction standards and the use of proper construction techniques.
14. Maintenance & Programming Handoffs: Work alongside the Operations Director, Trail Services Director, and our Program Team to transition completed build projects into ongoing maintenance schedules and active community programming.
15. Major Trail Enhancements: Assist operational teams in organizing large-scale trail rehabilitation, feature rebuilds, and major sustainability improvements and repairs across THOR's 25+ existing trail systems.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or significant demonstrated professional experience in project management, community planning, or construction management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of clear, demonstrated project management experience.
• Proven experience in creating and managing construction schedules.
• Proven experience in creating and managing construction budgets.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong analytical acumen paired with authentic, clear, and professional written and verbal communication skills (writing without reliance on generative AI).

Preferred Qualifications & Attributes

• Master's Degree, Professional Planning/Project Management Certifications (AICP, PMP), or a comprehensive Project Portfolio.
• Experience with project management methodologies and web-based project management software.
• Prior experience supporting grant proposal development and funder financial reporting.
• Knowledge of outdoor recreation, conservation, or community-based non-profit operations.
• A professional, approachable, and ethical demeanor grounded in transparency and stewardship.
• Self-motivation and accountability paired with collaborative teamwork.
• Creative problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail.
• Clear ability to manage their time, balance multiple priorities, and consistently meet deadlines with calm efficiency.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, learning, and innovation.
• Genuine enthusiasm for trails, the outdoors, community development, and THOR’s mission.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Drive, etc.).

Work Environment, Compensation & Benefits

THOR embraces a flexible hybrid work model (remote home office combined with in-person collaboration in our new, secure Northeast Omaha office). We prioritize outcomes, autonomy, and work-life balance over rigid office hours.

• Starting Salary: $72,000 – $88,000 / year (Salaried Exempt, DOE)
• Subsidized health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance
• 5% direct employer 403(b) retirement contribution (no employee match required)
• Hybrid office - remote work environment
• Unlimited Vacation / PTO policy
• Annual performance bonus potential based on organizational achievement
• $25/month cellular communication stipend
• Professional development budget and attendance at industry conferences/trainings

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and professional references through THOR's Job Portal at thortrails.org.