Position Announcement: Watershed Restoration Specialist for the MidCoast Watersheds Council

Full-time position:  Initial Salary $35,000-38,000 Applications due March 21st, 2016

BACKGROUND

The MidCoast Watersheds Council (Council), an Oregon non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Newport, Oregon, is dedicated to improving the health of streams and watersheds of Oregon’s central coast so they produce clean water, rebuild healthy salmon populations, and support a healthy ecosystem and economy.  The Council works in an area of nearly one million acres, including all streams draining from the crest of the Coast Range to the Pacific, from the Salmon River to Cape Creek at Heceta Head.

 

The Council is governed by a diverse Board of Directors, seeks consensus on issues, and builds partnerships to get things done in a non-regulatory, cooperative manner.   In order to accomplish our restoration and conservation goals, we work “on the ground” with local landowners and agency and non-governmental partners.  We work closely with groups such as Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, United States Forest Service, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, The Wetlands Conservancy, and Lincoln County. The council also works to increase understanding about issues facing our watersheds, and has engaged in policy work to try to address issues at a more systemic level

 

The Council receives a majority of its funds from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to help implement work that meets the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds and raises matching funds for these projects.  It also seeks out and receives funds from federal and non-governmental organizations to accomplish its work.

 

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Council seeks a Watershed Restoration Specialist (Specialist).  The Specialist will work to understand habitat constraints and potential remedies in defined priority areas, reach out to landowners and other partners to identify locations where work can be done to address factors limiting salmon, water quality, and watershed health, develop site specific projects to address problems, write grant applications to fund the work, and manage and monitor the projects.  Other duties include partnership building, and outreach, including website maintenance and working closely with Council’s financial, administrative, and technical committees and the Council’s Board of Directors.

 

More specifically the Specialist is responsible for the following: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

  • Reach out to landowners in priority areas [that have been identified by expert knowledge, limiting factor analyses, watershed and estuary assessments] to discuss issues and develop restoration, technical assistance, monitoring, and outreach projects.
  • Arrange for additional limiting factor analyses and assessments as necessary.
  • Develop and seek funding for at least 4 large projects or 6 small projects a year with willing landowners that will help improve watershed functions. Continue management of existing projects.
  • Seek out review and input from the Council’s Technical Team regarding project design and goals.
  • Work with existing and seek out new partners and collaborators as appropriate.
  • Write grant applications to maintain and increase Specialist’s position and salary in subsequent years.
  • Manage project implementation, including securing permits, writing contract work descriptions, hiring contractors, working with partners, and overseeing implementation to assure grant budget, deliverables, legal requirements and timelines are followed.
  • Keep Technical Team and Council Board of Directors (at general meetings) updated with short written reports on project progress, issues, and successes
  • Do monitoring work and write completion reports as required by grants.

 

LANDOWNER AND PARTNER OUTREACH

  • Early in employment, meet with existing Council partners, collaborators, funders to introduce yourself, identify those group’s priorities and work, and opportunities for partnerships and alliances.
  • Hold quarterly meetings in each of the Siletz and Yaquina basins, where priority work becomes identified to share information on limiting factors, watershed conditions and other topics of interest, and seek out interested landowners.
  • Work closely with our partner organizations including the Salmon Drift Creek Watershed Council and the Alsea watershed council; look for opportunities for collaboration on projects in these basins.
  • Involve and engage basin group participants in volunteer work on projects, in field tours, and other events.

 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Specialist works under the guidance and direction of the Administrative Committee and seeks input from the same.  Technical assistance is provided by the Council’s Technical Team (composed of partner groups and the Council’s policy director).  Payroll requirements and fiscal aspects of grant management are under the guidance of the Council’s fiscal specialist.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Degree or extensive experience in natural resources/sciences (e.g., hydrology, forestry, fisheries, biology) or related discipline
  • Experience working with landowners to develop fish habitat or other restoration projects.
  • Project management experience including project budget tracking and management
  • Energetic, self-motivated and able to work independently. Willing to learn and apply new skills quickly.
  • Efficient time management, organization and prioritization skills.
  • Good people, communication, and writing skills
  • Grant writing skills
  • GIS skills, ability to produce project maps, and organize monitoring data
  • Understanding and use of LIDAR mapping.
  • Experience with Microsoft office including ability to create power point presentations or similar.
  • Ability to enhance MCWC’s messaging and visibility in the community through project specific updates, external communications and website.
  • Flexible schedule: ability to meet with landowners on their schedule, attend evening and weekend meetings or activities
  • Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions and hike on uneven terrain
  • Valid Oregon driver’s license; good driving record, and reliable personal transportation and vehicle insurance.

 

Note:  a background check will be required before hire.

 

JOB CONDITIONS:

Work is required to be performed both in an office environment and in a variety of outdoor field conditions.  It involves periodic travel to meetings and trainings, some evening and weekend meetings, and occasionally may require overnight stay of more than one day.  The Specialist must use a personal vehicle for work with mileage being reimbursed by the Council.

The position requires work to be performed independently with limited supervision and direction. A physical capability is required to handle a high level of mobility demands and strenuous field activities, as well as the ability to walk long distances across sloped, uneven terrain, sometimes in inclement weather.  The Specialist is required to be knowledgeable of the proper use of a variety of equipment and supplies to design, plan and implement projects.

BENEFITS:

In addition to paid legal holidays, workers compensation, and unemployment insurance, the Council will provide annual leave and personal/sick leave.  Health insurance may be provided to the employee if the budget allows.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.  The Council complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a single pdf file containing the following 3 items via email to mcwcboard2016 at gmail dot com with Watershed Restoration Specialist in the subject line, by 12:00 pm (noon) Monday March 21, 2016:

ü             A cover letter (no more than 4 pages) that shows your qualifications for and enthusiasm in accomplishing the duties and responsibilities as noted above.

ü             A page that includes the names and contact information of three references who would know about your abilities to accomplish the job.

ü             A current, complete chronological resume.

 

Thank you for applying. The Council looks forward to reviewing your application.